Burn injuries in MWDs are typically caused by fires, motor vehicle mufflers, stoves, caustic chemicals, or explosions. While uncommon, these injuries can cause not only severe pain and complicated local wounds, but also result in serious metabolic abnormalities and systemic infection that can lead to life-threatening compromise.

 

Burn Classification

Burns affecting dogs are physically similar to those in humans. Hair may need to be carefully clipped over burned areas for adequate assessment. Superficial burns are red and painful, similar to sunburn, involving the outer layer of the epidermis. Superficial partial-thickness burns are red or mottled, with epidermal sloughing, fluid leakage, swelling, and extreme hypersensitivity (pain), involving the epidermis and variable amounts of dermis. Hair should not easily pull out. Deep partial-thickness burns are black or yellow-white and hair follicles are destroyed, and the skin surface is dry. These burns are generally less painful, as nerve endings are destroyed. If any hair remains, it will pull out easily. Full-thickness burns are black, dry, and leathery. These burns have destroyed the epidermis and dermis and expose underlying connective tissue, muscle, and bone. Any eschar that forms is painless.

 

Inhalation Injury

Burn patients may have significant inhalation injury. Clinical signs of inhalation and pulmonary injuries may not manifest for several hours. Clinical signs of inhalation injury include stertor or stridor, harsh cough or upper airway sounds, coughing, production of dark sputum, tachypnea, and respiratory distress. MWDs with inhalation injury should be observed closely for need for orotracheal intubation or (uncommonly) tracheostomy to manage the airway. Intubate or perform tracheostomy for any MWD with observed respiratory distress or if in doubt about the patency of the airway (See CPG 3).

 

Estimation of Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) Burn Extent in Dogs

 

General Patient Management Recommendations

 

Specific Burn Wound Management Recommendations

 

Table 17.  Management of Burn Wounds in MWDs