Is hydrogen peroxide safe for my dog's infected, biting skin?

Unfortunately hydrogen peroxide doesn't help pets with any type of skin condition. In fact we don't use it for any wounds because it can potentially cause cell necrosis (dying off of normal tissue). This appears to be a deep infection, which is likely why it hasn't healed well for you. You can try cleaning it with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water and the hair needs to be shaved around this to allow the skin to breathe and heal well. I would not place Neosporin on a wound like this, because it likely won't help. You may be able to find a hot spot spray at your local pet store that can be used. However, there is a good chance this won't heal without the help of your vet, who has stronger oral antibiotics and topical medical sprays to take care of this properly. I would schedule an appt if the Betadine and clip are not able to improve this area well within the next few days. Best wishes getting Murphy's skin to heal. Take care.

I don’t appreciate any parasites from these photos but the only thing I could think of that would be in a wound like that would be maggots and typically they’re crawling on top and inside the tissue. This looks like a pretty extensive wound with a deep infection and I really think she should be on oral antibiotics as well as something a little bit stronger to use topically on the wound. Hydrogen peroxide is not indicated for this. Hydrogen peroxide will destroy not only the bad tissue but also the good tissue that’s trying to come in so, in essence it delays healing. so, whatever you do stop using hydrogen peroxide. I can understand trying to want to deal with this at home but I think she really needs to see your veterinarian at this point.

A definite NO on the hydrogen peroxide! 1. It is best to shave the hair around the affected area if at all possible. If you don't have clippers you can use scissors to shorten the hair - just be careful you don't cut him. If you can't shave or trim the hair don't stress too much about it. 2. You can clean and treat all in one step with these medicated pads. Twice a day. ( https://www.chewy.com/pet-md-chlorhexidine-antiseptic-dog/dp/146635 ) 3. If he is really itching you can also apply this topical hydrocortisone spray after the wound is dry from the using the pads. Once a day should be enough. ( https://www.chewy.com/zymox-enzymatic-topical-spray/dp/125742 ) If no improvement after about 5-7 days then you should have your vet check him out. Sometimes oral antibiotics are needed to clear these up if they are bad enough. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

You can use the hydrogen peroxide to clean off the blood but you should not use it several times because it can actually slow down the healing process. It's better to gently wash the paw with hand soap. Rinse it well and then pat it dry. Napoleon should also be wearing and elizabethan collar at all times to prevent licking as well as have strict exercise restriction to prevent further trauma.

Hello. This looks like a pretty significant little pyoderma going on. Loki may need a stronger medication than the Neosporin to treat this, & the peroxide can actually hinder healing if used too much. Switch to an antimicrobial skin cleaner like Hibiclens ( available at any pharmacy ) & stop using the peroxide. You can continue the Neosporin, but I would encourage you to see your vet in case another treatment is necessary. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor pup! If the wound isn't healing, it's likely that it is infected and will need prescription antibiotics to treat it effective. Because of this, I would recommend taking your dog to the vet tomorrow morning for an exam - he/she can take a look at the wound and determine what is needed to treat it. In the meantime, if you're able to gently clip the hair and matted discharge from over the wound, this should be fine to do. You can also gently clean the area with some warm water and antibacterial soap. I would not recommend using peroxide, as this may sting and often causes additional tissue damage and irritation which can make healing more difficult.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This sounds like a focal infection. You can try to use chlorhexidine containing pads (such as the Douxo chlorhexidine 3% PS pads) to clean the are twice daily for 7 days. You may find these online or at your local pet store. If there is no improvement or in the meantime this appears to be getting worse, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!