High rates of morbidity and mortality in dogs with physiologic degloving injuries.

OBJECTIVE

To describe clinical progression of dogs with physiologic degloving injuries, including bloodwork abnormalities, nutritional management, wound care, and the need for advanced care such as blood products.

METHODS

Medical records of client-owned dogs with physiologic degloving injuries between 2011 and 2025 were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included clinical presentation, bloodwork, wound progression, diagnostic imaging, and treatment interventions. Dogs were grouped based on survival to discharge (survivors or nonsurvivors).

RESULTS

18 dogs were identified following medical record review. Physiologic degloving was most frequently caused by vehicular trauma (10 of 18 [55.6%]) or attack by another animal (8 of 18 [44.4%]) and primarily affected the thorax (7 of 18 [38.9%]) and abdomen (6 of 18 [33.3%]). Concurrent injuries were present in 15 of 18 cases (83.3%). Clinicopathologic abnormalities affecting 50% or more of dogs included hypoalbuminemia, hypoproteinemia, and anemia. Treatments frequently included systemic antibiotics, blood product administration, and feeding tube placement. Multidrug-resistant organisms were identified on 6 of 15 cultures (40.0%). Wound management typically included negative pressure wound therapy or active suction drainage, with many dogs requiring prolonged open wound management. The overall mortality rate was 33.3% (12 survivors, 6 nonsurvivors), with a median hospitalization time of 9 days (IQR, 5 to 14 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Dogs with physiologic degloving injuries may have substantial morbidity requiring intensive monitoring and wound management.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians treating dogs with physiologic degloving should anticipate the need for intensive supportive care, including blood products and early nutritional intervention. Wound management may be prolonged. Mortality rates were high; however, dogs that survive appeared to have a good outcome.