Topical and systemic medications for wounds.

There are a plethora of topical and systemic medications available to the veterinary practitioner today that aid the wound healing process. Some of these help to maintain a moist environment. Others increase growth factors, provide local energy sources, control infection, provide for debridement, increase wound blood flow and temperature, or reduce wound edema. Modern wound care requires that the proper products(s)be used, depending on the condition of the wound and the phase of wound healing. This article discusses various wound care products and provides guidelines on their use.