Therapeutic Efficacy of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Ointment in Promoting Wound Healing in Dogs: A Clinical Study

Abstract

Cutaneous wounds in dogs, whether resulting from trauma or surgical procedures, present considerable healing challenges. These challenges include risks of infection, prolonged recovery times, delayed granulation, excessive inflammation, and impaired tissue regeneration. This preliminary study was carried out on eight clinical cases of dogs (five males and three females) with cutaneous wounds of varying severity. These wounds are located at the lateral abdomen (n=3), tarsal (n=2) and elbow (n=1) regions, neck (n=1), and nipple (n=1). The dog breeds included mongrel (n=4), Griffon (n=1), German Shepherd (n=1), Bullmastiff (n=1), and Golden Retriever (n=1). Each wound was washed with normal saline solution and treated once daily with topical application of a thin layer of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) ointment until complete healing. Follow-ups were conducted to monitor wound size and contraction, presence of infection, and potential adverse effects. Healing was assessed based on complete wound closure and the absence of infection. Results indicated that ZnO-NPs ointment was easily applied and caused no discomfort to the treated dogs. Moreover, ZnO-NPs ointment promoted wound healing in all treated dogs. Almost all treated wounds demonstrated complete healing after 30 days of treatment with substantial, fast return to the normal configuration and absence of infection. Clinical scores of clearances of wound infection revealed complete absence of infection after 7-14 days of treatment. In conclusion, ZnO-NPs enhanced the overall healing process and supported rapid as well as complication-free tissue repair in dogs with cutaneous wounds. Additionally, ZnO-NPs ointment was simple to apply and caused no discomfort to the dogs, making it suitable for routine veterinary use. Further studies are needed to optimize ZnO-NP formulations and evaluate their long-term safety and efficacy in different wound types.