Use of Bactine to treat wounds & lesions

[TJ]

Jen, in another post, provided the following link that suggested that Bactine (sprayed) is reasonably safe for use on amphibians:

http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/research/amph_dc/sop_restraint.html

Here are a couple of more links that refer to the use of Bactine:

http://www.ccac.ca/english/gui_pol/Amphibians_Reptiles_EN.pdf

http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/research/amph_dc/sop_toeclip.html

It sure would be nice to have to original report that they all cite:

Martin, D., and H. Hong. 1991. The use of Bactine in the treatment of open wounds and other lesions in captive anurans. Herpetol. Rev. 22:21.

The active ingredients of Bactine Pain Relieving Cleansing Spray are Benzalkonium chloride 0.13% w/w (a first aid antiseptic) and Lidocaine hydrochloride 2.5% w/w (a pain reliever). The inactive ones are disodium EDTA, fragrances, octoxynol 9, propylene glycol, and water.

source: http://www.bactine.com/spray.htm

Sounds like it might be preferable to hydrogen peroxide

 

[tgampper]

I have used the original Bactine on wounds of both frogs and salamanders with success. I am not a vet, but I shared the information with them and they told me it works very well and it seems quite safe on their sensitive skin. I would not use the pain reliving formula though.

Terry Gampper
Moderator, Frog Forum