Author(s): Dr. Usiak-McBeth, East Valley Urgent Pet Care, Mesa, AZ
Signalment
Canine, 12yo, FS, Irish Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier
Medical History
Lucy presented for a large, raised dermal mass with blackened discoloration and multiple breaks in the skin over the thoracolumbar spine. The patient was sedated and purulent discharge was aspirated from the mass. The lesion was believed to be a ruptured cyst. Wound management and laser therapy were begun. The patient was also prescribed a 2 week course of Clindamycin (150mg BID) and a tapering dose of prednisone (5mg). At a recheck the next day, the wound already had granulation tissue present. The lesion rapidly improved over the next two weeks despite culture results returning showing the bacteria grown (Enterococcus faecium) was resistant to Clindamycin. Augmentin (900mg/64.2mg BID) was then prescribed..
Laser Treatment
The deep wound protocol was used to deliver 116 – 272 Joules (pending lesion size) at 2W (fluence of 7J/cm˜). The large, off-contact treatment head was used.
Treatment Frequency
Three laser therapy treatments over one week. An additional session was performed one month after presentation.
Other Treatments
The wound was initially packed with gauze soaked in saline and manuka honey followed by covering it with dry gauze, TelfaTM pads, then sealed with TegadermTM. Sterile lubrication was used as healing progressed.
Comments
Proper wound management combined with laser therapy allowed the lesion to rapidly heal despite resistance to the initial antibiotic prescribed
Presentation
Day 1 After one treatment
Day 3 after one treatment
Day 6 after two treatments
Day 13 after 3 treatments
After one month