You may have seen the Warning Letter from the FDA which I posted on our HighDesertEquine Facebook page. The letter was written to the manufacturer of Vetericyn because the company is making claims for the product without having a license or adequate research data to support those claims. In addition, the FDA states that the manufacturer of Vetericyn has inadequate quality assurance regarding the water used in product formulation, according to FDA regulations.
So, is Vetericyn bad? Should you stop using it?
Not necessarily. The product does in fact have a sound physiologic basis and may be an excellent tool for use in wound care. However, the FDA says that the company's claim the the product kills almost all bacteria within 30 seconds of contact has not been substantiated with adequate laboratory data. You should ask yourself: are the FDA regulations for product manufacture and label claims reasonable? If they are, then the producers of Vetericyn need to do some additonal work before making the label claims currently on their product.
Most importantly - is their danger that you will do harm using this product? I believe the best way to answer this question if by following these recommendation regarding wounds: If there is signficant swelling, heat, redness or pain associated with a wound, or if ANY deep wound is located on a horse's distal limb (below the knee or hock), consult a veterinarian before initiating treatment.
The following is copied directly from Vetericyn's information to veterinarians about their products.
The FDA takes issue with the claim that "this revolutionary antimicrobial wound treatment even kills antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, like MRSA, as well as fungi, viruses and spores."
"Vetericyn products assist in the mechanical removal of cellular debris, senescent cells, necrotic tissue,
and foreign material from the skin and wound surface through debridement. Wounds that are clean,
well maintained, and moist have shown faster healing than wounds left on their own.
Vetericyn® VF is a special veterinary formulation of Microcyn® Technology. At nearly double the potency of the original over-the-counter formulation, Vetericyn VF provides 3-4 times the efficacy of our consumer formula and offers licensed veterinarians a powerful new treatment option that works naturally with animal immune systems to fight infection and speed healing time.
Based on Microcyn Technology, Vetericyn is the world’s first non-toxic, broad spectrum antimicrobial. Now, formulated exclusively for use and dispensing by licensed veterinarians, Vetericyn VF is even better at managing the organic load of a wound bed than our over-the-counter Vetericyn. It is still completely non-toxic, biocompatible, and safe as water. It may be used to treat a wide variety of topical wounds and infections of the skin, eyes, ears, nose and mouth.
This revolutionary antimicrobial wound treatment even kills antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, like MRSA, as well as fungi, viruses and spores.
Vetericyn VF Liquid Contains:
Electrolyzed Water (H20): 99.816%
Sodium Chloride (NaCI): 0.023%
Sodium Phosphate (NaH2PO/Na2HPO4): 0.015%
Hypochlorous Acid (HOCI): 0.011%
Vetericyn VF HydroGel Contains:
Electrolyzed Water (H20): 96.245%
Sodium Magnesium Fluorosilicate: 2.987%
Boric Acid (H3BO3): 0.462%
Sodium Sulfate (Na2SO4): 0.295%
Hypochlorous Acid (HOCI): 0.010%
Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCI): 0.001%
Hypochlorous acid
Heals by Mimicking the Immune System
Vetericyn is an oxychlorine compound similar to that produced by the animal’s own
immune system. Oxychlorine compounds are released by neutrophils, which are
the most abundant type of white blood cells in the immune system. Neutrophils use
oxychlorine compounds to attack and kill pathogens. Vetericyn is a similar pathogen
fighting solution that can be applied locally to an infection site. In-vitro results show
that Vetericyn can safely kill 99.999% of most single-cell pathogens within 30
seconds of contact or less, including tenacious pathogens like MRSA, staph and
pseudomonas.
Vetericyn products assist in the mechanical removal of cellular debris, senescent cells, necrotic tissue,
and foreign material from the skin and wound surface through debridement. Wounds that are clean,
well maintained, and moist have shown faster healing than wounds left on their own."
Decisions regarding your animal's care are your responsibility, so be sure you are informed, and are doing no harm, before you choose a treatment for your horse. I welcome comments on this entry regarding your experiences with wound care and Vetericyn products. Remember, I am not condemning the use of Vetericyn - in fact the product has an excellent theoretical basis for a safe, effective wound treatment. Just make the decision to use it from an informed position.
I believe that education is the key to evolution. I believe that animals are the key to compassion. I believe the learning never stops.
