I have often been rewarded over the years for my magical powers of healing, usually with the " Scottish water of life" for it's own medicinal properties. All too often the healing process for which I have been wrongly associated has largely been the response of the patient and very little to do with me. That complex biological process of wound healing is no better illustrated than when "Poppy" a 9 year old Standard Poodle was involved in a road traffic accident.

As a result of her trauma she badly damaged the soft tissues in her front leg. Immediately after the injury the exposed tissues (collagen) activate a sequence of chemical and physical events, like a set of dominoes, that should result in the repair of the damage.

Initially, constriction of the surrounding blood vessels occurs to limit further haemorrhage. Soon after and within the first 6 hours these same blood vessels will dilate to allow the supply of all the appropriate "equipment and building materials" to facilitate the construction of new tissues. Neutrophils and macrophages are drafted in as a result of messenger chemical signals. These white blood cells begin the process of clearing out the damaged cells and dealing with any bacterial contamination.

Once the site is cleared the building process then begins. New blood vessels are built to bring in supplies of fibroblasts and endothelial cells. The wound contracts to try to help reduce the overall size of the repair and the replication of the skin epithelial cells at the edges of the wound migrate over the wound surface. Finally, collagen production adds strength to the wound and this "grand design" is complete. The aim of treatment in these cases is to assist this miraculous process and try not to hinder it.

Protecting the wound from further damage is imperative and frequent dressings are required. Despite what many people think, licking your wound is NOT at all helpful, especially if you are a dog and have often licked many other less sanitary areas beforehand!

Cleaning and debriding the wound from the bits of road and other contaminants is extremely important. This painstaking process is usually carried out by my nursing staff who have a great deal of patience and a fine selction of lotions and potions to assist with this step. Many weeks if not months later the reconstruction is complete and largely down to the patient, "Poppy". No "water of life" required.................on this occasion!