"Proud Flesh" -- Developing on Dog?

by **Marinepits** » March 4th, 2009, 9:13 pm

http://www.netpets.org/horses/healthspa/flesh.html

Proud flesh is an excessive growth of granulation tissue that has the appearance of cauliflower. It usually develops over an open wound, and most often occurs in areas of excessive tension and motion. Proud flesh usually is seen in injuries of the distal limbs (below the knee or hock) due to the lack of underlying soft tissue structures, which allows for an excessive amount of tension in those areas. These distal areas mainly are comprised of bone, ligaments, and tendons, and lacks underlying muscle. This anatomy causes the skin surface to be tense, which increases the risk of proud flesh because of the difficulty for skin to grow back over a wound.

The best treatment of proud flesh is prevention, and the best prevention i performing a primary closure (suturing) of the wound immediately, or as soon as possible, after the wound occurs. Proud flesh can become a problem when primary closure is not an option, and the skin has to heal through second intention healing. Second intention healing is when the skin has to heal first by granulation tissue forming over the wound, then the skin grows over the granulation tissue. It is at this point you get proud flesh. Another preventative method is to limit the motion in the area of the wound as much as possible. This is generally done by bandaging, or placing the lower limb in a cast. By reducing the motion in the area, you speed the healing process allowing skin to grow over the granulation tissue, which greatly reduces the occurrence of proud flesh.....

Does anyone have experience with this? Has anyone ever seen this in a dog?

Indy's wound is healing well, but perhaps too well. His granulation tissue has started to overgrow a bit and the skin isn't catching up. At tomorrow's bandage change, Dr Blabs is going to take a closer look at the wound and get another opinion on the healing.

by **CinderDee** » March 4th, 2009, 9:26 pm

I've never heard of it and just googled images which were all of horses. I hope it goes well tomorrow!

by **Marinepits** » March 4th, 2009, 9:44 pm

Thanks, Dee!

by **CinderDee** » March 5th, 2009, 1:06 am

YW, Jen.

by **Malli** » March 5th, 2009, 4:33 am

*paws crossed*

by **hugapitbull** » March 5th, 2009, 6:43 am

Fingers & paws crossed for the wound check. Indy, don't scare your mom

, that's not nice.

by **TheRedQueen** » March 5th, 2009, 9:24 am

I've only heard of this with horses...but perhaps it just has a different name with different species?

Anyways...positive, healing thoughts headed Indy's way...and hugs to you. :hug3:

by **Jenn** » March 5th, 2009, 10:47 am

Awwww, good thoughts for today :hug3:

by **call2arms** » March 5th, 2009, 2:14 pm

The only thing I know about this is that the Furazone creme can help create proud flesh on horse leg wounds.

Hopefully everything is normal, and the skin catches up... I mean from what I know, it's ugly but except for the aesthetic side, no big deal, unless he starts licking at it. In horses, it's a bigger deal because anything that has to do with legs going wrong is bad, harder to sell, etc.

The important point is that it's healing well, right?

by **Marinepits** » March 5th, 2009, 8:51 pm

call2arms wrote:The important point is that it's healing well, right?

You are correct, yes! :wink:

The only thing we are worried about is the skin not covering the area -- if it doesn't, then Indy can't have radiation. :neutral:

However, we're all going to be cautiously optimistic at this point. Dr J and Dr Blabs both see strands of skin starting to grow across the wound from the edges, so that is a REALLY good sign. Fingers and paws crossed that the strands grow bigger and faster!