Wound Care
Please provide the following supportive care for your pet if it has a wound, cut or laceration:
1) Clean the wound with a dilute ratio of 4:1 chlorhexidine soap with warm water OR directly spray blue cholorhexidine gluconate solution, gently with a gauze or cotton cloth. at least 2 times a day. Even an old single cotton sock can work.
2) Rinse area well to remove soap residue and prevent drying out skin.
3) Keep the wound otherwise clean and dry.
4) No licking. No bathing in out door bodies of water. Use a cone if needed.
5) If area is bandaged, the bandage will need to be removed in 24 to 72 hours. It may need to be reapplied.
Epson Salts Compress
Epsom salts are useful for reducing swelling and inflammation and providing much needed magnesium to sore muscles. If your pet tolerates, apply 1/4 cup of salts into the middle of a wash cloth dipped in warm water and apply to the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes. This treatment can be repeated as often as every 2-4 hours, for 5 to 7 days.
Cold or Warm Compress
Another compress is a cold or warm compress, usually made from dried rice, dried beans or other commercially available material. These ‘beanie bags’ can be kept in the freezer for cold compressing 5-10 mins on affected area. Or they can be microwaved in 1 minute increments until warm to the touch, and applied for a warm compress for 5-10 mins on the affected area. The jury is out on if cold should be done before warm, or visa versa, so do whichever works best for you and your pet.
Pink Chlorexidine Soap
Using warm water dilute 4 parts water to 1 part antifungal and antibacterial chlorhexidine soap. Either soak the affected area or sponge bath with a cotton face cloth or old solo sock. Let sit on area 5 minutes (up to 10 minutes). Perhaps your pet would enjoy a treat or massage while waiting. Rinse with warm water.
Repeat the above treatment at least twice a day for 5 to 7 days. Then can taper down to once a day. Continue for at least 2 to 3 days past resolution of clinical signs.
Blue Chlorexidine Soap
Blue chlorhexidine gluconate solution is an antibacterial that also is an antifungal that can be directly applied to skin, either by pouring, dabbing or spraying. It does not require rinsing, though if tolerated, can be rinsed 5-10 mins after application to prevent over drying out of the skin. It is one of the few antimicrobial’s that we have used for over 60 years that has not led to antimicrobial resistance.
We love it for skin infections, interdigital paw or vulva yeast infections, or patients that are not found of cleaning care.
Typically we recommend it is applied every 8 to 12 hours for 7-10 days, depending on the severity and size of the infection you are managing.
This product may stain clothing or fabric.
This medicine may cause very bad and long-lasting eye problems if put in the eye. If your pet has a perforated eardrum and chlorhexidine gluconate gets in the ear, it could cause hearing loss. If you get chlorhexidine gluconate in any of these areas, rinse well with water.
How to make a honey bandage wound care
- Clean the wound with a dilute ratio of 4:1 chlorhexidine soap with warm water OR directly spray blue cholorhexidine gluconate solution, gently with a gauze or cotton cloth. at least 2 times a day. Even an old single cotton sock can work.
- Rinse with warm water.
- Pat the area dry.
- Apply a thin layer of honey over top of the area to be healed.
- Apply telfa pad or maxi pad to area to keep the honey from seeping through bandage material and the pet from licking at wound.
- Re-apply bandage or vet med wear.
- Repeat the above every 24 to 48 hours for 10 – 14 days.
If the wound produces yellowish or greenish discharge, contact us immediately to start a course of oral antibiotics.
If concerns, send a photo of the area to our email address: staff@nakuspvet.ca
