Liquid bandages have been used for a long time to treat wounds and minor cuts. It is a quick and painless way which also does not require any additional trips to the vets to get it taken off. You may be wondering if you can use a liquid bandage on your dog, and to answer this simply you can!
Using a liquid bandage on your dog’s wounds and minor cuts is fine. When you use a liquid bandage, it almost works immediately, and your dog’s movements would not be hindered. You can use the bandage on areas that are tough to heal like the tail, ears, paws, nails and nose. The liquid bandage can be convenient for those of you who have fussy dogs that tend to chew off band aids that are more traditional.
However, not every wound would be able to be treated by using a liquid bandage.
When can you use a liquid bandage on your dog? Can you use a human liquid bandage or even superglue on your dog?
Liquid Bandages For Dog’s, Is There Such A Thing?
Tissue adhesives, which is commonly known as a liquid bandage is a sticky polymer ingredient that applies itself as a foam or spray directly onto the wound.
If your dog hates the standard dog bandage and is always trying to take them off, there are many liquid bandages designed for pets.
A liquid bandage for dogs covers the wounds surface and bonds its edges and protects them from bacteria. The liquid bandage also helps regulate the moisture balance so the wounds can heal.
An advantage of using the liquid bandage on your dog is that it is super convenient and gets to work fast. When you apply this to your dog’s wound in minutes it turns from a liquid into a seal that is flexible. Your dog will still be able to maintain his movement without distress or discomfort, which is hard to do with a normal bandage.
Whilst the liquid bandage is easy to administer, a lot of them are waterproof. An environment that is wet is known to higher the risk of skin softening. This will then hinder the formation of the infection and the granulation tissue.
When using a liquid bandage, you can take ease in knowing your dog’s wound is protected from pathogens. You will still be able to bathe them and let them play outside in all weathers.
Human Liquid Bandages, Are They Safe For Dogs?
Most of the time, using liquid bandages that are meant for humans should not be placed on a dog’s wound.
It may not be unsafe or dangerous, however there are reasons as to why human liquid bandages are not great and they should not be used to protect your dog’s wounds.
One of them being that most of the human liquid bandages are in fact alcohol based. This will cause an irritation and sting to your dog when applying the bandage, this will cause distress to your dog. Also, this may make your dog hesitant to liquid bandages if needed at a later date.
A lot of the human liquid bandages contain harsh chemicals that can be toxic when ingested. So, if you do not want to use a E-cone on your dog then looking for bandages designed for dogs would be your best option, that way if ingested they will not be harmed.
When To Use A Liquid Bandage For Your Dog?
Liquid bandages will work best on your dog if he has a scrapes or little cuts. There are some liquid bandages that can help with the irritation of skin allergies, minor ulcers and hot spots.
The fact that normal dog band aid is so convenient you can use them on areas that are difficult to reach and to cover; those being the nose, around the eyes, ears, paws, nails and tail.
Here are some important tips and rules on when to use a liquid bandage for your dog’s wounds.
- When treating a wound or cut, this should be small approximately 4cm or less as well as being superficial. If your dogs wound is deep and larger than 4cm contacting your veterinarian would be the point of call prior to starting any home treatments using a tissue adhesive.
- The wound should be kept clean and dry with no debris. If you see sharp reddening or discharge from the wound. then there is a chance that this has become infected. If this is the case, using a liquid bandage on your dog will cause more harm and seeking professional guidance is a must.
- A cut or wound should be linear and have no skin tension around it’s edges. Wounds that are jagged accompanied by uneven edges, punctures and bites will most probably need to be seen by a professional first.
- If there is slight bleeding from the wound, then this is fine. You would go for a liquid bandage that has ingredients like ferric subsulfate this will help the process called clotting.
Is It Safe To Use Super Glue To Close A Dog’s Wound?
A lot of people have used the method of using traditional super glue to close any minor wounds. And even though this does work for some types of cuts on us humans, it is not to be used to close a wound on a dog.
This is because all superglues are not the same. The superglues we have in our home are not FDS-approved for medical purposes. When applicated on a wound it causes a sensation that burns and would stress your dog as well as irritate his skin. The toxicity level is not known.
Hardware super glues have an appealing smell to dogs, so when ingested, no atter the amount it can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, intestinal blockage and throat obstruction.
When using super glue on a wound this can also cause contamination as the glue is not sterile when taken out of the package. You need to make sure you do not pour the glue straight into the wound.
Medical super glues such as Dermabon as well as vet glues like Liquivet and VetGlu are sterile and are known to cause fewer negative reactions and skin irritation. These are more flexible when they’re solidified, and they do not hinder the movement.
A traditional household superglue would not work, so it is best to get a vet liquid bandage that is made for bets to avoid any risks or complications.
Which Liquid Bandage Is Best For Dogs?
Choosing the best liquid bandage for a dog can be hard as there is so many varieties and brands. Here are sone features and ingredients to look for when choosing the best liquid bandage for your dog.
- NO ALCOHOL. When you use a liquid bandage on your dog, you need to make sure that there is no alcohol as this will cause stinging sensation as well as adding to your dog’s stress.
- FAST DRYING. It is not easy to make your dog keep still, especially when you are catering to their cuts or wounds. If your dog is fussy then choose a liquid bandage that doesn’t take a while to dry. There are some that can get to work as quickly as 30 seconds to create a protective film.
- HAS ANESTHETIC. Cuts that seem relatively innocent can cause your dog a lot of pain and discomfort. A local anaesthetic like benzocaine can help soothe your dog and provide them with quicker relief.
- CONTAINS A BITTER AGENT. Many dogs will start to pick at their wounds when they become injured. A dog’s saliva has healing agents, however constant licking can slow down the healing process. A liquid bandage will most likely contain a non-toxic substance that is bitter, which will stop your dog from licking its wound.
- ONE THAT IS SAFE TO INGEST. When choosing a liquid bandage. Make sure that you choose one that contains no harsh chemicals, or preservatives or petroleum’s. This can cause an allergy and/or an upset stomach when it is ingested
- A liquid bandage should form a seal on top of the wound, this should not allow water to enter but still be breathable this will encourage the healing process.