Caring for Dog Burns: Everything You Need to Know

If your dog jumps up for a cuddle on the couch and knocks a scalding cup of coffee over themselves, it can be panic-inducing for both of you. After taking a breath, it’s essential to take prompt action. The wound may appear to be a small, superficial burn. It could also be a large, full-thickness variety. Regardless, delaying appropriate treatment for dog burns can be dangerous. It can increase the risk of developing infections, nasty scarring, or other systemic problems.

Key Points

• • Why Is Dog Burn Care So Important?
  • Types of Burns in Dogs
  • Severity of Burns in Dogs
  • Dog Burn Emergency First Aid
  • What Not to Do When Caring for Dog Burns
  • Do All Dog Burns Require Veterinary Attention?
  • Ongoing Dog Burn Wound Management
  • Reducing the Risk of Dog Burns

Learning about the types and severity of dog burns, as well as how to administer emergency first aid, can increase the chances of healthy healing and reduce the risk of serious complications.

Why Is Dog Burn Care So Important?

Dr. Jamie Richardson is the Head of Veterinary Medicine at Small Door Vet. She explains that proper burn care is essential to prevent infection, minimize pain, and support healing. “Burn wounds compromise the skin’s natural barrier, making it easy for bacteria to enter and cause serious infections,” she says. “Without proper care, burns can worsen, heal slowly, and result in long-term complications like tissue damage or scarring.”

Severe burns can also cause complications such as dehydration, shock, respiratory problems, organ damage, and heart failure, especially when left untreated.

Types of Burns in Dogs

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Dr. Kathleen Ham is an Associate Professor of Soft Tissue Surgery in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida. She explains that the vast majority of dog burn wounds she sees are thermal (heat) burns, but they aren’t the only types.

Knowing the type of burn injury your dog has will help your veterinarian administer the most effective treatment.

• Thermal burns, including from house fires, hot liquids, steam, sunburn, and hot surfaces

• Chemical burns, including from contact with strong acidic (acids) or alkali (bases) solutions, like bleach, other household cleaners, or battery acid

• Electrical burns, including from exposure to live wires, faulty appliances, or water coming into contact with electrical sources

• Mechanical burns, including friction, carpet, or leash burns

Severity of Burns in Dogs

The depth of your dog’s burns and the surface area they cover also influence the type of treatment your veterinarian will administer and the long-term prognosis. “Burns across a large surface area can result in a dog losing a lot of fluids, a lot of proteins,” Dr. Ham says. “Then, the dog can become very systemically sick.”

Superficial Burns (Comparable to First-Degree)

These burns only damage the top outer layer of skin (the epidermis). While superficial burns are often minor wounds that heal quickly, they can still be painful, red, and swollen.

Partial-Thickness Burns (Comparable to Second-Degree)

These burns damage the second layer of skin (the dermis). These more serious wounds are incredibly painful. They often blister, and the skin and tissue can change color and texture. These wounds can take a few weeks to a few months to heal, and there is a greater risk of infection.

Full-Thickness Burns (Comparable to Third-Degree)

Full-thickness burns damage all the skin layers and the subcutaneous fatty tissue that lies below the dermis. These burns don’t cause pain the same way as superficial and partial-thickness burns, but only because they destroy nerve endings. The burn area can be red, white, or black, and healing can take months and there will be permanent scarring. Because it can take time for the overlying skin to die, pet owners can underestimate the severity of full-thickness burns.

Dog Burn Wound Emergency First Aid

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Administering emergency first aid can be a crucial step in halting or slowing the progression of burn wounds. It can also reduce pain, inflammation, and the risk of infection.

• Wear disposable gloves (if possible). This reduces the risk of spreading contaminants into the wound.
• Use a muzzle (if possible). Pain can cause even the most mild-mannered dog to react unexpectedly. Fashioning a make-shift muzzle from a spare leash or roll of gauze can work in a pinch.
• Cool down the burn. Run cool (not cold) tap water over the burn area for 15 to 20 minutes. Dr. Richardson explains this will reduce heat and limit tissue damage.
• Cover (not wrap) the wound. Gently placing a sterile, non-adherent dressing over the wound minimizes the risk of contamination. Laying — not wrapping around — loose strips of cling film is a workable alternative.
• Keep your dog warm. Large or deep burns can lead to hypothermia, so wrapping your dog in a blanket while transporting them to the vet can help to keep them more comfortable.
• Call your vet. “Keep your dog calm and seek veterinary care as soon as possible — burns can worsen quickly beneath the surface,” Dr. Richardson says.

