Wound Management
Pets suffer wounds of all kinds. They may be due to truama from a dog fight, thermal or chemical burns, accidents, or secondary to surgery when a tumor is removed an there is not enough skin to close the wound.
Wounds that can not be closed need to be managed opened and allowed to heal by what is called second intention. Our doctors are experienced in management and treatment of a wide range of open wounds. Dr Hatcher was an early adopter of sugar and honey therapy for wound management. Use of sugar and honey was first introduced in the early 2000’s, he adopted its use and used it to treat hundreds of challenging wounds and abscesses. The use of sugar and honey in the treatment of wounds is now taught as a front line treatment to encourage and speed up wound healing.
Wound management is a process that takes time. We use the bodies normal healing properties, but encourage it and protect it with the therapies we utilize. Depending on the size of the wound, and where it is located, it can take 2-3 months for them to complete the healing process. We are dedicated to helping owners through the challenges of wound management. Regular sedation and bandage changes are typically needed to successfully manage some wounds early on. Over time we hope bandage changes and management will need less anesthetic procedures.
As cost of treatment will vary by the cause and severity of the wound we will need to evaluate the pet before providing treatment cost and prognosis.
For a ballpark you can expect $700.00- $900.00 for initial procedures.
Then $175.00-250.00 for additional treatments and bandage changes under sedation or anesthesia.
Skin Grafting
With some wounds skin grafting techniques may be possible. Our doctors are experienced in many of these advanced techniques. During a skin graft skin is moved from one part of the body to another. There are many factors that determine the right timing, and type of graft that may have the best success. Skin grafting does have a high complication rate as it does depend on many factors being optimum including the pets own skin cooperating and healing as expected.
As with wound healing multiple procedures will likely be needed, and treatment may be over several weeks. The one biggest advantage to grafting is less scarring, but the hair will likely not be growing in the same direction as it use to.
Non Healing Elbow Wound 
Creation of Tube Flap 
14 days later, Day of Grafting 
Post-op Grafting of Tube Flap
Full cost varies by wound and type of grafting needed. Total cost can run between $1,000.00-$1,900.00 at completion of healing.
