Hydrogen Peroxide -Is it good or not?

[AnonPaperclip]

So, I've heard and read some pretty mixed reviews on hydrogen peroxide use on chickens. I just want to make absolute sure that it's safe to use. We have a salmon faverolle whose feet get pecked at quite a bit (and, as you can imagine, having feathers down there makes it worse) Sometimes, though, the other chickens pull her feathers out (this has only happened twice in the time span of a couple months) Both times this happened, I used hydrogen peroxide to treat the wound and then wait for it to heal. So far, she's fine, no foot problems or anything. So, is it alright?

 

[Lauren Kim]

Hydrogen Peroxide can have different affects on different uses. Here is something that I found in a dummies book:
"For shallow wounds, wash the area with hot water and soap and gently pat dry, or clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide. If the wound continues to bleed, use styptic powder or pressure to stop it. Flush the wounds with hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or betadine."
Hope this helped!

 

[andreanar]

Too much can macerate healthy skin. Its ok to use initially, but not to use for wounds that need cleaning daily or that are deep. You are better off using chlorhexidine, saline solution or vetricyn. Then using a triple antibiotic ointment.

 

[apryl29]

Based on what an er dr told me after my daughter cut her knee badly, if you use hydrogen peroxide after the initial injury you're actually washing away new skin cells when you use it. You're better off just rinsing with water and patting dry if you need to 'clean' it. I would assume this also applies to animals too, though I used blu-kote on my cockerel's tail when he was injured, it's antiseptic. Peroxide can sting when applied. I know my cockerel didn't seem to like it when I flushed his tail area w/ saline, but didn't even flinch when I doused his whole back end w/ plain water.

 

[Mama Runner]

I personally never use it. I have read to much bad stuff about it. I will use a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar to 2 quarts warm water. After I rinse wounds with warm water. I keep a spray bottle with vinegar mixture in it. If there is debris I use Plantains that I make a paste of in the blender and triple antibiotic ointment.

Plantains "whitemans foot" is a weed in your grass and field. It is highly useful for wounds.

 

[AnonPaperclip]

Thanks for all the replies! Next time this incident happens, I might try something else. The wounds are never that deep, but the hydrogen peroxide probably does sting a bit. I may end up using the apple cider vinager and water thing.

 

[Eggcessive]

The only time I use peroxide is if one of my animals gets a puncture wound from a bite. It is a good way to fizz out puss, and then I use plain antibiotic ointment. This has helped preventing wound abscesses.
In the past hospital workers used peroxide and betadine in daily wound care, and both have been found to prevent healing with repeated use. Saline is good to use on wounds, and Vetericyn Wound Spray is an excellent product to keep around the farm, along with triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin.)

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed. Hydrogen peroxide is more damaging to new tissue growth. Plain soap and water to clean a wound, then perhaps saline rinses thereafter. Triple antibiotic ointment may be helpful also... it depends on the wound and it's location. All that being said, I will sometimes use it on a new wound on myself.

 

[CapricornFarm]

If i am using peroxide, i dilute 50% with water. Safer that way, still works, less tissue damage.

 

[Roonie]

I personally never use it. I have read to much bad stuff about it. I will use a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar to 2 quarts warm water. After I rinse wounds with warm water. I keep a spray bottle with vinegar mixture in it. If there is debris I use Plantains that I make a paste of in the blender and triple antibiotic ointment.

Plantains "whitemans foot" is a weed in your grass and field. It is highly useful for wounds.

We just noticed one of our hens limping bad. I assume that the solution of ACV to water is diluted enough that it won’t sting but not so much it’s ineffective? Thanks!