Minor cuts, abrasions, and scrapes on your dog? Why not share your tube of Neosporin with your dog? But is it safe to use Neosporin on pets? In this article, we will answer these questions and talk about Neosporin on dogs.
Neosporin is an over-the-counter available topical and triple antibiotic ointment. Neosporin kills bacteria and prevents wound infections. But, most importantly, it is perfectly safe for dogs.
Keep reading to learn how to use this popular antibiotic safely on your pup. We will talk about the pros, the potential cons and give some helpful guidelines. Finally, we will mention several Neosporin alternatives for dogs.
Clubs Offering:
Just like their owners, dogs are susceptible to minor injuries and are not immune to getting cuts, scrapes, or burns. But can you use Neosporin® on dogs? The answer isn’t completely straightforward. In some instances, applying the topical, antibiotic ointment can help heal your dog’s wound, but there are situations when it is not advisable or necessary to use it on your canine companion.
Since most people immediately reach for some type of ointment when an incident occurs, it’s not unusual that your first instinct might be to do the same for your dog. But before you go ahead and start applying Neosporin, there are a few things to take into consideration.
The anti-bacterial medications in the ointment will help to keep the wound from becoming infected, and potentially help it heal quicker. This is not an insignificant benefit, as even minor infections can lead to serious, systemic illness.
However, wounds under your dog’s chest, on top of his head or on his neck are often difficult for him to access, which means that any ointment you apply to the wound is likely to remain in place and uneaten.
Wounds in other locations may present the same problem, as dogs are able to access most of their body surface with their mouths, and that gooey Neosporin can be quite appealing to licky dogs.
Have you ever used Neosporin or a similar product to help your dog heal? What was your experience like? Did your pup try to lick it off, or did he ignore the medicine and let it do its job?
Alternatively, your vet may encourage you to fit your dog with an e-collar, which will effectively humiliate prevent him from licking off the medicine.
First, what is Neosporin? How does it work?
In its standard, regular-strength formula, Neosporin is the brand-name for a common over-the-counter triple antibiotic ointment. Why “triple” as a descriptor? Because it contains three antibiotic agents: Bacitracin, Neomycin and Polymyxin B. All three of these antibiotics are touted for their ability to prevent infection caused specifically by bacteria. Since it was first sold in the 1950s, the brand itself has become a byword where small injuries are concerned.
As a topical cream, Neosporin is meant to prevent minor cuts, scrapes and wounds on the skin from being exacerbated by bacterial infection. It is also supposed to speed healing in broken skin. Studies have shown that, as an antibacterial agent, there is actually very little difference in infection prevention or healing speed if an abrasion is cleaned immediately than when it is treated with Neosporin. It also has no effect on infections caused by other foreign agents, such as a fungus or a virus.
FAQ
Can I use Neosporin with lidocaine on my dog?
Is Neosporin with pain relief safe for dogs?
What type of Neosporin is best for dogs?
Should you put Neosporin on an open wound on a dog?