Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXVII, Issue 2
Written by Alexandra PETEOACĂ, Iuliana IONAȘCU, Andrei TĂNASE
This case report aims to propose a wound healing protocol for iatrogenic thermal wounds in small animals. Thermal injuries in small animals are most frequently caused by domestic accidents, as a result of contact with hot surfaces, liquids or fire. Burns can also be inflicted during surgery by the use of faulty heating pads or grounding plates. An 11 years old female dog was presented for a post-surgical check-up after undergoing mastectomy. At this check-up, two-weeks after surgery, extensive burn wounds on the dorsal cervical and thoracic areas were discovered. Over 80% of the affected area was covered by eschars. The injured area was still covered with hair but nociception was absent. Wound management aimed to promote secondary intention healing by using a complex protocol that included an initial escharectomy followed by the use of honey dressings, hydrocolloid dressings, paraffin-impregnated tulle and sulfadiazine ointment. The wound healed in 8 weeks, mainly by contraction; a small percent healed by epithelialization. We concluded that during each phase the dressings should be adapted to the specific phase of wound healing and that combining multiple products offers a superior result.
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