Our pets frequently sustain cuts, abrasions, and other skin injuries. The source of the injury, the size and severity of the wound, and the location of the damage all affect the choice of treatment. An accurate evaluation of the wound is crucial. Natural remedies can be used to cure a variety of minor injuries at home. A few of them can easily be accessed by owners in the average Filipino home.
To choose the best course of action for the wound, it is crucial to carefully assess it. The presence of bacteria, foreign objects, ongoing trauma and infection brought on by licking or scratching, or movement at the damaged area are all things to take into account as they may affect your pet’s capacity to heal.
A number of “traditional” treatments are making a comeback and have been proven effective in treating wounds, including those that are difficult, slow to heal, and/or infected. In order to prevent the development of bacterial resistance, these topical treatments eliminate microorganisms using pH and osmolarity. To use topical medicines correctly and treat patients successfully, thorough research and knowledge are essential.
(istock photo-1315042436-170667a. Photo taken from 500+ pictures/Download Free Images on Unsplash. )
How to best help your pet when wounded.
If your pet is in discomfort or upset, proceed with caution. Because of the wound, he might be more likely to unintentionally scratch or bite. If your pet won’t allow you to examine the wound, speak with your veterinarian.
Bleeding should be stopped first. With the use of a clean towel or dressing, gently to moderately press on the wound. For roughly 10 minutes, pressure must be exerted.
Seek immediate veterinary attention if the bleeding doesn’t stop or you notice the blood is pulsing (which is a sign of an injured artery).
The next step is to clean the wound after the bleeding has been stopped. Gently rinse the wound with lukewarm saline solution or other all-natural cleaners. To remove discharge and debris, use a clean cloth or piece of gauze.
Up till healing has taken place, clean and inspect the wound once every couple of days.
Keep the wound tidy and dry. Keep your pet indoors as much as possible and refrain from letting her swim.
Allowing your pet to lick or scratch at the wound is not advised. An Elizabethan collar, a pet clothing with medical instructions, or a thin bandage can stop this from happening. To protect hurt paws, use a clean pair of socks.
When dressing a pet’s wound, proceed with extreme caution! More issues may arise from an improperly applied bandage than from the wound itself. In case you want assistance with bandaging, kindly consult a veterinarian.
If using a bandage, the dressing must be changed every day until the wound is healing and there is no longer any discharge.
A few suggested natural cleaning agents.
Boiling two cups (500 ml) or one pint (one quart) of water produces a saline solution. As soon as it is still hot, add one teaspoon of table salt and place it in a clean container. It should be left to cool to room temperature. A sealed container can keep the solution in the refrigerator for up to a week. A lukewarm saline solution can be a soothing cleaning agent for itchy or sensitive wounds.
(Photo taken from Dreamstine stock photos.)
With a vigorously brewed herbal tea used as a spray, rinse, wash, or compress, any wound can be cleaned and given the green light to repair.
When applied topically or sprayed on the skin, teas containing calming anti-inflammatory herbs like German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), or lavender help lessen itching and pain.
Use two teaspoons of dried herb or two tablespoons of fresh herb per cup of boiling water to make an herbal tea for cleaning or treating wounds. Tea should be covered and allowed to steep until cold. Apply as required, up to several times daily, after straining and cooling.
First aid has historically included the use of apple cider vinegar. Vinegar calms the irritated skin, enhances coat, promotes healing, and aids in the deterrence of fleas and ticks when applied to cuts, wounds, dull hair, skin infections, calluses, and itchy regions.
Try this straightforward herb mixture in vinegar for an antiquated skin tonic. Any combination of calendula blossoms, rose petals, juniper berries, lavender stalks or flowers, lemon peel, orange peel, sage, cinnamon, cloves, fresh or dried rosemary leaves, and/or chamomile blossoms can be used. Fill a glass jar only one-third full with dried herbs, then arrange the herbs loosely. Pour the raw, unpasteurized organic cider vinegar over the herbs. For a month or more, place the jar in a warm location, either in or out of the sun, with the lid snugly on.
Place in a cool, dark area after straining and transferring to storage bottles. Shake thoroughly before applying to maintain a healthy coat, clean cuts, treat sores, ward off insects, and calm inflamed skin. Replace with plain white vinegar if your dog has white fur or a very light coat. (Cj Puotinen, Natural Remedies for Cleaning Dog Wounds, Whole Dog Journal, 6 July 2006)
Natural salves and other home therapies to prevent infection and hasten wound healing.
Granulated sugar has long been used to treat wounds like burns, ulcers, and mechanical wounds. Due to its high osmolality, sugar attracts lymph that is rich in nutrients and water into the wound, supporting the healing tissues. Sugar also puts bacteria under significant osmotic stress, which disrupts cell signaling and cell wall permeability and ultimately kills the bacteria. Osmostic stress has an impact on bacterial cells because they divide quickly, making them more vulnerable to metabolic assaults. Sugar also draws macrophages and creates a protein-rich layer of protection by hastening the shedding of dead tissue and enabling the formation of a granulation bed. Inflammatory cells and sloughing dead cells produce this protein layer.
This approach necessitates frequent bandage changes. Wet-to-dry bandages drain away moisture and aid mechanical debridement while sugar bandages lose their osmotic pull once the sugar starts to dissolve.
According to historical records, honey has been used topically by Egyptians for over 4000 years to cure wounds. Interest in using honey as a supplement to wound care has just recently become more widespread in medicine. Honey contains antimicrobial properties and improves wound granulation and epithelialization. Due to its high osmolarity, acidity, and peroxide activity, honey proves to have antimicrobial properties.
According to research, the production of inflammatory cytokines from the surrounding tissue and the attraction of macrophages to the wound are what cause honey to improve wound healing. (Jennifer L. Wardlaw, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS and Kristen O’Connell, Unique Therapies for Difficult Wounds, Today’s Veterinary Practice, July/August 2011)
As a carrier oil for essential oils, coconut oil is superb. Its medium-chain fatty acids are effective against pathogenic bacteria, viruses, yeasts, fungus, and parasites, making it the ideal salve or dressing for cuts and wounds of all kinds. Coconut oil only has one drawback: it solidifies at temperatures below 75°F. Keep a tiny quantity in a bottle or jar so you can reheat it up quickly with hot water.
Another drawback with coconut oil is that most dogs enjoy the flavor and will rapidly lick it off. Keep the wound moist with coconut oil if it is in an area that your dog cannot access. Or, better yet, put a cone on your pet.
Strong antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal components are found in tree resin or pitch. In reality, our native trees’ pitch has been used for generations as a folk cure to treat a variety of conditions and injuries, including burns, scalds, surgical incisions, gum infections, poisonings, rashes, ringworm, and staph infections. (Cj Puotinen, Natural Remedies for Cleaning Dog Wounds, Whole Dog Journal, 6 July 2006)
With the Molave tree, for example, an infusion or a decoction of the wood is an antidote to poisoning. The wood and the bark are used to cure wounds and poisonous bites.
The slurry of bark of a Neem tree is externally used for inflammation and injuries. The ashes of the leaves and flowers are externally used for skin diseases. (Maximo V. Lanting, Jr. Concepcion M. Palaypayon, Forest Tree Species with Medicinal Uses, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau Department of Environment and Natural Resources College, Laguna 4031, September 2002)
There are many other trees and plants that can be used for home remedies but one must first do a thorough research before trying such therapies. The ones we have mentioned above are just a few proven natural treatments that are already tested and proven effective and safe.
About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist. She is a solo parent for 15 years now because she is wife to a desaparacido. She and her daughter are animal lovers and are active in advocating not only human rights but the rights of animals as well.