What to do if an animal has been burnt?

• A. Remove any items that may be source of injury, or move animal from the source (i.e move into shade if sunburnt) and douse area with cold water for minimum 10 mins
• B. Apply butter
• C. Ignore
• D. Pour hot water on area

Answer: (A)

Burn injuries in animals are best treated by quickly stopping further damage and cooling the area to limit tissue injury and pain. Start by moving the animal away from the heat source or source of burn, and if the skin is sunburnt, move it into shade. Then cool the affected area with cold running water for at least 10 minutes to reduce temperature, numb pain, and slow tissue damage. Do not apply butter or other greasy substances, as they can trap heat and bacteria and hinder healing. Don’t ignore the burn or pour hot water on it, since both actions can worsen the injury. After cooling, gently pat the area dry and cover with a clean, non‑adhesive dressing if available, and seek veterinary care, especially for extensive or deep burns or burns on the face, paws, or genitals.