Abstract

The ternary copper (II) complex with 4-fluorophenoxyacetic acid hydrazide (DRI-12) may promote healing by combining antimicrobial activity, immunomodulatory effects, and antioxidant action, contributing to the reduction of microbial load, modulation of oxidative stress, and improvement of re-epithelialization and collagen deposition. This case report describes the use of DRI-12 in the treatment of a wound resulting from an encounter with a giant anteater in a dog. The lesion underwent surgical debridement. Postoperatively, systemic treatment with meloxicam and amoxicillin with clavulanate was instituted, along with topical treatment using chlorhexidine for the first 10 days. A sample from the wound bed was collected for bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), isolating Klebsiella sp. In the absence of systemic signs, local management was adjusted to include daily topical application (once daily) of the DRI-12 solution over the entire wound area, using a spray device, followed by a dressing for 50 days. Wound areas were measured every 10 days until complete healing (D0, D10, D20, D30, D40, and D50), yielding measurements of 3,520.047 mm², 2,787.205 mm², 1,503.325 mm², 297.134 mm², 102.182 mm², and 0.00 mm², respectively. The contraction potential was calculated for the intervals of 0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40, and 40–50 days, corresponding to −20.82%, −46.06%, −80.23%, −65.61%, and −100.00%, respectively. Complete healing was observed by day 50, suggesting that DRI-12 may serve as a promising adjunct in the process of cutaneous wound repair in dogs.

Keywords

wound contraction, re-epithelialization, collagen deposition, debridement, antimicrobial susceptibility testing