A Pet Lovers Guide to Burns and Freezes Ingrid Braulini

A Pet Lover’s Guide to Burns and Freezes

With the winter season coming on strong and the use of stoves, fires, and radiators to keep us warm, as well as electric decorations and hot liquids, it might be the time to chat about burns. All pets may become exposed to a heat source that is conducive to causing a burn. Heat burns can happen to pets who get too close to an open fireplace, a radiator, a wood stove, an oven, Ingrid Braulini

a candle, a hot pot, a pan, or any other source of heat. Birds who can fly freely in the home can land on a hot stove or hotplate or be singed by a candle.

The visible signs of a burn may not always appear immediately. So, it is important to learn the different degrees to react accordingly. In 1st degree burns the pet’s hair is singed, and the skin is red or discolored. This needs little or no care and will generally heal on its own. All you can do is to cool the skin with lots of tepid (NOT COLD) water. Do not rub the area and do not bandage it. Beware of ointments or creams because they may be poisonous if your pet starts licking the wound

In the case of 2nd-degree burns, the hair is burned off and the outer layer of skin is burned, blistered, red, and sometimes oozes a yellow plasma. In this case, the risk of infection is high. You should flush the area with tepid water, bandage lightly, and transport her to a vet immediately.

With 3rd degree burns in addition to the hair being burned off, the skin is charred or white. The risk of infection is very high and vet care is necessary. You may flush the burned area with tepid water for 5-10 minutes. Then cover her wound with a dry dressing and transport the pet immediately. Please keep your eye on her until you get to the vet and watch her for shock. Do not apply any ointment, ice, or remedy without your veterinarian’s consent. When a heat burn is the cause of death in a pet it is often due to a secondary infection that can happen as the burn is healing. So, keeping an eye on your pet’s burn until it is healed is essential.

Although chemical burns are not usually a problem unless the animal comes in contact with a corrosive liquid, they are usually more serious than heat burns. Protect yourself first by wearing rubber gloves and goggles if possible and try to identify the source of the chemical burn. You should always read the label on the product for treatment instructions and DO NOT apply water without knowing how the chemical reacts to water. Call SAVES, the Poison Control Center, and/or a veterinarian immediately. If you know what caused the burn, until you get to the vet, you can neutralize an alkaline burn with a vinegar and water paste or in the case of an acid burn, a paste with baking soda and water.

If there is an electrical shock or burn, first make sure you and others are safe. Turn off any power source before attempting to rescue your pet or use a wooden or plastic pole (mop or broom) not metal, to remove any hot wires near the injured animal. Although electrical shock is not always fatal, it may cause burns. Usually, the animal has bitten into an electrical cord so burns in her mouth may show as blisters on the lips, gums, and tongue.

TAKE ALL ELECTRICAL SHOCKS SERIOUSLY! YOU MUST TAKE YOUR PET TO THE VET. An electrical shock can stop the heart, cause paralysis, or even death. Even minor electrical shocks can damage blood vessels of the lungs causing fluid buildup. Your pet may be unconscious, but often serious symptoms may be delayed a few hours, so keep an eye out for an irregular heartbeat or any breathing difficulties that may appear. An animal may have a loss of appetite and remain lethargic so check In with her regularly for the next few days and follow-up with your vet if any negative changes occur.

To do justice to our time of the year, I Winter 2021

have added a short section on the opposite problems of burns: hypothermia and frostbite.

Your pet’s general age, health, and build may make them more susceptible to hypothermia. When the wind, water, and snow can lower the body temperature of an animal to a temperature below 95 degrees causing shivering, decreased heart rate, confusion, pale gums, collapse, and a coma it is called hypothermia. In the case of mild hypothermia, you can move your pet to a warm area, dry him immediately with a towel without rubbing the skin, and apply a warm water bottle to raise his body temperature. Then wrap him in a blanket or dry towel. Continue checking his body temperature every 10 minutes. Do not use a heating pad and do not rub the animal’s body or limbs.

In the case of severe hypothermia, when the body temperature reaches 90 degrees or less you have an emergency. At this point, the animal should be warmed by the veterinarian from the inside out with warm fluids. So make sure you get there quickly. Please do not apply external heat. You can apply a bit of corn syrup (Karo®) or honey to his gums to elevate his blood sugar (this helps with shock).

Frostbite occurs as cells freeze and expand much like water freezing and overflowing in an ice cube tray. Frostbite may be hard to detect because of an animal’s hair or fur. The damage usually appears on the pet’s ears, tail, toes, and scrotum because blood and heat are diverted to the torso instead, to keep it warm. Your pet’s skin might be hard and inflexible, red, white, or blistered. If the ears are affected, they may also flop. The skin damage is usually permanent in frostbite. Many dogs love to play in the cold so you need to be careful when letting them romp outside. Be certain that your pets have adequate shelter during adverse weather. Dogs and cats have a good shiver reflex to generate body heat which the fur traps. However, if they are wet and/or matted, they may be unable to stay warm.

If your pet does become frostbitten, DO NOT rub the areas of possible frostbite. The skin may slough off. Instead, warm the affected area for 20 minutes with WARM water on a cloth pressed gently against the location. You need to take him to a vet for a follow up after the initial first aid because antibiotics are often prescribed to prevent infection.

Please keep all emergency vet numbers handy and close to your phone.

Happy and safe holidays to all!