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For topical applications, Neosporin is safe for dogs. Do not use it internally, don’t apply inside their ears, in the nose, the mouth or in eyes.

You also should not ever use Neosporin on deep wounds and for dogs, make sure that you are using ONLY Neosporin, not one that is mixed with other medications. Certainly, ask your veterinarian if lidocaine in Neosporin is okay before using it, in other words. Many pain relievers added to Neosporin are not safe for pets and can make them sick.

There are also other types of antibiotic ointments and sprays that you can use for dogs as well. The biggest issue with Neosporin is that dogs will lick it off as fast as you put it on. It doesn’t seem to be harmful to them when they ingest a small amount in this way but it certainly isn’t helping the wound you’ve applied it to.

You can try using a colloidal silver spray, which has no taste or smell and is very effective. It will not harm them if ingested either. There are salves and creams at pet stores that you can choose from, many of which are very similar to Neosporin or a Bactine-type of spray. Remember that you must use things that are approved for use on animals and safe.

There are many books that you can find which will tell you which products are safe for dogs, as well as how and when to use them. I strongly recommend that you keep a dog first aid book of this sort in the house. Dogs are very active and that typically results in injuries from time to time.

Dogs are also prone to the same illnesses and upset tummies that we are. Sometimes they eat things that disagree with them and that results in diarrhea. Knowing which anti-diarrheal is safe for dogs is very important. Not all are! You can give dogs Pepto-Bismol but don’t give it to cats. It may be safe for dogs, but it could be poisonous to cats.

Take a First Aid Class

Consider taking a course in first aid for dogs if you have a dog at home. If you work in animal foster care, with a rescue organization, or volunteer for them, you would benefit to learn first aid and CPR for dogs.

There are veterinary clinics and other groups like humane societies around the United States who teach these classes, usually for a small fee that helps benefit their organization. Dogs can often be saved by knowing the right method to perform CPR and help in a medical emergency such as deep wound or heat stroke. Do you know what to do if your dog suffers a heat stroke?

Do you even know the signs of heat stroke?  This course can help you know immediately what the problem is and how to treat it until you can get to help.

Being Prepared

Know the way to the emergency after hours clinic for your pet. Know emergency phone number there and know how best to transport your pet there. Be prepared to have a list of medications that your dog is on.

Have a basic first aid kit at home so that if you call the clinic and they tell you the best course of action is to administer hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting, that you will know how to do it and have the peroxide readily available. Just a simple thing like this can avoid death from poisoning.

You should have a medicine box with gauze pads, tape to wrap wounds that will stick to itself but not to fur. Neosporin can be in your kit that is only used for the dog so there is no cross-contamination from dogs to kids and kids to dogs.

Have a blanket or towel in the trunk of your car at all times. It can help humans and animals in emergencies. Keep a few bottles of water in the car as well. Keep a bottle of water frozen in the house as it can be applied to the femoral artery to quickly cool down an overheated dog. Every minute counts to save internal organs.

When you have these things prepared, you’re saving precious minutes that your dog may need desperately in an emergency.

A first aid class will teach you how to properly apply and use a tourniquet. Make sure that you have the materials to make one on hand. If you live in a state that has a lot of poisonous snakes, like cottonmouth or the copperhead, having a snake bite kit handy is a great idea. Most of the time, a snake bite from one of these isn’t fatal if you act quickly.

Emergency Evacuations Plans

If you live in a state that is coastal, or in a region where wildfires are prevalent, you should have an evacuation plan in place that includes your dog. Do not leave pets behind! Remember when you are grabbing your things, you should have a kit put together with clothes for you and your necessities but you should also have a bag packed with emergency water and food for your dog, a leash and extra collar.

They are helpless without you and will possibly drown or burn to death without your help. They are part of the family and should be a part of your emergency preparedness.

Know the Dangers Lurking In Your Own Home

There are many things that we keep in our homes that are dangerous and can even be fatal to our dogs. Many foods we eat are toxic to dogs. We also have items around the house that can kill them.

  • Chocolate
  • Grapes and raisins
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Alcohol
  • Toilet bowl cleaners
  • Bleach
  • Automotive coolant
  • Pesticides
  • Rat poison
  • Fertilizers
  • Weed killer
  • Old motor oil

These are just a few of the very common things that can around the house, indoors and outdoors, that dogs can find sitting in containers, dripped on driveways and readily accessible. A small handful of grapes seem very benign but they can cause kidney failure in a day.

What do you do if your dog eats grapes? If you are prepared, you’ll know that you will likely need to induce vomiting. Call the vet as you are pulling the peroxide out of the first aid kit and if they tell you that this is the course of action to take, you’ll be prepared.

Some things should absolutely not be induced. Certain things can cause damage to the throat if brought back up and need to be neutralized in the stomach. Activated charcoal is used for this and can be kept in tablet form in your first aid kit or you can rush to the vet and let them pour it into a sedated dog, via a tube inserted into their stomach.

The charcoal will encapsulate and capture the poison, preventing the body from absorbing it. Again, this is a life-saving thing to have on hand if you are a far drive from a clinic.

Consider Having Insurance for Injuries and Emergencies

Pet insurance is a good investment to have. Policies are similar to health insurance for humans. Many times it will cover preventative care, such as routine exams and possibly even cover annual vaccinations.

Keeping your pet in excellent health is important. Having the insurance will help you when the unexpected happens. Sadly, accidents happen and most veterinary clinics are unable to provide service without guarantee of payment. Insurance can help your pet get seen immediately, regardless of the emergency. It is worth every penny to have it.

Puppies are especially expensive sometimes. A friend had a young beagle who ate an entire box of thumbtacks. At 3 months of age, he had to have emergency surgery to remove all of the tacks before they punctured his stomach or his intestines. The surgery was over $2000.

Without pet insurance, my friend and his wife would have had no choice but to decline treatment, let the dog suffer or euthanize him. That’s no choice to have to make, trust me. Get the insurance and rest easy. Their beagle puppy made a full recovery.

This story makes another very important point. When you bring a young puppy into your home, it’s a great idea to go through your house and make sure that nothing is left down for the puppy to get into. Remember that they eat everything and will chew on electrical cords. Never leave them unsupervised. If they get cut, at least you know you can apply Neosporin and they will make a full recovery.