Iodine For Dogs Paws

Pet ownership comes with many ups and downs. One of those downs can be dealing with injuries and wounds. One important thing to keep on hand at all times is a pet first aid kit with necessary materials. Bandages, gauze and an antiseptic cleaning solution are just a few examples.

Betadine is a fantastic item to keep in your pet fit aid kit. It is an over-the-counter topical antiseptic used to treat wounds. Since this may not be a solution that will work for every pup, here are some things to consider when using betadine on dogs.

Since this is an extremely potent antiseptic, you must dilute it with water before applying it to your pets’ skin. Betadine has a dark brown color, and you add water to it until it appears to be the color of iced-tea. If you apply this without diluting it, you will damage the tissue around your dogs’ wound.

Alternatively, some owners may have considered using hydrogen peroxide or even rubbing alcohol to clean wounds. Hydrogen peroxide isn’t as strong as betadine. It can kill the healthy tissue around an injury, increasing healing time. Rubbing alcohol may be useful for smaller cuts. However, it can dry out the skin, which will also slow down healing time.

Next, you must consider the proper application of this product on your dog before using it. Let’s say you are treating your dog for hot spots. Hot spots are a common issue caused by an overpopulation of your dogs’ natural bacteria that grow on their skin. When an infection arises from a dog’s bacteria, it is almost always a root cause of hot spots. Luckily, something like this is easy to treat with betadine.

To apply betadine on your dog, gently wipe the wound with a washcloth saturated with the betadine solution. You can do this up to twice a day for minor sores or skin infections.

One great thing about Betadine is that it is completely harmless if it’s ingested. If you are applying this solution on the part of your dog that they’re able to reach, you won’t have to worry about any additional problems if they get a little bit of the solution in their system.

Is it ok to put iodine on a dog?

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I often stress the importance of removing pesticides, herbicides, ragweed, grasses, pollens, molds, dust mites and other pollutants from your dogs feet on a regular basis.

Dogs are naked. They dont wear clothes, or shoes and socks. They dont shower every day. Their bodies collect allergens and chemicals in the environment, and it builds up quickly.

Did you know about 50 percent of foot licking and chewing can be alleviated by mechanically removing (rinsing off) allergens and other irritants collected on your dogs paws?Advertisement

Its the “How” and “How Often” Thats Important

A washcloth isnt nearly as efficient at cleaning your dogs feet as dunking them is. So when I say foot “soaks” or “rinses,” I mean exactly that.

You dont need to do the soak in a big tub. For instance, if your dog is a big guy, you can use a bucket and soak one foot at a time. If you have a little dog, you can use your kitchen or bathroom sink.

It doesnt matter where you do it or whether you rinse all four paws at once or one paw at a time. Whats important is to soak those paws at the end of any day when your pet has been in contact with allergens, lawn chemicals, or anything in the environment with the potential to irritate her feet.

The only places dogs sweat from are their noses and the pads of their feet. So those damp little pads can collect a really heavy load of irritants. A soak at the end of the day will reduce the chemical burden on your dog, as well as the potential for irritation.Advertisement

Doing the Soak

You only need enough water to cover the pads of your dogs feet.

My favorite solution for foot soaks is povidone iodine. Povidone iodine is an organic iodine solution. Its safe, non-toxic, antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-yeast. You can buy it at any pharmacy.

You want to dilute the povidone iodine with water to the color of iced tea, using just your eyes — no scientific formula is involved! If it comes up too light, just add a bit more of the iodine. If its a bit dark, add more water.

I recommend you let your dog stand in the solution for from two to five minutes.

You dont have to do anything to the feet or toes — the solution will do the work for you. So you can just stand and sing to your dog while he soaks, or talk to him and tell him how handsome and well-behaved he is.

If your dog is nervous about being in water, you can offer treats. Treats always help pass the time, so having some snacks handy is a good idea.

If your dog is truly fearful of water, rather than plunk her in the tub or sink, you can do a little mini-soak. Put a little povidone iodine in a small container, add water and create a little mini foot soak. You can just plop each little foot in the mini-soak one at a time, making sure each entire pad surface is covered with the mixture, and it shouldnt be nearly as scary for your dog as being put in the bathtub.Advertisement

Remember, the key is to get the feet submerged in the solution, which will wash away any type of yeast that might be growing, as well as mild bacterial infections, allergens, and other contaminants.

