Welcome To Our Complete Guide To Hydrogen Peroxide For Dogs.
Looking At The Various Potential Uses It Can Have, And Whether Each One Is Safe For Your Pet.
From Wounds To Ears, Tear Staining To Inducing Vomiting.
Everything You Need To Know About Hydrogen Peroxide For Dogs.
In our daily lives, humans often use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an antiseptic.
We use it to clean wounds, because it has antibacterial properties.
We also use it as a mouth rinse.
Hydrogen peroxide helps with mouth irritation and mucus removal in people.
Hydrogen peroxide can also be used for bleaching.
It’s one of the main ingredients in many teeth whitening systems, for example.
So, if your pup is having issues, or needs a wound cleaned, can you use hydrogen peroxide on dogs? Is it safe for dogs?
Find out with this guide! We’ll give you all the information you need to know about hydrogen peroxide and dogs.
Can you use Hydrogen Peroxide on Dogs?
Hydrogen peroxide and its effects have been studied extensively in the last 100 years, in part because it has been used to treat everything from bacterial-related illnesses to cancers in humans.
Despite the huge amount of research, there are still so many questions about the therapeutic use of this compound. You’ll find conflicting information everywhere, and not that much of it related to dogs.
So the answer to the question “Can you put hydrogen peroxide on dogs?” is not clear-cut.
Yes, you can. But it’s not always the right thing to do.
Our research shows that there are certain controlled situations in which hydrogen peroxide can possibly be helpful for dogs.
But you should always consult your vet when your pet is unwell and see what they prescribe.
It’s not ideal for all situations in which humans often turn to hydrogen peroxide. Thus, it’s much better to use medications that are designed for the dog’s specific conditions.
Ultimately, we can’t recommend hydrogen peroxide for wound care with dogs, based on the evidence.
If your dog eats something poisonous, the careful use of hydrogen peroxide is recommended to get your dog to throw it back up.
However, large items if made to regurgitate could cause your dog to choke! So it just isn’t that simple.
Also, hydrogen peroxide has been known to be effective in de-skunking dogs. Many home recipes for removing skunk odor include hydrogen peroxide.
But are they entirely safe?
Let’s take a look at these areas in more detail, to see where the problems arise.
Dog Wound and Skin Care with Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is basically an antiseptic and a disinfectant, often made available in a three percent solution or higher for cleaning wounds and for topical skin care.
In studies, it has been shown to be relatively effective in removing bacteria including E. coli. It has germicidal properties and may also remove contaminants mechanically.
The bubbling action, which is basically oxygen being activated, may help physically remove oils and other agents.
H2O2 has a broad spectrum of activity against bacteria, and decomposes into water and oxygen when it comes into contact with organic matter.
However, H2O2 use has declined in recent years because of studies showing oxygen bubbles forming inside human circulation systems as a result of improper use within closed spaces or under pressure.
Also, research shows that hydrogen peroxide may not be the best alternatives for wound care or skin infection care even in humans, because it is toxic to living cells.
In fact, the cytotoxicity of hydrogen peroxide may outweigh its antibacterial qualities.
As a result, it may slow down the body’s processes for healing itself.
And you must be careful of hydrogen peroxide in concentrated quantities.
It is also available in 35% solutions or higher, sometimes called “food grade,” and this must be diluted for most uses.
If hydrogen peroxide is used at such high concentrations without being diluted, and it if’s ingested, it can cause corrosive tissue damage and other problems.
Given that there are other antiseptics on the market that are quite effective, giving dogs hydrogen peroxide may not 