Thoracic dog bite wounds in dogs: A retrospective study of 123 cases (2003‐2016)

Abstract

Objective: To report the clinical, radiographic, and surgical findings and determine prognostic factors for outcome in dogs with thoracic dog bite wounds. Study design: Retrospective study.Animals: Client-owned dogs (n = 123).Methods: Medical records of dogs with thoracic dog bite wounds between October 2003 to July 2016 were reviewed for presenting findings, management, and outcomes. Standard wound management included debridement and sterile probing, extending the level of exploration to the depth of the wound.Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to assess risk factors for exploratory thoracotomy, lung lobectomy, and mortality. Results: Twenty-five dogs underwent exploratory thoracotomy, including lung lobectomy in 12 of these dogs. Presence of pneumothorax (odds ratio [OR] 25.4, confidence interval (CI) 5.2-123.2, P < .001), pseudo-flail chest (OR 15.8, CI 3.2-77.3, P = .001), or rib fracture (OR 11.2, CI 2.5-51.2, P = .002) was associated with increased odds of undergoing exploratory thoracotomy.Presence of pleural effusion (OR 12.1, CI 1.2-120.2, P = .033) and obtaining a positive bacterial culture (OR 23.4, CI 1.6-337.9, P = .021) were associated with increased odds of mortality. The level of wound management correlated with the length of hospitalization (Spearman rank order correlation = 0.52, P < .001) but was not associated with mortality.Conclusion: Dogs that sustained pseudo-flail chest, rib fracture, or pneumothorax were more likely to undergo exploratory thoracotomy. Nonsurvival was more likely in dogs with pleural effusion or positive bacterial culture.Clinical significance: Presence of pseudo-flail, rib fracture, or pneumothorax should raise suspicion of intrathoracic injury. Strong consideration should be The abstract was presented at

A Prototype Skin Substitute, Made of Recycled Marine Collagen, Improves the Skin Regeneration of Sheep

“…In addition, these injuries can often result in loss of skin function due to extensive scarring or inability of the skin to close the wound (e.g., excessive loss of tissue after tumor resection or bite wounds). Indeed, the treatment of these kind of wounds, which might evolve into chronic or non-healing wounds, is a challenging and expensive issue to manage in the veterinary clinical field of domestic animals [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Wound healing is a complex multi-phase (hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling) process, which is regulated and led by the dynamic interplay of cells, growth factors, and the extracellular matrix (ECM) [ 4 ].…”

Treatment of moderate grade dog bite wounds using amoxicillin–clavulanic acid with and without enrofloxacin: a randomised non‐inferiority trial

“…5,9 Other studies have variable culture rates, ranging from 44% to 84%. 1,12,14,17,18,27 The difference in culture rate in our study may be attributed to the fact that we only investigated grade three and four DBW, whereas other studies investigated all wound grades. The higher culture rate in our study could be explained by more serious DBW having a higher rate of bacterial contamination.…”

“…(13.3%), P. multocida (11.1%) and P. canis (6.6%) which is generally consistent with previous cultures of DBW in the veterinary literature (Table S2). 1,5,9,12,14,17,18 Neisseria spp. have only been cultured in this study and one other study of DBW.…”

“…Other DBW studies cultured 3.8% to 25% E. coli and 5.2% to 19.4% Enterococcus spp. 1,5,9,12,15,17 Specifically, one study which cultured thoracic DBW reported the highest rates with 25% E. coli and 19.4% Enterococcus spp. Culture samples from that study were performed with a swab and/or tissue biopsy post lavage and debridement at the time of surgery; whereas our samples were taken at the time of presentation prior to lavage and debridement.…”

“…and Escherichia coli. 1,5,9,12,14,17,18 Anaerobic bacteria were cultured from one to 15% of wounds and were most commonly Clostridium spp. 1,5,9,12 The primary research objective for this study was to investigate the efficacy of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid with or without enrofloxacin for empirical antimicrobial treatment of moderate grade DBW, following the CONSORT guidelines.…”