Pat Dry and Go!

After youve soaked each foot for two to five minutes, theres no need to rinse the solution off your dogs feet. This is another great feature of povidone iodine. Just lift your dog out of the bath or remove that last foot and pat the paws dry. Done!

If youre short on space or time, you can re-use a container of foot soak for two or three days. Some people leave a pail of the mixture on their deck or porch and make a fresh batch every few days.

Others keep a garden hose handy and fill up a bucket, a small plastic tub or even a coffee can and mix in the iodine solution, dumping after each use.

I wouldnt go more than two or three days using the same foot soak solution.

And keep in mind you dont have to use a lot of water or povidone iodine — just enough to fully cover your dogs foot pads with a solution the color of iced tea. This saves both water and iodine, and if your dog has a water phobia, it will also reduce her anxiety to use only the amount of water necessary to get the job done.Advertisement

Dr. Karen Becker is a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian. You can visit her site at: MercolaHealthyPets.com.

Her goal is to help you create wellness in order to prevent illness in the lives of your pets. This proactive approach seeks to save you and your pet from unnecessary stress and suffering by identifying and removing health obstacles even before disease occurs. Unfortunately, most veterinarians in the United States are trained to be reactive. They wait for symptoms to occur, and often treat those symptoms without addressing the root cause.

By reading Dr. Beckers information, youll learn how to make impactful, consistent lifestyle choices to improve your pets quality of life.

For more by Dr. Karen Becker, click here.

For more on pet health, click here.

Your dog certainly will enjoy taking a dip in the water and cooling off in the upcoming summer months. Having betadine on hand will keep you prepared in case unexpected lesions come up. Stay proactive and keep your pet first aid kit stocked with the right items. You will be able to act quickly if something comes up. One more advantage? Treating any wounds or scrapes at home will save you a trip to the vet, as well as the bill that will come with the visit!

Next, you must consider the proper application of this product on your dog before using it. Let’s say you are treating your dog for hot spots. Hot spots are a common issue caused by an overpopulation of your dogs’ natural bacteria that grow on their skin. When an infection arises from a dog’s bacteria, it is almost always a root cause of hot spots. Luckily, something like this is easy to treat with betadine.

One great thing about Betadine is that it is completely harmless if it’s ingested. If you are applying this solution on the part of your dog that they’re able to reach, you won’t have to worry about any additional problems if they get a little bit of the solution in their system.

Since this is an extremely potent antiseptic, you must dilute it with water before applying it to your pets’ skin. Betadine has a dark brown color, and you add water to it until it appears to be the color of iced-tea. If you apply this without diluting it, you will damage the tissue around your dogs’ wound.

Alternatively, some owners may have considered using hydrogen peroxide or even rubbing alcohol to clean wounds. Hydrogen peroxide isn’t as strong as betadine. It can kill the healthy tissue around an injury, increasing healing time. Rubbing alcohol may be useful for smaller cuts. However, it can dry out the skin, which will also slow down healing time.

FAQ

Can I put iodine on my dog’s paw?

Iodine (betadine) is a valuable aid in the treatment of hot spots, skin irritations, small cuts and grazes, and itchy paws. Dilute iodine with water until the solution is the colour of iced tea.

How often should I soak my dogs paws in iodine?

Paw soaks are actually recommended at least once per day if your dog does not wear booties outside.

How do you use povidone iodine on dogs paws?

DIRECTIONS
  1. Fill tub or sink with a couple inches of water, enough to cover pads of feet.
  2. You can find povidone iodine at most grocery stores or pharmacies.
  3. Dilute povidone iodine with water until it’s the color of iced tea.
  4. Swish solution around tub while pet stands in it.
  5. Soak each foot for 2-5 minutes.

Is povidone iodine safe for dogs to lick?

Solution: Povidone iodine.

The gentle Betadine brand can allay staph, yeast and most common bacteria. It’s safe if a pet licks it. Dilute the povidone iodine until it looks like iced tea, soak a clean cloth and gently wipe infected skin areas. Rinse the cloth, wipe the skin, and then pat dry.