First-Intention Incisional Wound Healing in Dogs and Cats: A Controlled Trial of Dermapliq and Manuka Honey

Veterinary Sciences · 12 authors, 4 centres

AI SUMMARY

FIDELITY 100%

POPULATION12 healthy purpose-bred laboratory Beagle dogs (3–7 years) and 12 healthy purpose-bred laboratory domestic shorthaired cats (2–6 years) undergoing first-intention incisional wound healing

INTERVENTIONTopical application of Dermapliq spray or Manuka honey gel to sutured skin incisions, applied daily until day 15 postoperatively

COMPARISONUntreated control incisions (standard-of-care dressings) and comparison between Dermapliq and Manuka honey

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TL;DR

In a controlled trial on 12 dogs and 12 cats, Dermapliq significantly improved cosmetic and clinical wound healing compared to untreated controls, while Manuka honey did not show significant cosmetic benefit and was associated with increased skin thickening. Dermapliq was superior to Manuka honey for first-intention healing, and cats overall had better cosmetic outcomes and less skin thickening than dogs. These findings suggest Dermapliq is a better choice for enhancing first-intention wound healing in dogs and cats.

Full summary

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**Background:** Primary wound closure aims for rapid healing with minimal complications. Topical agents like Manuka honey and Dermapliq (a RGTA-based medical device) have been used to improve wound healing, but their effects on first-intention healing in dogs and cats have not been compared. This study evaluated the effects of Dermapliq and Manuka honey on first-intention incisional wound healing in dogs and cats, comparing each treatment to control and between species.

**Methods:** Twelve healthy Beagle dogs and 12 healthy domestic shorthaired cats were included. Under general anesthesia, three 4-cm full-thickness skin incisions were made on each side of the trunk. On each side, one incision was treated with Dermapliq spray, one with Manuka honey gel (applied daily until day 15), and one served as untreated control. Left-sided wounds were evaluated clinically and ultrasonographically; right-sided wounds were used for histology. Cosmetic evaluation was performed by two blinded surgeons using a 1–5 visual analogue scale on days 4, 7, 14, 21, 35, 60, 120, and 150. Clinical evaluation (skin thickening, scar width, inflammation, exudate, dehiscence) was performed daily until day 25. Ultrasonographic wound area was measured using a 50.0 MHz transducer every 3 days until day 25, then weekly until day 60, and on days 120 and 150. Histological evaluation (edema, inflammation, fibroblasts, angiogenesis, epidermis thickening, scar width) was performed on biopsies taken on postoperative days 12, 60, and 150. Statistical analysis used mixed-effects ordinal logistic regression and quantile regression with clustering.

**Key Results:** Dermapliq significantly improved cosmetic scores compared to control (OR 7.28, 95% CI 3.78–14, p<0.001) and Manuka honey (OR 4, 95% CI 2.11–7.6, p=0.003). Manuka honey did not significantly differ from control in cosmetic score (p=0.052). Skin thickening was significantly higher with Manuka honey vs control (difference 0.30 mm, 95% CI 0.094–0.50, p=0.004) and vs Dermapliq (difference 0.24 mm, 95% CI 0.11–0.38, p<0.001). Scar width was significantly smaller with Dermapliq vs Manuka honey (difference 0.074 mm, 95% CI 0.005–0.144, p=0.036). Total clinical score was worse with Manuka honey vs control (difference 0.94, 95% CI 0.22–1.65, p=0.011) and vs Dermapliq (difference 1.09, 95% CI 0.48–1.71, p<0.001). Ultrasonographic wound area was significantly smaller with Dermapliq vs control (difference −0.69 mm², 95% CI −1.26 to −0.16, p=0.019) and with Manuka honey vs control (difference −0.99 mm², 95% CI −0.45 to −1.54, p<0.001). Histologically, Dermapliq reduced inflammation vs control (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.13–5.1, p=0.023). Cats had better cosmetic scores (OR 11.6, 95% CI 6.67–20, p<0.001), less skin thickening (difference −0.37 mm, 95% CI −0.6 to −0.14, p=0.002), and smaller scar width (difference −0.65 mm, 95% CI −0.86 to −0.44, p<0.001) compared to dogs. Histologically, cats showed less edema (OR 18.3, 95% CI 2.66–125, p=0.003), higher inflammation (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.04–6.03, p=0.04), lower fibroblast scores (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.04–6.86, p=0.041), and higher angiogenesis (p<0.001) compared to dogs.

