Is a salt bath safe for pet wounds? What about Betadine or Bevodine?

Yes you can use Betadine solution (not the scrub). You will want to mix it with tap water until it is a light iced tea color. Don't use it straight. Chlorhexidine solution would be better to use in my opinion. Be aware that this is not an easy thing to cure and it will take a long time. I recommend soaking the feet with with either chlorhexidine or betadine, drying the foot and applying Neosporin twice daily. Continue the soaks until the ulcerations are gone, but continue the ointment until completely healed. I suggest bedding on towels and changing it daily. If he is in a wire cage you need to take him out of it immediately. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for reaching out about Violet and including a photo. This foot/toe appears fairly swollen. The problem with topical medications is they do not penetrate deeply into wounds, so systemic antibiotics are recommended. If the bird is not placing weight on the foot, a fracture or other damage needs to be considered, where a veterinary visit is recommended. Wounds can be gently treated with warm water and a mild betadyne solution, but still will not penetrate deeply. Good luck.

Dilute it until it looks like weak tea. A general guideline is 1 part Betadine to 10 parts sterile water/saline. This solution won't "sterilize" the wound, but it will keep it clean. Consider using paper towels as substrate until the toe heals.

Epsom salt soaks of the affected foot as well as treating any open wounds and keeping the area clean and free of debris may help with minor infections, however if the foot does not recover, worsens, or Baby blue is showing other signs of illness, it is best to seek veterinary care in person so the area can be properly cleaned, drained, and antibiotics or other treatments started.

You can try warm Epsom salt soaks to relieve swelling. Dissolve 1 tablespoon in 1 cup of warm water. If he will stand in it with the foot submerged, allow it for about 20-30 minutes. If he is wiggling, soak cotton balls with the solution and place on the foot for the recommended length of time. Ideally, he shouldn't get any medication without first speaking with or having him examined by your veterinarian. Systemic antibiotics may be indicated to resolve the infection. Legally, we are prohibited from recommending doses of drugs in the absence of a physical exam and a patient-veterinarian-client relationship.

Hello there! I'm so glad your pups are home safe. It sounds like you are doing right by them until their vet visit with the bandaging and Neosporin (be sure that no one eats the bandages - you certainly don't want any secondary GI problems!). The limping is probably from the paw damage, but your vet will give them a thorough exam to make sure that they don't have any other injuries. I recommend avoiding the Epsom salt soak for any open wounds as it may be irritating. Epsom salts are good for painful joints and the like, but we don't want to put salt into any cuts. If you think anything might be stuck in their paw pads, a soak in lukewarm water with a mild soap solution may be helpful. Just be sure to rinse and dry their paws very well afterwards to avoid any further moisture build-up in between the toes, which may harbor bacteria. I hope they both feel better soon!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. From the pictures, it does not appear to be a major wound, just a superficial wound. For cleansing the wound, you can use a diluted solution of Betadine and Saline mixed together until you have a light brown solution. Use this to clean the area and to help decontaminate the wound. If the wound begins to develop signs of infection such as pus, swelling, etc., I would recommend having Slinky examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate treatment recommendations can be made. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please remember to rate this answer as helpful or not. Thank you!