General Information about Burns in Dogs, Cats and Horses, Farm, Zoo and Wild Animals:

What are burns?

Burns are not only caused by heat. Burns can be thermal (caused by extreme heat or extreme cold), steam, electrical, inhalation, radiant (like sunburn) or chemical (caused by chemical acids). A burn always means damage of the skin, no matter what caused it. In order to qualify the degree of the burn and the proper treatment it is important to determine the depth of the damage. The fur of animals usually protects them of first degree burns, however, they can get second and third degree burns.

What is the difference between first, second and third degree burns?

Burns are usually classified into three degrees. First degree burns, second degree burns and third degree burns.

In general, the degree of a burn describes how deep the actual wound is. First degree burns are rather superficial burns that only affect the top layer of the skin, the epidermis. Sunburn for example is the classical first degree burn. Dogs can catch sunburns on their nose, however first degree burns are not very likely on animals since their fur usually protects them really well.

Second degree burns are more serious. They affect the deeper layers of the skin, like the dermis, where many nerve endings, as well as the sweat glands are located. However they can still be treated at home in most cases.

First and second degree burns can usually heal faster and easier because new skin can grow from the dermis.

The deepest layer of the skin is the fat layer that includes the actual nerves and blood vessels. If the epidermis and dermis are fully affected by the burn, the burn is usually referred to as third degree burn. Since the dermis is destroyed skin cannot grow back. That is extending the healing process and making it complicated. Third degree burns can even involve muscles or bones. These burns can cause deep open wounds with blackened tissue.

However, doctors and vets will rather describe a burn with the terms partial thickness or full thickness, with partial burns not affecting the complete dermis whereas full thickness burns do. A full thickness burn (third degree or severe second degree burn) always needs to be treated by a doctor, no matter how small it might seem to you. You could risk scarring and wound infection in your animal if you try to treat the burn on your own.

A different way of classifying burns is minor burns, moderate burns, and major burns. These classifications depend on the percentage and areas of skin burned.

Click here to learn more about the treatment of burns on dogs