It is absolutely not safe to use neosporin for wound care in dogs due to their habit of repeatedly licking wounds. Dogs accidentally ingesting antibiotics like neosporin is a cause for grave concern, as it can trigger a wide range of health problems.
Did You Know?
Most antibiotics and steroids formulated for external use on the human skin can be poisonous to dogs and cats, if ingested.
Neosporin is a skin ointment primarily used in the treatment of wounds. The topical product is an antibiotic that is often applied on minor cuts, burns, and scrapes on the skin to accelerate recovery from these wounds. The ointment inhibits growth of bacteria to prevent any sort of skin infection. Its ability to facilitate the process of wound healing is proven, thanks to its strong antibacterial activity. Now, can this skin care product be applied to dogs? Read on to find out.
Safety of Using Neosporin on Dogs
One cannot forget that Neosporin is prescribed for external use only, which means its usage is limited to application on the skin. To put it simply, one cannot take it internally as ingesting the ointment is a cause for serious concern. Although humans are unlikely to do this, the same does not apply to dogs.
Dogs have the habit of licking open wounds and many dog owners have complained about their inability to stop this incessant licking habit. This tendency to lick wounds is what comes in the way of applying neosporin to dog wounds. Your pet is likely to swallow the ointment due to his wound-licking habit. Your pet unknowingly ingesting it, can certainly be detrimental to his health. It can pose a major health risk to your pet. Its ingestion can be toxic to dogs and can cause diarrhea, drooling, vomiting, tremors, and even seizures. So the purpose of using neosporin gets defeated, if your dog is licking the wound, every time you apply the ointment. That is why, neosporin is not recommended for use on dogs.
One may think that applying the ointment and then wrapping the wound with a bandage might be safe. However, in such circumstances, you need to keep a constant vigil on your pet. This is because, dogs are extremely uncomfortable wearing bandages and will make every attempt to get rid of them. They are likely to tear these bandages and even chew them. As a dog owner, this can make you more anxious. In short, it is very difficult to keep your pet away from pulling the bandage.
When considering a topical product for your dog’s wound, you need to ensure that it has been specifically formulated for wound care in dogs. Also, the product should not contain any antibiotics or steroids, as these ingredients can be toxic to your dog, when ingested. Topical solutions sold under the brand name Vetericyn are found to be safe for wound and skin care in dogs.
A point to note here is that, in case your pet is affected with a minor wound, one does not have to really worry about which ointment to apply. In most cases, minor scrapes, abrasions, and cuts heal without any special treatment. One does not have to necessarily apply any product to speed up the healing process. However, certain dog wounds cause bleeding, which cannot be ignored and require urgent veterinary attention.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a veterinarian.
