RE: [RC] proud flesh treatment - Susan E. Garlinghouse, D.V.M.
Yes, the cutting-edge treatment is to use
silicate or hydrophilic alginate dressings, or similar---dressings that keep a
wound moist and protected, with appropriate pressure to retard granulation
tissue. If a vet starts aggressive and consistent treatment at the time
of the initial injury, then it’s not unusual to not ever develop proud
flesh as the wound heals, because the vet can fine-tune topical therapeutics to
suit how the wound looks that particular day or week or whatever.
The primary problem with the hydrophilic
dressings is that they have to be changed about every second or third day, and
what with a farm call, brief exam, sedation if needed and bandage material, the
total costs add up for the client in a big hurry. A lot of people just
can’t come up with $300-400 dollars a week or more for two or three
bandage changes, and it’s not always something that can easily be handed
over to a client with instructions. Some clients can be taught to do a
good bandage change, and know what to look for, while others just can’t for
whatever reason.
So, very often, using topical steroids, a
good proper bandage and changes a little less often gets the job done very
well, without the owner having to refinance the house. The hydrophilic
dressings are really, really good, just harder to provide economically
sometimes outside of a hospital setting.
JMO.
Susan Garlinghouse, DVM
From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of mary@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006
6:01 PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] proud flesh
treatment
Ever since Jack was hurt, I read
everything and anything about proud flesh. I recently read in the January Equus
about vets using the same medicine for healing that they use on people that
have sarcoids - a silicone dressing. According to what I read, using this
they had no proud flesh at all. I wish I could have had this when we started
treating Jack. I am going to ask the vet if it is too late to start using it
now since Jack hasn't healed over completely yet. Maybe he will cut the
proud flesh back that is there now.
