Utilização da laserterapia em tratamento de lesão causada por acidente ofídico- Relato de caso

Abstract

Cutaneous wounds in small animals represent a significant clinical challenge, especially when associated with snakebite accidents and systemic complications. Laser therapy has been used as an adjuvant treatment with the potential to accelerate tissue repair through photobiomodulation. In this context, when therapy is performed in association with systemic medications, it may increase the chances of therapeutic success. It is a treatment alternative that has demonstrated substantial positive effects by accelerating wound healing, can be applied to various types of lesions, and has few contraindications. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of low-level laser therapy in the treatment of an extensive cutaneous wound in a dog that was a victim of a snakebite accident and that suffered interference from a concomitant systemic disease. The results showed a reduction in edema, decreased exudate, and formation of granulation tissue after the initiation of laser therapy. After the implementation of specific treatment for the systemic disease, wound healing resumed, with progressive closure of the lesion, totaling 62 days until complete repair. In the discussion, the findings reinforce that laser therapy acts as an important adjuvant resource, promoting microcirculation, collagen synthesis, and inflammatory modulation. However, the study demonstrates that systemic conditions, such as hemoparasitic diseases, may delay the healing process, highlighting that wound management should not be limited to local treatment alone but must include overall clinical stabilization of the patient. It is concluded that low-level laser therapy is an effective and safe alternative for the treatment of extensive cutaneous wounds in dogs, especially when integrated into individualized therapeutic protocols. The case also demonstrates that successful wound healing depends on the identification and control of associated systemic diseases, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive clinical approach to the animal.