**Clinical Implications:** Dermapliq is superior to Manuka honey for improving cosmetic and clinical outcomes in first-intention wound healing in dogs and cats. Manuka honey did not provide significant cosmetic benefit and was associated with increased skin thickening. Cats heal with better cosmetic results and less scarring than dogs, but with a different histological profile (more inflammation and angiogenesis, less edema and fibroblast activity). These findings support the use of Dermapliq in clean surgical wounds and highlight species-specific differences in wound healing that may influence clinical management.

PICO

PPOPULATION

12 healthy purpose-bred laboratory Beagle dogs (3–7 years) and 12 healthy purpose-bred laboratory domestic shorthaired cats (2–6 years) undergoing first-intention incisional wound healing

IINTERVENTION

Topical application of Dermapliq spray or Manuka honey gel to sutured skin incisions, applied daily until day 15 postoperatively

OOUTCOME

Cosmetic evaluation score (1–5 visual analogue scale), clinical parameters (skin thickening in mm, scar width in mm, total clinical score), ultrasonographic wound area (mm²), and histological scores (edema, inflammation, fibroblasts, angiogenesis, epidermis thickening, scar width score)

STUDY TYPE

RCT

SPECIALTY

veterinary medicine

SUMMARISED BY

AI pipeline

FIDELITY CHECK

100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10892332

First-Intention Incisional Wound Healing in Dogs and Cats: A Controlled Trial of Dermapliq and Manuka Honey

Veterinary Sciences

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Simple Summary In order to improve skin healing, many substances have been used for topical application, honey being one of the oldest. More recently, a medical device, Dermapliq, has been available to treat skin lesions. We assessed these two substances, for use in the sutured skin of dogs and cats, by using cosmetic, clinical, ultrasonographical, and histological evaluation. Comparisons were made between each treatment and control, between the two treatments, and between dogs and cats. The results indicate that Dermapliq improves wound healing; however, Μanuka honey was less beneficial. Healing in cats differs from that of dogs, and cats have better cosmetic and clinical outcomes compared to dogs. Abstract This study aimed to compare incisional wound healing in cats and dogs after the topical application of Μanuka honey and a new medical device, Dermapliq. Comparisons were made between each treatment and control, between the two treatments, and between dogs and cats. Twelve cats and twelve dogs were included in this study, and the impact of the two substances was examined through cosmetic, clinical, ultrasonographical, and histological evaluation. The use of Dermapliq in first-intention wound healing achieved a significantly better cosmetic evaluation score and better total clinical score at days 20–41, compared to the control, in both dogs and cats. The ultrasonographically estimated wound area was smaller with Dermapliq compared to the control. Wounds treated with Dermapliq showed histologically less inflammation compared to the control. The use of Manuka honey did not show a significantly better cosmetic score compared to the control. Skin thickening was significantly higher after using Manuka honey compared to the control and so was the total clinical score. However, the median wound area, as was evaluated ultrasonographically, was significantly smaller when wounds were treated with Manuka honey, the difference being more apparent in dogs. Dermapliq was proven to be a better choice in achieving favorable wound healing than Manuka honey in dogs and cats in first-intention healing. In our study, cats had a statistically better cosmetic score and less skin thickening and scar width compared to dogs. Histologically, cats showed significantly less edema, higher inflammation and angiogenesis scores, and lower fibroblast and epidermis thickening scores when compared to dogs. Keywords: cat, comparison dog–cat, Dermapliq, dog, histology, Manuka honey, RGTA, ultrasonography, wound healing

CITATION EXPORT

Pagona G Gouletsou, Theodora Zacharopoulou, Vassilis Skampardonis et al.. First-Intention Incisional Wound Healing in Dogs and Cats: A Controlled Trial of Dermapliq and Manuka Honey. Veterinary Sciences. (2024). https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11020064

AUTHORS

12 · 4 CENTRES

Pagona G Gouletsou, Theodora Zacharopoulou, Vassilis Skampardonis, Stefanos G Georgiou, Dimitrios Doukas, Apostolos D Galatos, Eugenia Flouraki, Eleftheria Dermisiadou, Chryssoula Margeti, Mariana Barbagianni, Aikaterini Sideri, Vassiliki Tsioli

1Clinic of Obstetrics and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
2Clinic of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, 43100 Karditsa, Greece; [email protected] (T.Z.); [email protected] (S.G.G.); [email protected] (A.D.G.); [email protected] (E.F.); [email protected] (E.D.); [email protected] (C.M.); [email protected] (M.B.); [email protected] (A.S.); [email protected] (V.T.)
3Laboratory of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Animal Health Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, 43100 Karditsa, Greece; [email protected]
4Laboratory of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, 43100 Karditsa, Greece; [email protected]