Is it safe to use Lidocaine or hydrocortisone on my dog's cuts?

No this is not safe to do. I would gently clean Archie's wound with warm water and antiseptic soap. To keep him from licking at it, you can put an Ecollar on him. You can get one at a pet store or make one at home. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and he will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it.

Yes, you can use it, but if you think your dog has an infection I would not recommend using it. I would also not recommend using it for more than a week as this cream can cause thinning of the skin which can result in fragile and broken skin.

Lidocaine is used frequently in veterinary medicine as local anesthetic and medications against arrhythmia. Usually is not helpful in suburns, as the best would be to protect the skin and hydrate it. Specific treatment of sunburn is based on the severity of the burn, so please refer to your local vet for it. 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.

Ear infections (unless your pet has mites, which are not as common in dogs) are not contagious. Also I would recommend discontinuing the hydrocortisone spray because it is merely a bandaid and does not treat for any possible infection in the ear itself. If your other pet does lick Diesels ears, then the moisture could set up for yeast to then grow in the ear and cause an infection. So make sure to dry the ears out and use a good Ear drying cleanser (available at your local pet store) as often as needed. Then it is best to get your other pets ears actually treated with ear medication (antibacterial +/- antifungal) through your vet. Using steroids on the skin long term can also cause issues and lead to unwanted side effects (i.e. hair loss, infections, etc).

Hello, topical lidocaine rarely gets absorbed or is absorbed in very small quantities unless it is used in a wide are of the body. Local lidocaine use is considered a class B medication for use in pregnant animals. That is, there is no recognized risk for fetus, however adequate studies have not been performed in humans or animals to identify potential risks. I would recommend consulting with your primary care veterinarian prior to administering this medication on your pet. An e-collar will also help decrease the chances that your pet is licking at the area. Hope this helps and best of luck.

I'm sorry to hear Hazel has a cut in her side. If it is deep, it may require stitches (difficult to tell from the picture). If it is superficial and isn't hot to the touch, swollen, painful or having discharge, make sure it is clean and dry and monitor it for the next 24 hours. If it worsens or doesn't appear to be healing or she starts licking it, then I would have Hazel evaluated by her regular veterinarian and start any treatment that may be needed.

A picture of Vinnie's wound or more or of a description of its size and location would be helpful in giving you advice. If it is a small wound on the skin (less than a centimeter in size) you could try gently cleaning the area with hydrogen peroxide and applying a triple antibiotic ointment to help it heal. However, if Vinnie's wound is larger or not healing within a few days I'd recommend he see a veterinarian for evaluation. If the wound is large enough he may need antibiotics or even stitches to help it heal. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!