Thermal burns in dogs: Identification, immediate care, and when to seek help

Thermal burns in dogs result from exposure to excessive heat sources, which damages tissue. Prompt recognition and appropriate first aid are crucial to minimise injury and prevent complications.

Recognising thermal burns in dogs

The full extent of burn injuries may take up to three days to manifest as heat dissipates slowly from burned skin. During this period, tissue damage can progress. Common signs include:

  • Skin symptoms:

    • Reddened, blistered skin with swelling and inflammation
    • Singed hair with a distinctive smell
    • Painful or hot to the touch
    • Charred or discolored skin (black or yellow-white)
    • Thickened, firm crusts (eschar) forming within 7-10 days

  • Behavioural indicators:

    • Excessive licking or grooming of the affected area
    • Signs of pain or discomfort upon contact

If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, it’s essential to initiate immediate first aid and consult a vet.

Immediate first aid steps

  1. Ensure safety and remove from heat source:

    • Safely remove your dog from the source of heat to prevent further injury.

  2. Apply cool water:

    • Gently flush the affected area with cool (not cold) running water for at least 5-10 minutes to dissipate heat and reduce pain. Avoid using ice or very cold water, as this can cause further tissue damage.

  3. Protect the burned area:

    • Place a sterile, non-stick gauze or a clean, moist cloth over the burn. Do not apply ointments, creams, or home remedies like butter, as they can worsen the injury.

  4. Prevent licking:

    • Use an Elizabethan collar to prevent your dog from licking or biting the injured area, which could lead to infection.

  5. Seek veterinary care:

    • Contact your vet promptly for further evaluation and treatment. Provide details about the cause and extent of the burn.

Important: For burns covering a large area, avoid immersing your dog in cold water, as this can lead to shock. Instead, apply cool compresses to the affected areas.

Common causes of thermal burns

Thermal burns in dogs often result from exposure to:

  • Household hazards:

    • Hot surfaces like stovetops or radiators
    • Spilled hot liquids
    • Electric heating pads

  • Environmental sources:

    • Open flames or fire
    • Hot pavement or sand
    • Automobile mufflers

Preventing access to these hazards and supervising your dog can reduce the risk of accidental burns.

 

Treatment for thermal burn

Burns are classified as superficial partial thickness, deep partial thickness or full thickness. Different type of burns warrant different treatment. However, some burns may take up to three days to fully declare and some animals may have a combination of burns of different severities so management may be complicated. Severe burns are challenging cases to manage and often require long term nursing and wound management until full recovery.

If your dog is presented within two hours, your vet may apply some chilled saline on the wound. Minor burns covering <15% of the body usually require wound dressings and antibiotics to prevent skin infections and aid healing, as well as pain relief.

Burns covering 15-50% of the body can cause shock, and affected animals usually require intravenous fluids support and supplemental oxygen are recommended, as well as pain relief.

Burns to over 50% of the body require all of the above and often prolonged intensive care.

Wound management generally involves pain relief, antibiotics, silver sulfadiazine cream (silver based antimicrobial ointment) and/or silver based antimicrobial dressings. In moderate to severe burns, a general anesthetic for debriding and removing dead or dying tissues or eschar may be required once the full extent of the burn is clear. Dressing changes are initially frequent and may require sedation or anaesthesia.

Nutrition requirements are up to triple the normal amount in burn patients. If the patient is not eating well, or if the burns are around the face and it is too uncomfortable to eat, a feeding tube should be considered to ensure adequate caloric intake.

Concerned about thermal burns? Contact Lort Smith for help

If your dog has sustained a thermal burn, prompt action is vital. Our North Melbourne Accident and Emergency department is open 365 days a year, no bookings required. If possible, we recommend calling to let us know you are on the way.

You can also call or book an appointment online for our North Melbourne or Campbellfield clinics.

 

References

Garzotto CK (2009) In: Small Animal Critical Care Medicine. Ed. Silverstein DC & Hopper K. Missouri, USA: Saunders Elsevier.

House A (2013) Medical and Surgical Management of Burns in Companion Animals. Webinar organised by Lort Smith Animal Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, hosted by Vet Education

veteducation.wistia.com