By Sydney Jones 
During the grueling 12 weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, the chance of injury is high due to the stiff competition and the longevity of the show series. Whether your horse suffers from a minor wound, such as a boot rub or grab wound, or a more significant injury where proud flesh is present, VetBlue understands that healing wounds as quickly and efficiently as possible is critical to success in the ring.
With a diverse set of wound care products to treat a variety of wounds, VetBlue can keep you and your horse in the competition and on your way to many more blue ribbons.
As an extension of the longtime human wound care product Hydrofera, VetBlue exists to provide the same trusted healing practices to animals. VetBlue delivers superior clinical outcomes to feline, canine and equine species by providing prime conditions for natural wound healing, so wounds can heal efficiently and completely.
The dynamic range of VetBlue helps in all phases of the healing process, allowing patients to get back to feeling themselves as quickly as possible.
“VetBlue is superior to other wound care products because it is an ‘all in one’ product,” local VetBlue representative Abbi Bentz explained. “It is antibacterial and antifungal, it debrides dead tissue, it helps to decrease inflammation, it provides an analgesic effect, it absorbs exudate, and it provides a moist environment for wound healing. In addition, it protects the wound from insects and other organisms, helps wounds to heal faster, and does not contain any banned substances, so there is no withdrawal time for competition horses.”
Wound care is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and VetBlue aims to treat as many wounds as possible. The PVA foam is designated for severe wounds where there is dead tissue or proud flesh present. This flagship product improves epithelialization while wicking exudate and debris from the wound bed. The result is a multifaceted, non-toxic healing environment that kills bacteria and reduces bioburden.
VetBlue’s PU foam is more appropriate for shallow wounds, such as boot rubs or grab wounds. This product tackles wounds with higher exudate, managing absorption of the secretions while maintaining a moist wound bed. VetBlue also offers tunnel dressings to help with tough-to-get areas.
Veterinarian Dr. Crystalyn J. Kasa, who is also local to the Wellington area, has seen the benefits of VetBlue.
“VetBlue has been an excellent wound-healing element I have added to my practice,” Kasa said. “It is cost effective and very easy for clients to use. The variety in the size and type of PVA, PU and tunnel dressing provide many options for use. I have seen incredible rates of healing with exudative wounds, chronic non-healing wounds and proud flesh. The tunnel has been a remarkable replacement for penrose drains. The bio-burden indicator is helpful for client assessment of wound healing. VetBlue has been my go-to for managing a diversity of wounds.”
Bentz has done a lot of work throughout Wellington and South Florida. In some cases, VetBlue has given animals, like Streaker, a second chance at life. He was found abandoned at a boarding facility, during which time a fly mask and bandage around his leg started to merge with his skin. Five different veterinarians treated his wounds with several injections and creams, but nothing provided a long-term solution.
Vicki Moore, Streaker’s owner, is thankful they found VetBlue when they did. “He’s a completely different horse,” Moore said. “He used to not even be able to bend his leg; it was all so swollen. Now you can’t even tell where his wounds used to be in some places.”
Although Streaker’s healing process on VetBlue has lasted months, the wound care foams also work for the quick fixes as well. The smaller wounds that horses at WEF are more likely to experience can turn into big problems if not treated properly and quickly.
“It is bad enough for animals to get a wound, but they are highly susceptible to getting secondary infections, and for the wounds to get bigger if not treated quickly,” Bentz said. “Animals go through the same stages of wound healing as humans. Most people will immediately clean a new wound and apply a Band-Aid. It is even more important for animals, who are exposed to more microorganisms, often lick their wounds and don’t have the ability to protect their wounds from further injury.”
The team at VetBlue prides themselves on their products’ ability to heal small grab wounds as quickly as one day.
Another important piece of VetBlue’s mission is to provide as much education about proper wound care as possible. Bentz is a certified BS, RN and CRRN, and participates in barn visits throughout the Wellington area to provide hands-on tutorials to grooms, barn owners, riders and more about proper wound care and the uses of VetBlue, ensuring that the product will be effectively applied and will lead to fast and more efficient healing.
“I hope that clients who start using VetBlue see firsthand the benefits, and tell other animal owners about VetBlue,” Bentz said.
If you are interested in trying VetBlue, contact Abbi Bentz at (561) 789-6076 or abbi@equinewoundcare.com.
