Severe Necrotizing Wound on Labrador Treated with Laser Therapy

Species and Breed
8 year old, M/N Canine, Labrador Retriever​

Presentation
Owner noted partial weight bearing lameness and severe swelling in the left front leg. The patient had a history of chasing the family cat 3 days prior when the owner assumed the dog had slipped on the floor. Initial Examination and Radiographs revealed only soft tissue swelling and pain on flexion and extension of the left elbow

Treatment Details
307.5 total joules administered to superficial component and 690 total joules delivered to deep component at 3.5W; Frequency of two treatments, two consecutive days. Appropriate topical therapy was used as well. Otitis resolved with ear much less swollen and pruritic after treatment.

72 Hours Post
Re-presented to DVM; now febrile with evidence of a wound with severe tissue devitalization and avascular necrosis. There was additional swelling also noted in the ventrolateral neck area

Additional History
​Another family member recalled seeing the cat bite the dog and also that this same cat had bitten another family member in the household previously, resulting in hospitalization for treatment of “a rare bacteria.”

Treatment Plan
The rapid progression and worsening of the patient’s symptoms along this unusual history provided to DVM prompted a modification of the original treatment plan. Intensive case management with appropriate medical therapies (antibiotics, analgesics, and wound care) as well as laser were instituted.

Laser Therapy
Initially beginning with a dose of 2,520 total joules to the entire affected area (target energy density of 4-5 J/cm2) and decreasing the dose as the wound area became smaller. ​

Treatment Frequency
​21 laser treatments total over a period of 7 weeks

Other Comments
Staff noted minimal drainage from the wound, and a lack of any putrid odor during bandage changes. ​