Supplies To Keep On Hand For Minor Pet Wound Care At Home

While you should always take your pet to the vet for serious injuries and ailments, some minor cuts and wounds can be cared for at home. For example, there's usually no need to take your dog to the vet if they scuff their footpad on the sidewalk. And your cat should not need vet care for a tiny cut on their leg. What pets do need for minor injuries like this, though, is proper wound care. And in order to give that proper wound care, you should keep these supplies on-hand in your home.

Iodine Tincture

There are various antiseptic washes you can use on cuts, including hydrogen peroxide. However, iodine tends to sting less than other options, and it is known to kill a wide range of bacteria and other pathogens. You can find small, 4-ounce bottles of 10% iodine tincture for a few dollars a piece. When your pet suffers a minor wound, the first thing you should do is rinse it out with iodine to prevent infection.

Antibiotic Ointment

While you could use triple antibiotic ointment made for humans on your pet's skin, you are better off looking for one made for pets specifically. These products are usually made with ingredients that are safe if your pet happens to lick the ointment. Triple antibiotic cream is good to apply once the wound is clean in order to continue fighting bacteria, prevent infection, and speed healing.

Gauze Wraps

A few gauze wraps will come in really handy for foot and paw injuries, which are the most common type of injuries in pets. After cleaning the wound and applying an antibiotic, you can wrap the wound in gauze, which will keep the topical ointment in place and also protect the wound from re-injury.

Vet Wrap

Vet wrap is a stretchy, nylon wrap that sticks to itself. It comes in many bright colors, and it's really important to have on hand when you have a pet. You'll need a few layers of vet wrap over your pet's gauze wrap in order to hold the gauze in place. Try to buy both a narrow and a wide roll of vet wrap so you can choose the best size for your needs.

With the above supplies on hand, you will be better prepared for minor injuries that your pet does suffer. Talk to your vet, too. They may recommend some additional items to keep on hand for your pet. Look for over-the-counter pet wound care supplies next time you go shopping. 



Tags:
419 Words

About Me

Vets Show Compassion and Offer Great Care Did you know that in order to become a veterinarian, a person needs to earn a four-year degree, and then spend an additional four years in veterinary school? By the time they are finished with all of this education, they are well prepared to offer your animals the best care. You can count on vets to treat your pets with kindness and compassion. They'll provide preventative care like vaccines, make recommendations for food and other products to keep your pet in good health, and offer treatment when your pet becomes ill. We are thankful for the work of vets, and we discuss that work in more depth throughout this blog.

Search

Categories