Healing is a process characterized by a succession of events, both macroscopic and microscopic and molecular, that allow the repair of skin wounds. Its duration may vary depending on the extension and depth of the lesion, as well as a series of other physiological and pathological factors.
If you want to know more about the causes of non-healing wounds in dogs and what to do, don't hesitate to join us on the next article on our site.
How long does it take for a wound to heal on a dog?
Before talking about the time it takes for dog wounds to heal, we need to mention what the healing process consists of. Well, wound healing is the set of mechanisms that occur in an individual in order to restore the continuity of tissues after an injury
The process is divided into 3 consecutive phases, in which macroscopic, microscopic and molecular events take place. These phases are:
- Hemostatic/Inflammatory Phase: Immediately after injury, platelet aggregation and primary thrombus formation begin. Next, the coagulation cascade takes place, which allows the generation of fibrin networks and, with it, the formation of a more established thrombus (secondary thrombus) that allows bleeding to cease. From 6 hours post-injury, white blood cells (such as neutrophils and macrophages) begin to arrive at the wound, helping to decontaminate and debride the wound.
- Proliferative phase: 2-3 days after the damage, fibroblasts arrive at the wound, synthesizing a new collagen matrix. At the same time, the process of angiogenesis takes place, which consists in the formation of new blood vessels. Between days 7 and 9, the re-epithelialization phase takes place, through which the keratinocytes will proliferate to restore the integrity of the skin.
- Tissue remodeling phase: Through this process, which can take several months, the collagen that was deposited during wound repair it is replaced by a more stable collagen similar to the one that the dermis originally had. In this way, the skin recovers its pre-injury composition and wound repair is considered complete.
Once the process has been described, we can detail that healing (not counting the remodeling phase) can take about 10 days. However, we must bear in mind that this time can vary considerably depending on:
- The extension.
- The depth of the wound.
In addition, there are a number of factors that can interfere with healing and delay wound healing. In the next sections, we will talk about the main factors that can affect wound healing in dogs.
Advanced age
Wounding occurs more rapidly in young dogs than in adult or geriatric dogs, meaning age is a factor influential in this process. This is because, over the years, there is a thinning of the epidermis, a decrease in collagen and elastic fibers and a decrease in moisture due to the reduction in the number of sebaceous glands.
Therefore, it is common for older dogs to take longer to heal their wounds. However, as it is an intrinsic factor to the animal, the only thing that can be done about it is maintain wound care for as long as necessary and use some strategies(such as laser therapy or healing ointments) to speed up the healing process.
We leave you the following Complete Guide to caring for an elderly dog from our site below.
Malnutrition
Malnutrition can prevent or delay the healing process, since there are a series of nutrients that are essential for tissue repair.
Nutritional deficiencies of protein and amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) have been linked to a prolonged inflammatory phase of wound healing, decreased collagen production, and increased infection rate.
Therefore, in those patients with non-healing wounds, it is essential to check the possible existence of nutritional deficiencies and correct them as soon as possible. may be possible. A he althy, balanced diet according to the needs of each animal will be the basis for proper wound healing.
Do not hesitate to consult the following articles on the Care and feeding of a malnourished dog and How to detect nutritional deficiencies in dogs, here.
Hypoproteinemia
Hypoproteinemia is a decreased protein concentration in the blood. It can be produced by two causes:
- Less protein synthesis: the liver is the organ responsible for protein synthesis, therefore anyliver disease that affects protein synthesis will cause a decrease in these in the blood.
- Protein loss: can occur through the urine, in the case of kidney diseases, or through the digestive tract, by intestinal pathologies.
Proteins are molecules necessary for the proliferation of cells involved in healing (such as fibroblasts, neutrophils and macrophages), for the synthesis of collagen and the neoformation of blood vessels. Therefore, protein deficiency is associated with poor healing rates.
To promote wound healing in dogs with hypoproteinemia, it is necessary to establish a specific treatment for the primary disease that is causing a high level low blood protein.
Wound mishandling
Delayed healing can also be due to poor wound management:
- Foreign bodies: the presence of hair and traces of dirt prevents proper wound healing. For this reason, it is important to shave the hair around the entire perimeter of the wound and perform regular dressings to keep the tissue free of any foreign body.
- Infection: when the appropriate cures are not performed or the wound is not protected with dressings and/or bandages, there is a high probability of infection. infection to occur, which interferes with skin repair. The same can happen when Elizabethan collars or other devices are not placed to prevent dogs from licking or scratching the lesions.
- Necrotic debris: The presence of dead (necrotic) tissue also makes it difficult for wounds to heal. Therefore, it is important to debride the wounds in order to remove any necrotic debris that may interfere with healing. Naturally, this procedure should only be performed by a veterinary professional, or under his or her prescription.
- Use of irritating products: the use of irritating products, such as alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, delays healing. The same happens when antiseptics such as betadine or undiluted chlorhexidine are used (for reference, betadine should be diluted to 10% and chlorhexidine to 40%).
To avoid delayed healing due to these causes, it is essential to perform regular cures (2-3 times a day)and protect the wound following the guidelines set by a veterinarian.
We leave you the following First aid for wounds in dogs on our site.
Diabetes
Dogs with diabetes often have slower tissue closure than usual, because different phases of the process are affected. healing process. Specifically, it decreases the inflammatory response that takes place in the first phase, decreases collagen production and blocks re-epithelialization.
All of this makes wound closure slower than desirable and makes it more susceptible to developing infections. To avoid this, it is important to keep the disease under control with correct pharmacological treatment and proper dietary management.
Corticosteroids
Dogs with chronic corticosteroid treatments may have greater difficulty healing wounds, because these drugs inhibit the synthesis and collagen remodeling and alter the re-epitalization of wounds. To avoid these and other adverse effects of corticosteroids, it is important to establish therapies with the minimum effective dose and withdraw the treatment gradually as soon as the pathology to be treated is controlled.
The same effect can occur in patients with Cushing's syndrome, which is characterized by the presence of high levels of cortisol in blood To avoid healing problems in these dogs, a specific therapy (pharmacological and/or surgical) must be instituted depending on the specific type of Cushing's.
Don't hesitate to consult the following post about Corticosteroids for dogs, types, doses and side effects.
Obesity
Overweight dogs have greater difficulty healing wounds, because excess body fat hinders blood perfusion and alters collagen and drainage of the lymphatic system. Therefore, in obese dogs with non-healing wounds, it is essential to establish a weight loss regimen, which combines a proper diet and a moderate exercise routine.
Check our site for posts on Exercise for obese dogs and Diet for obese dogs.
