What can I use to safely remove a burr stuck in my dog's skin?

If the wound is deep, ideally, your dog should be physically examined by a veterinarian. Sutures (stitches) may be needed to close the cut. If it is superficial, you may be able to manage it at home. I suggest carefully trimming (use clippers, not scissors) the hair away and cleaning the area gently with a diluted Betadine, chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) or similar [antibacterial solution](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-wound-and-skin-care-for-dogs). Dry thoroughly afterwards. A dab of a triple antibiotic ointment can be applied to a minor wound. Place an [e-collar](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-e-collar) (cone) on your dog to prevent licking. If the wound shows no signs of healing after a few days, consider an exam with your veterinarian. Monitor for lethargy,[ fever](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-signs-your-pet-has-a-fever), [vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/vomiting-1/), [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/diarrhea-1/) or loss of appetite. Check the wound daily for redness, swelling, bleeding or discharge. These are all symptoms that warrant a visit to the veterinary clinic. In the future, it is always best and safest to have an [experienced groomer](https://www.petcoach.co/article/heres-why-you-need-a-professional-groomer) or your veterinarian remove any burs or matting from your dog.

I am sorry but I am afraid there isn't a good solution to get it out. You can try baby oil to help it unstick from the skin but I think the best solution would be to take him to your vet and have them clip it out. He will have a bad hair cut but it is better than that area getting infected and needing much more involved treatment. I hope this helps!

I am sorry that your pet is having sore skin due to ticks. You really should invest in a good tick preventative such as Bravecto, Nexgard, Seresto collar or the Preventic collar. This will prevent you from having to bath daily, which causes more skin irritation. The best thing for skin irritation is not oils (which often just get licked off and can cause GI upset if ingested), but instead a calming oatmeal based shampoo or hypoallergenic shampoo (i.e. Duoxo calming shampoo). Also daily fish oils is a natural anti-inflammatory that can help also. Try to limit his baths from now on to once every 2-3 weeks, especially if you are giving him a good high quality tick preventative. Also tick removal does not require a bath, but instead just removal of the entire tick with tweezers, making sure to remove the entire head to help avoid transmission of disease.

Try putting some mayonnaise or coconut oil into the fur; the oils will soften the stickiness of the marshmallow. Then use a fine tooth comb to get it out. It may be tedious but it should work. Using coconut oil or mayo won’t leave any toxic residue on the fur. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

HI there! I'm sorry to hear about Marley's troubles. Of course the best thing to do would be to take Marley to his veterinarian to have the wound examined, to make sure it isn't too deep, and doesn't require sutures or anything else, like antibiotics. However, I understand that isn't an option at the moment A great product to use that's over the counter is Veterycin Plus wound spray or gel. Apply this twice per day, and make sure the wound stays covered where Marley cannot lick at it. If he can reach the wound, place a sock or a t shirt on him so that he can't lick all of the wound medication off once it's applied. If you notice a lot of redness, any swelling, discharge of any kind, a foul odor, or the wound is not starting to heal in 3-5 days, then Marley will need to see a veterinarian. I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Takoda! I would try to shave all the fur away from the area and check closely for other wounds. Then clean the skin with water and a mild soap. Avoid hydrogen peroxide as it can damage the skin. Then apply a triple antibiotic ointment twice daily. If there is a large full thickness gash or puncture it is best to have Takoda seen by a Vet to see if surgery is warranted or oral antibiotics. I hope this helps and I wish Takoda the best!

Let him calm down, then use a bit of olive oil or vegetable oil on a cotton ball. Gently dab the adhesive side of the tape to remove it. You may need to give Champ a few breaks if he gets agitated. You can use treats to distract him during the removal process.