What is polysporin?
This is an ointment type of medication that is mainly used to treat skin infections mainly in humans.
It can be prescribed or administered over the counter in some pharmaceuticals
Polysporin is safe to use on dogs to treat their skin infections and other skin-related conditions especially if your dog has ever used it before. It is not known to have any adverse effects on dogs and is said to be prescribed by many vets to treat dogs’ skin conditions. Of course, it is always important to consult with your vet whether it is safe for your dog especially because your vet has your dog’s medical history meaning they will be able to determine whether your dog may be allergic to that medication or not.
Below are other factors you should consider before giving your dog polysporin for their infections.
Is it safe for your dog?
Polysporin is safe for your dog to use especially if prescribes by a vet.
If not prescribed, it is advisable to ask about what allergies your dog has to state them to the health worker when getting the medication over-the-counter.
The other thing would be to ask about the medicine your dog is on if your dog is on any medication.
This is because polysporin is a medication that tends to react badly to some other specific medication if taken together.
If you decide to get your dog the medicine as an over-the-counter drug for your dog, it is good to get a prescription to know how many times to use the medication on your dog to avoid misusing the drug on your dog’s skin.
A vet’s opinion on the drug
When it comes to any kind of medication, it is always preferred to seek your vet’s assistance if there is any doubt regarding whether your dog has allergies to some chemical substances that may be found in the music.
Here are some of the reasons why it is important to seek your vet’s opinion on the medicine even if it is an informal one over the phone about the medication you are giving your dog.
The focus will be on the substances in the medicine that cause allergies in most dog breeds.
You may not know whether your dog has allergies to the following substances:
Bacitracin or polymyxin B: these are key substances in the drug polysporin.
So in the case where your dog is allergic to these substances, it is advisable to talk to your vet and find out what other options your dog has when it comes to other ointments that can help with the same problem.
If your dog is allergic to the substance, it is better to consult and get a better option for your dog to treat the condition.
If you do not know whether your dog is allergic but they seem to be developing an allergy, it is important to talk to your vet to see how the allergy can be contained.
When reporting such a case, it is always good to give all the information tied to the allergy including what your dog has eaten in the past 24 hours.
This is usually advised because in some cases, the medicine may not be the problem but what your dog has eaten or what has touched their skin might be the cause of the allergy.
What are the things you need to ensure as you use the medication on your dog?
When using the ointment on your dog’s skin, it is good to follow a few instructions on how to use the medication and how to store it as well.
1. When using the ointment, it is only used by applying it to the affected area. Under no circumstances can it be swallowed or used any other way.
In case it is swallowed by your dog, call the vet for assistance and read the manual on what to do before getting assistance from your vet.
2. Storing the ointment carefully also helps to avoid the above situation.
The best place to store them is in high cupboards where your dog or even small children cannot reach.
Thus avoiding situations that involve people or your dog eating the medicine.
At the same, it has to be a place that is safe for the medication as well.
3. During application, clean the area to be applied before applying the ointment.
4. If possible, you could wrap the place applied with the ointment to prevent other foreign objects from sticking on the skin.
5. After application, clean your hands thoroughly to avoid getting the ointment in your food or your dog’s food.
6. If you suspect that your dog may be allergic, it is advised to start with a small amount on a specific part of their bodies to monitor the body’s reaction to the medication.
If the response is good, you can then proceed with its use.
In case it doesn’t, stop immediately and seek further assistance.
What should you not do when your dog is taking polysporin as medication?
The above is a lot of what you need to do.
But there are few key things you must avoid for your dog to prevent a bad reaction to the medication.
1. Do not give your dog the ointment if they are on another type of medication that reacts to the polysporin.
2. Do not skip doses or put in extra doses in compensation for missing doses.
That is how medicine works. Just wait for the next application time and apply then.
3. Last but not least, do not confuse the medicine with another ointment known as Neosporin.
Because Neosporin is poisonous to dogs and could have deadly effects.
Conclusion
It is always recommended to seek your vet’s advice before trying out any new ointment medication for your dog.
This is to prevent allergic reactions that may occur due to allergies to some chemical substances in the medicine.
It is also to prevent medicine that is being taken from reacting with the polysporin ointment.
In case of anything, seek your vet’s assistance.
