Delayed wound healing is not a single disease but a clinical problem: a wound that should be closing is not. In dogs the cause is usually one of a short list of local problems (infection, dead tissue, a foreign body, too much or too little moisture, tension or motion) or a systemic problem such as glucocorticoid excess, hypoproteinemia or diabetes mellitus. The skill being tested is working out which stage of healing has stalled and why, then fixing that cause rather than simply changing the bandage again.
Key facts
Delayed wound healing at a glance- Species and system: dogs; integument and subcutis, often after trauma, bite wounds, burns or surgery.
- Definition: chronic wounds in dogs have been defined as full-thickness skin defects that do not heal even with appropriate antibiotics and bandaging.
- Normal healing: three overlapping stages: inflammatory (including hemostasis and debridement), proliferative (repair) and remodeling.
- Common local causes: infection, necrotic tissue, foreign material, desiccation or maceration, pressure, shear, tension and self-trauma.
- Common systemic causes: glucocorticoids (drug or hyperadrenocorticism), diabetes mellitus, total protein below 2 g/dL, anemia, uremia, alkylating chemotherapy and radiation.
- Structured assessment: TIME (Tissue, Inflammation/infection, Moisture, Edge).
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 6 tables, 3 figures, 3 self-test questions and 15 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.