My dog licked a sore. Can I use betadine for temporary relief before vet?

I am not sure if ingesting the powder has any side effects but it certainly is not going to help the wounds heal if he just licks it off. I think the best thing is to treat the main problem of itching and prevent him from scratching and licking. He could have allergies, bacterial skin infection, fleas, mites, etc. If he has allergies than your vet can prescribe an oral antihistamine or corticosteroid to control the itching so he doesn't get hot spots. If he has fleas they should be treated and you should use a monthly flea prevention, like NexGard, Frontline, or Advantage. If mites could be a possibility than your vet can do a skin scrape to look for mites and treat. He may also need an oral antibiotic to treat a secondary bacterial infection on his skin. You can give him a bath with a medicated shampoo and see if that helps. I like Betagen Spray for local treatment of wounds because it dries fast and has an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory in the spray. If your vet is not able to control his itching you could get a second opinion or take him to a dermatologist. Hope his problem resolves soon!

Ouch! That does look like a bit of a sore spot. If you have an appointment already scheduled, I would just place an Elizabethan (cone) collar on Bentley to prevent him from continuing to lick the food as licking it can make the spot worse and introduce bacteria/cause an infection in an already inflamed wound. Keeping the sore spot clean and dry with the use of a washcloth is also a good idea until your appointment. If you do see any rapid changes in size, it starts oozing debris badly, or it is painful enough that Bentley can't walk on it, then trying to get in for an appointment sooner is best.

If Snowy has a visible wound that appears infected it is best to seek veterinary care asap. Open infected wounds will need cleaning from your vet and antibiotics to help it heal. You will also need to stop Snowy from licking or chewing at the area as that will only make the infection worse by introducing more bacteria into the wound. After treatment, using an Elizabethan (cone) collar or old t-shirt to keep him from licking and scratching at the wound is best to help it heal. Your vet may also recommend medicated shampoos, flea medications, daily allergy meds, or other treatments for long-term relief of the initial cause of the itching.

Dudley's lesion looks most suspicious for a hot spot (acute moist dermatitis). You can try carefully clipping the longer hair around the lesion and cleaning it daily with a diluted antiseptic solution (such as chlorhexidine or betadine). Be sure to rinse and dry the area thoroughly! If Dudley seems to be scratching or rubbing at this lesion, keep an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent further skin irritation. If the lesion grows, or is not improving in the next week, Dudley should go to his vet. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Any topical product you apply will promptly be licked off. This could be localized infection or inflammation. An allergic reaction or mass cannot be ruled out by image alone. Legally, we are prohibited from telling to medicate the spot in the absence of a physical exam. Ideally, Lana should be physically examined by your veterinarian for a firm diagnosis. She may need systemic treatment as opposed to topical. In the meantime, place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent pawing or rubbing. Keep the area as clean and dry as possible. Wipe her mouth after she drinks or eats.

Poor guy. Yes you can put diluted Betadine 50:50 with warm water on it to antiseptically cleanse the area. Hopefully it will heal over the next few days. You may also have to clip the hair around it to prevent debris from the hair from contaminating it, which can lead to infection. If it does get infected, then he will need to see a vet for oral antibiotics and debridement of the area. If the cut is too deep, then he may need stitches.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking (if any). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!