Wound care is a challenging reality of horse ownership. Three particularly difficult aspects of equine wound care—the management of moisture at the wound bed, the removal of debris and fluids containing bacteria, and the expense and time commitment required to care for wounds—are all being made easier with the use of new CORE-AID, a wound dressing from VET-TEC, LLC.

CORE-AID’s three-layer design quickly draws fluid and debris away from the wound into the upper layers of the dressing, acting similar to a vacuum, and holds the fluid in the dressing until the dressing is changed. This keeps the wound bed moist at the surface but does not saturate it with the bacteria-laden fluids; this moist environment is key for quick and effective wound healing. CORE-AID pulls fluids from one layer into the next, allowing you to layer this unique product with ease for wounds that require extra absorbency. The woven fibers of CORE-AID will not shed into the wound, so it may be cut and shaped as needed. With these properties, CORE-AID can be customized to fit and fewer dressing changes may be required, meaning less time and expense required in attending to the wound.

Jim Blackford, DVM, MS, DACVS, professor and section chief of the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine Large Animal Clinic, had this to say about CORE-AID: "Our initial experience with the CORE-AID product shows great promise in managing wounds, especially those that are very exudative (fluid-laden). The product was impressive by the amount of fluid it would absorb, trapping it in the product and decreasing the frequency for bandage changes. Wound surfaces appear to be healthy, indicating the tissues tolerate the material well."

Joe Lyman, DVM, general manager and farm veterinarian of top Standardbred stallion station Walnut Hall, Ltd., in Lexington, KY, said, "I have used CORE-AID on two cases with heavily contaminated wounds. I was pleased to find a healthy, pink granulation bed with no discharge left on the wound at each bandage change. In each case, I feel that I gained around two weeks of healing time over other bandage materials I routinely use. I’m very pleased with the performance."

Wounds in difficult-to-treat areas and those requiring draining can be addressed by cutting CORE-AID into a custom shape and then layering it to draw out fluids and debris. Examples of customization include as a wick for draining wounds or as a spiral to pack cavity wounds. It also may be serrated for wounds that are contoured, such as those involving joints.

CORE-AID is an excellent solution for dressing wounds of all kinds except for those involving heavy bleeding, as the rapid absorbency of the product will not stop excessive bleeding. VET-TEC advises wound care should be performed under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Brett Woodie, DVM, MS, DACVS, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, KY, said, "I use CORE-AID and have found it to be extremely useful with wound debridement. Exudate is drawn away from the wound, which helps establish a better environment for healing. I have been extremely satisfied with the product and will continue to use it."

This unique wound dressing is being used by a number of prominent equine veterinarians and is gaining national exposure as a must-have for equine first-aid kits. Visit www.coreaid.com for additional information about CORE-AID, including detailed application and customization demonstrations and veterinary case examples.

CORE-AID can be purchased through your veterinarian, and a distributor can be found on www.coreaid.com. CORE-AID’s sterile 4˝x 6˝ sheets are packed in boxes of 10 and are competitively priced.