Burns

Jessica
Jun 23
6 min read

Burns can be caused by heat, fire, electricity, chemicals, or even the sun! In this blog, we’ll cover the do’s and don’ts for burn first aid, and provide tips on how to prevent common causes of burns.

Golden Rules

The following rules apply to any emergency situation, and should always be followed to ensure the safety of you and your pet!

Try to keep calm while handling your pet and consider your options.
Go slow and understand that any pet can and may bite when fearful or painful.
Figure out where you are going, find the best route, and drive safely!
Do not give any medications (such as pain medications, anti-inflammatories, etc.) without speaking to a veterinarian first. Human pain medications can be extremely toxic or fatal to pets!

Burn Categorization

Burns are generally categorized in one of three ways:

First-degree burns - the least severe of the three types of burns, first-degree burns are very superficial and only involve the top layer of skin. These burns are usually accompanied by redness and minor pain, but these types of burns usually heal quickly.

Second-degree burns - a more serious type of burn, second-degree burns are a little more severe and include the top layer, as well as deeper layers, of skin. Redness and blistering may occur, and these are generally more painful.

Third-degree burns - the most serious type of burn! Third-degree burns involve the loss of the top layer of skin with significant damage to the deeper layers. These burns can be extremely painful and may result in scarring.

For all second- and third-degree burns, please seek immediate emergency care. Because pets can’t communicate with us, you should always follow up with your veterinarian any time your pet becomes injured to ensure your pet is not experiencing pain or discomfort.

The different types of burns

Burns caused by flame/fire

Due to how flammable most pet hair is, open flames can quickly become a serious emergency. These types of burns are often caused by candles, but other common scenarios may include fireplaces, fire pits/campfires, gas stovetops, electrical outlets (or other electrical sources) or house fires. While pets are not usually drawn to fire, they are often drawn to the scents (either from the candles or whatever is cooking over the fire) and their fur might catch when they get too close. We recommend keeping your pet far away from any open flame to be on the safe side.

What to do:

● Extinguish all flames.

● Go slow and be careful when touching your pet, as pain while handling may cause pets to bite.

● If your pet allows, use a clean cloth or towel to apply a cool water compress to the burn, changing cloth frequently to keep the area as cool and moist as possible for at least 30 minutes.

● Transport your pet to your veterinarian or an emergency clinic immediately for follow up care.

What NOT to do:

● Do not use a hose, shower head, or faucet on the affected area - you will not be able to transport your pet while doing this, and the water pressure may cause further pain or damage.

● Do not apply any topical ointment, burn salve, or butter to the areas.

● Do not attempt to remove any hair or damaged tissue yourself.

Burns caused by heat

Burns caused by heat occur when your pet’s skin comes into contact with hot surfaces. A common scenario of burns caused by heat is walking on hot pavement in the summertime which can cause the paw pads to blister. Avoid walking during the hottest/sunniest parts of the day during warmer seasons, and always test the pavement yourself before going out for a walk. If you cannot hold your hand to the pavement without burning yourself, it is too hot for your pet’s paws! Use boots or other foot protection during walks to protect the paw pads. Another common cause of burns caused by heat are hair dryers. Unlike the force dryers that groomers use (which are extremely strong to expel the water from the fur), human hair dryers use heat to quickly dry hair. We recommend avoiding hair dryers on your pet (such as after a swim or a bath) unless you are using the cool setting only.

What to do:

● Immediately get your pet away from the source of heat.

● Go slow and be careful when touching your pet, as pain while handling may cause pets to bite.

● If your pet allows, use a clean cloth or towel to apply a cool water compress to the burn, changing cloth frequently to keep the area as cool and moist as possible for at least 30 minutes.

● Transport your pet to your veterinarian or an emergency clinic immediately for follow up care.

● If burns are on the bottom of your pet’s paws, carry them or place them in a carrier (size permitting) to avoid further injury to their paws.

What NOT to do:

● Do not use a hose, shower head, or faucet on the affected area - you will not be able to transport your pet while doing this, and the water pressure may cause further pain or damage.

● Do not apply any topical ointment, burn salve, or butter to the areas.

● Do not attempt to remove any hair or damaged tissue yourself.

● Unless you have the appropriate supplies on hand and are instructed by your veterinarian, do not attempt to bandage your pet’s burns. The wrong supplies may adhere to the burn and cause further discomfort or injury.

Chemical burns

Chemical burns occur when the skin makes contact with harmful chemicals, such as acid, cleaning products, or other liquid agents. The chemicals can create similar burns to those caused by heat or flame and should be taken just as seriously, as they can cause serious damage to the fur and skin tissue. Be sure to always keep chemicals locked away in cabinets or closets out of reach from pets. Chemical burns can occur if a product is spilled on a pet, if they walk through or lick at a harmful substance, or if a chemical is sprayed near a pet. Additionally, chewing things such as remotes or batteries can cause chemical burns.

What to do:

● Immediately get your pet away from the substance.

● Go slow and be careful when touching your pet, as pain while handling may cause pets to bite.

● Use a hose, shower head, or faucet on a low to medium pressure setting on the affected area for 15 minutes.

● For chemical burns in the eyes, if you have saline rinse on hand, rinse the eyes for 15 minutes (pet permitting).

● Transport your pet to your veterinarian or an emergency clinic immediately for follow up care.

What NOT to do:

● Avoid rinsing the area using a high-pressure hose or shower head.

● If the areas affected are in or around the mouth or nose, be careful when rinsing the areas and take frequent breaks so your pet is not inhaling or ingesting large amounts of water. Stop immediately if your pet appears to be choking or coughing on the water.

● Do not apply any topical ointment, burn salve, or butter to the areas.

● Do not attempt to remove any hair or damaged tissue yourself.

Sunburns

Yes, pets can get sunburns, too! While many pets have enough fur to protect their skin from the sun, areas of the body with fine, thin, or sparse hair (such as the face, ears, or nose) can get a sunburn, which is characterized as pink or redness on skin exposed to the sun. Pets with light fur or pale/pink skin can be somewhat more susceptible. If your pet is going to be spending a lot of time in direct sunlight, apply sunscreen (ensure ingredients are all non-toxic if ingested) to the areas that might be affected and reapply throughout the day as needed.

What to do:

● Remove your pet from direct sunlight by going inside or into the shade.

● Keep them out of the sun until their sunburn is healed.

● Be sure to make note of the areas affected and use sunscreen or protective clothing in the future!

What NOT to do:

● Do not apply any topical ointment, after-sun gel or lotion, or butter to the affected areas unless instructed by your veterinarian.

For additional questions or concerns regarding burns, please contact us at972-347-6100 for further guidance.

Click here to schedule an appointment. https://connect.allydvm.com/practice/prosper_trail/appointment_request