We’ve all done it. It’s seems to be so called common knowledge. If you or your pet has an open wound, pour a bunch of hydrogen peroxide on it and watch it fizz. That great bubbling action is getting the infection out, right?
Well, not exactly. It’s actually damaging the cells. Hydrogen peroxide can be effective at killing bacteria that don’t like oxygen such as those found in abscesses; however, it’s not very effective at killing bacteria on the surface of skin and it can damage cells.
Here are some better choices for cleansing wounds on animals:
- 0.9% saline solution
- sterile water (or even just clean or boiled water in a pinch),
- one of the ready-made gentle wound cleansers on the market such as Vetericyn or Constant Clens.
Ask your veterinarian about what they would recommend you have in your pet’s first aid kit.
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