MANEJO DE FERIDAS EM COELHO ATRAVÉS DO USO DA PELE DE TILÁPIA LIOFILIZADA

The study addresses the importance of treating skin lesions in veterinary medicine, with an emphasis on wound healing in rabbits with pododermatitis, including the use of Nile tilapia skin as a therapeutic alternative for grafting after debridement of necrotic ulcers. Skin lesions can be caused by trauma, bites or other causes, compromising vital skin functions, such as protection and defense against infections. Tilapia skin is rich in type I collagen and has been highlighted as an accessible and effective biomaterial in the treatment of wounds, stimulating cell regeneration and healing. The work reports the case of a rabbit, named Paçoca, diagnosed with ulcerative pododermatitis in the left pelvic limb, a chronic condition that can lead to serious complications. The clinical signs of the pathology are pain, abdominal and limb alopecia, edema, ulcerative lesions, loss of joint mobility with the presence of osteolytic reactions. Pododermatitis in rabbits is often related to factors such as cage floor quality, excess weight, and sedentary lifestyle. The rabbit’s treatment included debridement of necrotic tissue and the application of tilapia skin as a graft. The tilapia skin was prepared through a rigorous sterilization and preservation process, involving immersion in specific solutions and the application of antibiotics. The use of this skin as an occlusive dressing helped stimulate growth factors essential for skin regeneration, such as fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The use of this biomaterial proved effective in the treatment of wounds with significant tissue loss, avoiding the need for sutures and promoting healing through the formation of new tissue. Postoperative follow-up included the use of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, and treatment with tilapia skin contributed to the successful recovery. The study highlights the effectiveness of the biomaterial in the management of skin wounds in rabbits, especially in the recovery of lesions caused by ulcerative pododermatitis. Therefore, after treatment, the rabbit presented good healing, the wound evolved positively, with formation of granulation tissue and epithelialization.