How to heal wounds of dogs with sugar

It is increasingly common for health specialists to use techniques and remedies that have been used for centuries and that, thanks to more recent studies, have been ginned that are as or more effective than some medications. Nowadays, it is common that, both in the field of medicine and veterinary, natural products are used to treat some conditions and to heal and heal wounds, sometimes directly and others as a reinforcement of drug treatment.

One of the most used is sugar, because thanks to its properties is ideal to treat skin and tissue injuries. In fact, it has become one of the most used products for this purpose in dogs, cats and other animals. If you are interested in knowing all about this natural remedy, keep reading this article where we explain how to treat wounds of dogs with sugar .

Healing properties of sugar in wounds

How does sugar work in wounds? This is the first question that appears when talking about using it to heal and heal injuries. The truth is that a few decades ago it was discovered what are the properties of sucrose to achieve it. Specifically, although the first records of its use to heal open lesions were in the late 1800s at the University of Strasbourg, it was Dr. Herszage L. (1980) who first mentioned the properties discovered when dealing with this product to humans and animals experimentally.

Thus, according to these studies, the properties of sugar or sucrose to heal wounds, both in dogs and in other animals, are the following:

Absorption capacity or osmosis: this makes it possible to absorb moisture or water from the environment and make it possible for the lesion to dry, which greatly facilitates healing and healing. Therefore, it is widely used to treat ulcers, a type of lesion that, on its own, is difficult to heal due to continuous suppuration.
Antibacterial and antiseptic properties: sucrose is very active against bacteria and other microorganisms. For example, in the case of bacteria it prevents their reproduction and survival by dehydrating their cytoplasm.
It acts as a debridement: this product helps to separate the first fibers, filaments or flanges that make up the surface of the lesions, allowing the wound to ooze well, eliminating all the pus and other waste before starting the healing. If a deep or serious wound is not debrided, either by hand with instruments or with remedies like this, it can infect or aggravate the infection if it already exists, as well as gangrene easily.
Avoid edema: by avoiding the accumulation of moisture and fluid in the area, sucrose is able to prevent edema, which is to say, is anti-edematous.
Stimulates the immune system: when applied directly to the wound, even when mixed with other products, it helps to stimulate the defenses of the affected area, making the healing faster.
Accelerates healing: for all the above, sugar allows lesions to heal much faster, by promoting tissue formation and epithelialization, even faster than with the application of some creams that produce constant humidity or leaving the lesion in the air .

For all these reasons, the application of sugar in surgical wounds, deep or severe, in which there is too little skin to cover the lesion is becoming more frequent and this must be completely regenerated, performed directly by the veterinarians as part of the treatment from the beginning. Likewise, it is common to see that both sugar and honey are used in open wounds, since the latter contains sugars and its properties are very similar, being a food with great antibacterial, antiseptic and regenerative capacity.

How to make sugar paste to heal wounds in dogs

This natural treatment to heal wounds in dogs can be applied in two ways: the granulated sugar, that is to say, the commercial table or, alternatively, using an over- salted solution of sugar . Its commercial version is directly applied to the lesion after cleaning and disinfecting it, however, the solution must be prepared first and, in the same way, applied after performing a correct cleaning. It is advised to use one form or another depending on the case, so it is necessary to follow the instructions of the veterinarian in case we have to perform the cures at home. To decide which method is better, the specialist will follow criteria such as whether it is a recent wound or an ulcer or the depth of it.

In the case of having to prepare a sugar paste to treat a wound to a dog, you can simply follow these steps:

Heat 200 ml of water and when it boils remove it from the fire.
Add 500 g or 0.5 kg of sugar and stir until it is as dissolved as possible, keeping in mind that it will be an oversaturated solution and, therefore, will not be very dissolved.
Allow it to cool to room temperature.
Use it directly in the lesion to be treated.
It is not convenient to keep it for use in future cures, unless it can be stored hermetically.

If the mentioned quantities are considered excessive for a single use, in order not to waste the product, the quantity can be adjusted, but always in this proportion. For example, 100 ml of water and 250 g of sugar can be used.

Sugar for wounds, an effective first aid method

Curing and disinfecting wounds with sugar is a good choice among the first aid that can be offered to a wounded dog. However, it is important to know when it is necessary and when other first aid actions take priority before applying this treatment. For example, it is always necessary to clean and properly disinfect the lesion first, and then this remedy may be applied. It is very useful for when we are far from a veterinary center and, therefore, the injury will take to be attended by a specialist. So, if you need to take care of your wounded dog urgently follow these steps, in case it is a skin lesion that does not penetrate the musculature or is shallow:

How to clean and disinfect a wound

Apply cold or natural clean water on the wound to remove waste.
Use oxygenated water, applying it directly to the lesion, to cut the bleeding and clean well.
Apply a little alcohol with the help of sterile gauze or a clean cotton cloth.
Let it air dry a few seconds or a few minutes.
Cover with sterile gauze and tape or bandage, without excessive pressure.

How to apply sugar to the wounds of dogs

This treatment in the case of first aid must be done between the last two steps of the previous procedure:

Clean and disinfect the wound well, as explained before.
Apply powdered or granulated sugar over the entire wound until covered.
Cover the lesion with gauze or a bandage.

Remember that in the case of a very serious injury, with a lot of exposure or fractures, being something really urgent since the life of the animal may be in danger, it is a priority to contact a veterinarian by phone and follow his instructions to move the animal correctly., to avoid a worsening, and take it directly to a veterinary center or hospital where they can take care of it.

How to use sugar to heal infected wounds

There are specialists that as a method of prevention against infections and to achieve a faster healing choose to apply this treatment directly after the first steps to cure an injury. However, it is also very effective and frequent to treat wounds already infected, as it is a potent antiseptic and bactericidal, as we mentioned before.

How to heal and heal wounds infected with sugar

The first step is to perform a cleaning and disinfection, as well as any other step necessary depending on the severity of the injury, such as, for example, a manual debridement to remove necrotic tissue, in order to remove the pus present in the wound correctly.
Apply the supersaturated solution of sugar or directly the granulate throughout the lesion until it is completely covered.
Place a gauze and a compressive bandage if necessary.
Let the treatment work for several hours and rediscover the wound to clean it again.
According to each case, the frequency of cleaning and change of bandage and sugar will vary. Therefore, the specialist's criteria should be followed, for example, it could be two complete cleanings a day.

It is very important that every time the wound is washed, all the sugar is removed and the pus and any traces of devitalized or dead tissue are well cleaned, and the lesion is left in the air for a short time so that there is ventilation and exudate. being able to apply again this natural product and the bandage. The veterinarian will have to keep track of the wound throughout the entire process until it heals completely.

Bibliography

Pintos, S., González, R., González, E. (2015) Scarring of cutaneous grafts in full thickness mesh using granulated sugar versus nitrofurazone in canines. Department of Pathology and Clinic, Academic Direction, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.
Jorge Alberto Pataquiva Amaris, Dir. William Alexander León Torres (2016) Non-pharmacological therapy for wound management. University of Applied and Environmental Sciences Veterinary Medicine Program Faculty of Animal Sciences Bogotá, Colombia.
Lic. Susana Zamora Castro, Lic. Maria J. Flamana Franco and Lic. Yolaisy Rivero Acosta (2006) Experience in the treatment of pressure ulcers with sucrose. Provincial Teaching Hospital "Saturnino Lora Torres" Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.