For the past 15 years I have gone to thousands of meet and greets, that’s a meeting where I go to a potential client’s home to see if my pet sitting service is a good fit for them and vice versa. This is also a time where I tend to answer lots of new pet owner answers and highly recommend that they take a pet first aid & CPR course (it’s less than 2 hours!).
Just the other day, a very popular question came up so I thought I would bring the answer here. The owners of the dog I was interviewing noticed a cut on the belly of their newly adopted Corgi/Cavalier mix. The woman mentioned she wanted to put first aid cream on it but noticed that he could lick it off. She worried it could be toxic to him. Good thinking on the new owner’s part – to question whether products safe for humansare safe for our pets is an excellent way to think!
The Short Answer is Yes, Neosporin is Safe for Pets
The long answer is; the regular strength first aid ointment is perfectly safe to use on pets with minor cuts, scrapes or abrasions. It is for external use and should never be used inside of ears, in eyes or on large deep wounds. The description of “triple antibiotic” refers to the 3 antibiotic agents found in any brand of triple antibiotic first aid ointment Bacitracin, Neomycin, and Polymyxin B. Neosporin has become a proprietary eponym for first aid cream since it first hit shelves in the 1950’s.
example of a wound that could benefit from first aid ointment
The general guidelines for use can be found on the tube. It shouldn’t be used longer than a few days, especially if the issue doesn’t improve or worsens. First aid ointment is most effective when applied after cleaning with sterile solution such as saline. Your cat and dog can safely ingest the small amount that would be applied to the affected area without any concern. If they eat the tube you will have GI concerns but most importantly you would be making sure the tube itself wasn’t ingested by Fluffy or Sparky – that would be more concerning than the tube contents.
Watch out for Pain Relievers in the Ointment
It is advised to use the ointment over the cream because the cream has more additives. NEVER use any type that contains painkillers as these can be similar to human NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which can cause your pet to get sick.
Overall, Neosporin or any first aid ointment is beneficial to the superficial wounds your pet may endure but anything bigger, or certainly something looking infected should be inspected by your veterinarian. Definitely do not use any first aid ointment on suture sites UNLESS directed by your veterinarian.
For more information on how to recognize infections or other issues with your pets, take apet first aid & CPR course, it will help teach you how to find issues with your pets and how to apply the appropriate aid.
I hope this sheds some light, it is a popular query. According to Google’s top 10 questions about dogs in 2016, “Can you put Neosporin on a dog?” ranked #8!
Jack Daniel, modeling first aid ointment (c) Starkraven Boxers
As for a personal reference, while Neosporin is a well know brand, finding a petroleum-free wound healing alternative is always good too. I like to use Microcyn, sovereign silver or colloidal silver. They provide similar antibacterial protection and healing without the use of a petroleum base.
Related
FAQs
The Short Answer is Yes, Neosporin is Safe for Pets
Is Neosporin safe for dogs and cats? ›
Neosporin is generally safe to use on dogs, but it can make them sick if they ingest too much. You can also try wound care ointments and medicated wipes meant for pets to help prevent infection. If your dog's wound keeps bleeding and is deep enough to need a bandage, it's best to call a vet.
Is Neosporin toxic to cats if they lick it? ›
The Harmful Effects of Neosporin
While it is safe for human use, it's not safe to ingest, especially for cats. The active ingredient in Neosporin, neomycin, can cause adverse reactions in felines, including vomiting, diarrhea, and a decrease in appetite.
What antibiotic ointment is safe for pets? ›
Bacitracin is a safe and effective antibiotic for treating bacterial infections in dogs, particularly after surgery. Its use has been shown to reduce the risk of infections and positive bacteria cultures.
Can you put Neosporin on a cat's eye? ›
This topical antibiotic ointment can work very well on humans but it not recommended for cats. Cases have been reported of cats having life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to some of the antibiotic ingredients in Neosporin's ophthalmic preparations which include neomycin and polymyxin B.
Why can't cats have Neosporin? ›
Polymyxin B (one of the active ingredients in Neosporin and other triple antibiotic treatments) has been linked to anaphylaxis (allergic shock) and death in cats.
Is Neosporin safe for dogs to lick? ›
Neosporin side effects in dogs
If your dog's wound is in an easily licked area, consider skipping the Neosporin. Not only will it provide zero benefits once it's licked off, but consuming it can also upset your pooch's stomach, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, and inappetence.
What Neosporin is safe for cats? ›
Can you use Neosporin on a cat? Neosporin is not recommended for use in cats. While most cats can tolerate topical Neosporin relatively well, some cats may experience a life-threatening allergic reaction.
What kind of Neosporin can I give my cat? ›
Many a pet owner has wondered, "Can Neosporin be used on cats?". Like many human medications, this topical antibiotic ointment works very well on humans for skin abrasions including burns, cuts and scrapes, but is not recommended for cats.
What kind of antibiotic ointment is safe for cats? ›
Bacitracin is one of the active ingredients of Neosporin. Vets may prescribe it in combination with other antimicrobial ointments for cats who have an eye infection, such as conjunctivitis. You should only use ointments containing bacitracin when they're prescribed by your vet.
Like any drug, Neosporin can cause an allergic reaction in dogs. This can result in localized or generalized redness, itchiness, swelling, or hives. Anaphylactic reactions to triple antibiotic ointments are rare, but can result in vomiting, diarrhea, pale gums, weakness, and collapse.
What is the best over-the-counter antibiotic ointment for dogs? ›
Topical antibiotic ointment. Neosporin® is a common topical antibiotic used on minor cuts and scrapes. This ointment is pretty safe in dogs and should be in every first aid kit.
What healing ointment is safe for dogs? ›
QuickDERM is a very non-caustic ointment that can address a variety of acute and chronic wounds. This Advanced Wound Ointment supports healthy epithelialization of wounds. Veterinarian recommended for dressing wounds on all animals.
Can I put triple antibiotic ointment on my cat? ›
Not only that, their compact size means that even small amounts of a toxic substance can cause severe reactions in cats. Polymyxin B (one of the active ingredients in Neosporin and other triple antibiotic treatments) has been linked to anaphylaxis and death in cats.
What ointment can I put on a cat wound? ›
- L-Mesitran.
- Hilom.
- LMNOOP®
- Puremedy.
- Absorbine.
- Vetericyn.
Antibiotic ointment
Commonly used by humans for minor cuts or scrapes, this would be a personal care product that may be shared with our furkids with similar types of injuries. Some examples of this ointment would be Bepanthen First Aid Cream, Neosporin Original Ointment or Dermacyn WoundCare Hydrogel.
What can I put on my cat's wound? ›
Immediate Response to Cat Injury
Clean the wound with warm water and iodine or saline solution. Apply an antiseptic cream and non adherent gauze dressing, and gently wrap it in a clean bandage. Monitor the injury to make sure the bleeding has stopped.
Why not use Neosporin on wounds? ›
The researchers found that the people who used Neosporin had slower wound healing times. They also found higher levels of healing-related genetic activity in the wounds treated with Vaseline (though some types of gene expression were higher in the Neosporin group).