What Not to Do When Caring For Dog Burns Wounds

Here are some things you should avoid when caring for dog burns.

• Don’t use ice to cool burns. This can constrict blood vessels, cause hypothermia, and worsen the injury.

• Don’t apply bandages. When improperly applied, these can exacerbate the injury or stick to the wound. Dr. Ham recommends applying a non-adherent covering.

• Don’t apply human creams or home remedies. Human ointments can be toxic to dogs, butter can do more harm than good, and Dr. Ham says that some soaps and peroxide can be toxic to a dog’s cells.

• Don’t burst blisters. This can increase the risk of an infection developing.

• Don’t immediately apply water to chemical wounds. “It’s really important to look up whatever the substance is, because the treatment won’t always be the same,” Dr. Ham says. “There are some chemicals you don’t actually want to put water on.”

Should Your Vet Assess All Dog Burns?

Seeking emergency veterinary care is essential for deep burns or those covering the face or eyes or a large surface area of the body.

While you can often manage smaller, superficial dog burns conservatively at home, it’s still best to seek veterinary advice. “Even minor burns can be deceptive — what looks small on the surface may involve deeper tissue damage,” Dr. Richardson says. “Pain management is also critical, as burns are very painful. A veterinarian can guide proper wound care, assess the depth of injury, and prescribe antibiotics or pain relief if needed.”

Dr. Ham also recommends having the burn assessed immediately. “Sometimes the extent isn’t going to be apparent for several days,” she says. “You can work with your vet to reassess and determine if it is getting worse and, when it is deep, if it requires surgical debridement [removal of dead, damaged or infected tissue].”

Treatment for more severe burns could include wound dressing, fluid therapy, pain management, skin grafts, or treatment for smoke inhalation.

Ongoing Dog Burn Wound Management

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Always follow your veterinarian’s advice for ongoing, at-home dog burn care, and don’t hesitate to reach back out if you have any concerns. “If your dog seems uncomfortable, stops eating, or the wound isn’t visibly improving after a few days, it’s time to consult your vet,” Dr. Richardson says.

Below is some general guidance that your veterinarian may provide.

Monitor For Signs of Infection

Increased redness, swelling, discharge, foul odor, heat, or pain at the wound site are all changes that merit concern.

Monitor For Skin Turning Black

In the case of deep partial- or full-thickness burns, the wound surface can develop hard, leathery, black, dead tissue known as eschar. Dr. Ham explains that eschar can take a few days to develop, but if you see this, you should return to the vet. Leaving this on the wound can impede healing and harbor infection. It often requires removal in a process known as surgical debridement.

Keep the Wound Moist

“Aloes, hydrogels, or silver sulfide creams are things a lot of pet owners have in their homes,” Dr. Ham says. Applying a layer of these before covering the wound can help keep the tissue moist, promote faster healing, minimize scarring, and reduce the risk of infection. Medical-grade manuka honey is another popular option because of its antibacterial properties.

Never apply any topical treatments without consulting your veterinarian. What is appropriate will depend on the type and severity of the burn wound, and you risk making it worse or causing pain for your dog by applying the wrong treatment or using it in the wrong way.

Protect the Wound

Healing burn wounds can be uncomfortable and itchy. Using a dog cone or medical pet shirt may help prevent your dog from scratching or nibbling at the wound site.

If bandages are covering your dog’s wounds, keep these as dry and clean as possible. Typically, your veterinarian will perform bandage changes.

How to Reduce the Risk of Dog Burns

While it’s impossible to 100% prevent your dog from getting burned, there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of an accident occurring.

• Apply sunscreen. Dr. Ham recommends applying sunscreen to dogs with light, fine or little hair, such as Bull Terriers, Chinese Cresteds, and Whippets.

• Use fireguards. Prevent your dog from getting too close to fires, stoves, and other high-temperature heat sources by using guards or dog gates.

• Keep the kitchen a canine-free zone when cooking. Doing this prevents you from tripping over your pet with a pan of boiling water and keeps them away from hot ovens or spitting oil from woks.

• Run the hose in hot weather. Don’t let your dog drink from a hose without letting it run cool first. On scorching summer days, the water in the pipe can be scalding hot.

• Puppy-proof your electrics. “Chewing on electrical cords can cause burns in the mouth, which will cause a palate defect,” Dr. Ham says.

• Clean up chemicals. Keep bleach and other harsh chemicals or household cleaning products securely stored out of your dog’s reach.