Veterinary Wound Care Reference (Phases, Dressings, Antimicrobials)
Wound healing phases, wound class definitions, dressing strategy by phase, and topical antimicrobial choices.
Wound healing phases
| Phase | Duration | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammation | 0–3 days | Haemostasis, neutrophils, then macrophages; cleansing of debris |
| Debridement | 1–6 days | Phagocytosis of dead tissue; overlap with inflammation |
| Repair / proliferation | 3–12 days+ | Granulation tissue, fibroplasia, angiogenesis, contraction |
| Maturation | Weeks – months | Collagen remodelling, scar strengthening (max ~80% pre-injury) |
Wound classes
| Class | Definition | Closure approach |
|---|---|---|
| Clean | Atraumatic surgical wound, no inflammation | Primary closure |
| Clean-contaminated | Surgical entry into GI/respiratory/GU tract without spillage | Primary closure |
| Contaminated | Recent traumatic, < 6 hours, no gross infection | Primary closure after lavage + debridement |
| Dirty / infected | Devitalised tissue, foreign material, gross infection, > 6 hr old | Open wound management; delayed primary or second intention |
Dressing choices by phase
| Phase / wound | Dressing |
|---|---|
| Heavy contamination / debridement | Wet-to-dry (mechanical debridement) – limit duration |
| Granulation phase | Non-adherent (telfa, alginate, foam) – protect tissue, absorb exudate |
| Epithelialisation phase | Hydrocolloid or hydrogel – maintain moist environment |
| Mature wound | Light protection; bandage changes weekly or less |
Antimicrobial topicals
| Agent | Notes |
|---|---|
| Silver sulfadiazine | Broad-spectrum, gram +/-, good for burn wounds |
| Honey (medical grade) | Osmotic + low pH; effective for chronic, infected wounds |
| Manuka | Specific MGO content; effective against MRSA, P. aeruginosa |
| Mupirocin | Topical; effective against staph including MRSA |
| Chlorhexidine 0.05% | Lavage; AVOID stronger concentrations on open wounds (cytotoxic) |
Bandage change frequency depends on exudate volume and phase - heavy exudate may need daily changes; mature granulation, every 3-5 days. Always assess for infection with each change.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I change a wound dressing?
Inflammatory and debridement phase: every 24-48 hours. Repair phase (granulation): every 3-5 days unless strikethrough. Maturation phase: longer intervals or no dressing at all once epithelialised.
What's wrong with using hydrogen peroxide on wounds?
It's cytotoxic to fibroblasts and new epithelium - you set healing back by 1-2 days with each application. Use only on the initial debridement of grossly contaminated wounds and never on healthy granulation tissue.
When does a wound need a wet-to-dry dressing vs hydrogel?
Wet-to-dry: necrotic / heavily contaminated wounds in debridement phase. Hydrogel: dry necrotic eschar, or to support autolytic debridement. Once granulation tissue is healthy, switch to a non-adherent contact layer.