DOG WITH DECUBITUS ULCERS / PRESSURE SORES
BRIEF HISTORY:
12 year old, spayed female lab mix. Diagnosed with diabetes and had a diabetic crisis back in November 2009. She was recumbent for several weeks and then owner noticed wounds on lateral hips around beginning of December. I put her on antibiotics, e-collar and having owners clean wounds daily at same time as starting laser therapy, December 14, 2009.
COMMENTS:
I
was very concerned when I saw the wounds on both sides of the patient's
hips. They were extremely deep, infected, and necrotic. The dog was
still recumbent and probably would be that way for quit a while. Getting
these wounds to heal would seem hopeless, in a recumbent, diabetic patient who
was very difficult to get regulated. But, within a couple of days of
starting laser therapy, I could see dramatic improvements in the wounds.
The color of the wounds changed to a healthy pink, the odor level resolved, and
the comfort level of the dog improved dramatically. She no longer wanted
to go after the wounds constantly. Treatments were sporadic due to bad
winter weather and the owner’s schedule, but each time I went to treat her wounds, I would see improvement from the last time, and I began feeling more
hopeful. After 2 months, the
wounds were completely healed and hair was growing back. I am sold on the powers of lasers for wound
healing.
Wendy Robinson, D.V.M.
Tahoe Holistic Veterinary Care
Tahoe City, CA
