First Aid treatments for the sunburned dog
With all that fur? My dog will not be sunburned! True, the dog is covered with a lot of fur but Fido and company can get sunburned too. Just as with humans, spending hours under the blazing sun would be dangerous to dogs too. Dogs, of course have the fur as protection but just as with the clothing of humans, the fur too would be an inadequate shield against the dangerous ultraviolet rays of the sun. Dog owners allow the pet to play in the sun as sunlight really does have health benefits for the dog. If only dogs can talk they would tell the world that they love to frolic under the heat of the sun. Unfortunately, a dog that stays too long in the sun would be miserable because of sunburn.
So what would make you aware that the pooch needs first aid treatment for sunburn? The dog was sunburned if the pink nose takes on the color of Rudolf the red nosed reindeer's nose. Being less covered with hair, the edges of the ears will dry up, crack and curl a bit. Skin affected by sunburn will become leathery and white in color. These symptoms will be shown if the dog's sunburn is superficial. Deep partial thickness and full thickness sunburns are similar to second degree and third degree burns respectively thus considered as serious sunburn. Severely affected skin would have blisters and sores. Dogs with these types of sunburn need hospitalization. Skin grafts may be necessary if a large percentage of the dog's body was burned.
Superficial partial thickness is a minor type of sunburn that can be treated at home. For this type of sunburn, the hair on the affected area is best shaved to make application of medication easy and also to monitor the healing of the burn. The wound is then cleaned with iodine to prevent infection. Apply topical burn ointments to the affected skin.
One effective home remedy for sunburn is aloe vera. OTC aloe vera ointment works well but the juice of fresh plant will deliver soothing coolness to the burned skin. The tip of the aloe vera leaf is squeezed to get the gel that is then applied to the sunburned skin.
To speed up the healing process, the oil from a vitamin E capsule can be squeezed out and applied to the affected area. Aside from promoting the healing process, vitamin E also prevents scarring. Sunburned skin would cause the dog pain and itching. The discomfort of the pet will be lessened if baking soda and oatmeal products are added to the bath water.
So what would make you aware that the pooch needs first aid treatment for sunburn? The dog was sunburned if the pink nose takes on the color of Rudolf the red nosed reindeer's nose. Being less covered with hair, the edges of the ears will dry up, crack and curl a bit. Skin affected by sunburn will become leathery and white in color. These symptoms will be shown if the dog's sunburn is superficial. Deep partial thickness and full thickness sunburns are similar to second degree and third degree burns respectively thus considered as serious sunburn. Severely affected skin would have blisters and sores. Dogs with these types of sunburn need hospitalization. Skin grafts may be necessary if a large percentage of the dog's body was burned.
Superficial partial thickness is a minor type of sunburn that can be treated at home. For this type of sunburn, the hair on the affected area is best shaved to make application of medication easy and also to monitor the healing of the burn. The wound is then cleaned with iodine to prevent infection. Apply topical burn ointments to the affected skin.
One effective home remedy for sunburn is aloe vera. OTC aloe vera ointment works well but the juice of fresh plant will deliver soothing coolness to the burned skin. The tip of the aloe vera leaf is squeezed to get the gel that is then applied to the sunburned skin.
To speed up the healing process, the oil from a vitamin E capsule can be squeezed out and applied to the affected area. Aside from promoting the healing process, vitamin E also prevents scarring. Sunburned skin would cause the dog pain and itching. The discomfort of the pet will be lessened if baking soda and oatmeal products are added to the bath water.
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