Patient and Environmental Factors Leading to Delayed Healing of Traumatic Wounds
Wound management in animals is essential as it quickens healing and reduces the risk of serious wound infections. Therefore, without wound management, wound healing is likely to be delayed (Lux et al., 2021). Several factors contribute to delayed wound healing. These can be divided into primary patient factors and environmental factors.
Primary patient factors include poor nutrition and hydration, medical conditions, and age (Lux et al., 2021). Poor nutrition occurs when an animal does not get a sufficient supply of food and water. Medical conditions are conditions in which an animal suffers from diseases that may hinder wound healing. For age, the more an animal ages, the harder it is for wounds to heal.
Environmental factors include the wound’s location, stress, and sleep deprivation (Lux et al., 2021). The location of the wound determines the healing process because muscles protect some body parts while others do not. Stress and sleep deprivation are also significant contributors to delayed wound healing.
Biological Basis of Age and Stress
Age
Essentially, the environmental and primary patient factors have a biological basis. Only two factors are discussed: the biological bases of age and stress. Advanced age in an animal may delay wound healing. This is because the granulation tissue that aids wound healing is not formed as quickly as it should in younger animals (Enciso et al., 2020). Granulation tissue closes the wound when there is excess tension within it. In other words, the tissue aids in the healing of open wounds. Therefore, a delayed formation of this tissue results in delayed wound healing.
Another process delayed by aging is cellular proliferation. This process accelerates wound healing by doubling cell growth, which in turn leads to the formation of numerous abnormal tissues, ultimately resulting in scar formation (Enciso et al., 2020). Once the scar forms, the wound heals. However, with age, cellular proliferation is delayed.
Stress
The second factor, trauma, is biologically explained in terms of corticosterone levels. Trauma, which goes hand-in-hand with high-stress levels in animals, leads to high corticosterone levels, which delay the healing process of wounds (Enciso et al., 2020). This is because high corticosterone levels reduce the circulation of leukocytes from blood vessels to the wound area. Leukocytes help fight infection by being antibacterial and contributing to tissue repair (Enciso et al., 2020). As a result, an animal under stress will have fewer leukocytes, further delaying wound healing.
Measures Limiting the Impact of Age and Stress
Specific measures can be taken to mitigate the effects of age and stress on wound healing. For age, the animals’ nutrition is considered. Ensure that the diet of the aged animal is rich in vitamins A and C. These vitamins are responsible for forming granular tissue and collagen, aiding wound healing (Lux et al., 2021).
For dogs and cats, foods rich in vitamin A include fish and egg yolk, while foods rich in vitamin C include sweet potatoes and leafy greens. An example of a critical care diet includes 20g of protein per day, 3.75 kcal/g of carbohydrates, and 9.3 kcal of fats per day.
Another measure to curb age impacts is through early intervention in wound management (Lux et al., 2021). The patient should be taken to the veterinarian early enough to administer advanced care. To limit the impact of stress, the stress level of animals should be reduced or eliminated. This is achievable through performing physical exercises in dogs and cats and providing whatever the animal needs to feel safe and relaxed.
References
Enciso, N., Avedillo, L., Fermín, M. L., Fragío, C., & Tejero, C. (2020). Cutaneous wound healing: Canine allogeneic ASC therapy. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 11(1).
Lux, C. N. (2021). Wound healing in animals: A review of physiology and clinical evaluation. Veterinary Dermatology, 33(1), 91.