Chemical Injuries
Injury to tissue caused by contact with harmful chemicals such as lye, acids, and strong cleaning supplies.
What to Do
** Wash the contaminated area with large volumes of flowing water for at least 15 minutes.
** In the case of dry chemicals, brush them away carefully, taking special care to protect your and your pet's eyes, nose, and mouth.
** If the chemical is in the eye, flush the eye with large volumes of water or saline for 15 minutes. See below for saline recipe)
** Seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.
What NOT to Do
** Do not apply "neutralizing agents" to the skin or eyes. They can cause a chemical reaction that produces heat and cause further injury to tissues.
** Do not immerse your pet in "non-flowing" water if a dry chemical has spilled on him. These dry chemicals are usually activated by water. The water must be flowing in order to rinse the chemical away.
Pure water can be quite irritating to the eyes and raw skin. It is much more comfortable for your pet if you use saline: simply dissolve 2 teaspoons of table salt in one quart of water (metric: 9 grams of salt in 1 liter of water).