Dogs Burns and Scalding – The Basics

There are many ways which your dog could easily get burned or badly scalded at home or outside when out on a family excursion. Accidental contact with hot items, as expected, is the most common way that this occurs. This could be blistering hot engine parts such as the catalytic converter or muffler, hot appliances at home such as ovens, hair dryers, space heaters or grills. Electrocution from naked wires is also another common way that dogs tend to get accidental burns seeing that they are very curious animals. The same applies to hot liquids, steam and hot foods, especially during cooking or grilling.

 Diagnosis of Scalding and Burns in Dogs

It is critical to rush your dog to the nearest veterinary outposts as soon as you suspect that they have sustained a burn injury. If possible, it is imperative to brief your pet doctor on how your furry friend sustained the burn in the first place. If you are not sure, then at least make a mental note of the kind of hot things that your poodle may be likely to be in contact with that could have led to the burn.

This will make it easier for the vet to diagnose what kind of burn it is,its depth and how much soft tissue is possibly damaged, and consequently, the best course of action to take.

Treatment of Burns and Scalding

Treatment of scalds and burns will majorly depend on the exact type of scald or depth of the burn. A chemical burn, for example, will require you to isolate the offending substance, such as the wax or food that has spilled accidentally on the dog. Any other treatment whatsoever should be reserved for the vet.

Generally, however, the treatment protocol for not-so-serious burns is to try and manage the burns or scalds, you can also administer fluid therapy if it’s at all necessary. Application of antibiotics too will go a long way in ensuring that secondary infection does not set in.

Recovery of Scalding and Burns in Dogs

Generally, it takes an average of between 2 to 4 weeks for a dog to recover completely from a burn injury. The exact recovery period is dependent on a number of factors including the severity of the injury sustained and how closely you will follow the recommended wound management instructions from the veterinarian. This includes timely and consistent wound cleaning, application of topical medication and bandaging. 

References: Pets First Aid, Vets Now, PetMD