Antibacterial effects of EquiCrown® Silver

Due to EquiCrown® Silver's thread with silver ions knitted into the fabric; odor causing bacteria on the horse's skin (e.g. staphylococcus aureus) may be counteracted; mud fever and inclusion may be prevented. EquiCrown® Silver is generally suitable for the treatment of skin problems in horses. Contact your veterinarian or our office for further information. 

Silver will:

  1. Kill odor causing bacteria in the wound caused by internal and external sources.
  2. Reduce inflammation in the wound increasing blood flow to the wound and reducing pain in the area.
  3. Reduce biofilms from occurring on the wound reducing complications and overall time period of healing process.

Areas and when we would use it:

  • lymphangitis/cellulitis
  • Mud Fever/ Scratches
  • dermatological issues
  • inflammation and arthritis
  • proud flesh
  • swollen legs “stocking up”
  • soft windpuffs (not yet hardened)
  • (chronic) tendon injuries/disorders after fetlock injury
  • postoperative to prevent swellings
  • postoperative and post-traumatic edema
  • inactivity edema
  • support in chronic lymph drainage disorders
  • post lymphangitis
  • scar treatment
  • wound treatment in conjunction with wound dressing as substitute for medical wrap bandage
  • (recent) ganglions
  • as a preventative method during long standing periods (e.g. stall rest, transport)
  • faster recovery

Depending on the specific indication, the use of bandages should be generally discussed with the veterinarian or therapist prior to their application.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact our EquiCrown® customer service.


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to learn more?  Here are some points we wanted to highlight from an article titled "Nanocrystalline silver dressings in wound management: a review" published by the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health - read full article

  • Silver has antiseptic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties and is a broad spectrum antibiotic.
  • Free silver cations have a potent antimicrobial effect which destroys micro-organisms immediately by blocking the cellular respiration and disrupting the function of bacterial cell membranes. This occurs when silver cations bind to tissue proteins, causing structural changes in the bacterial cell membranes...
  • Controlling micro-organisms within a wound environment promotes wound healing. Micro-organisms, ie, bacteria or fungi, are found in chronic wounds and if present in an acute wound can rapidly contaminate and infect, seriously impeding wound healing. High levels of bacteria, multi-resistant organisms, and bacterial biofilms can impact on the wound-healing process especially in chronic wounds.
  • Biofilms are complex communities of bacteria found on wound surfaces. They are embedded in a polysaccharide matrix and a biofilm functions as one organism in its own environment (Templeton 2005; Woodward 2005). A bacterial biofilm can have up to 1000 times more resistance to conventional antibiotics. Biofilms are prevalent in critically colonized wounds which can progress to wound infection (Templeton 2005; Woodward 2005).
  • A wound bioburden is when bacterial cells produce and secrete a variety of enzymes and toxins onto the wound...This bacterial load can be reduced by the removal of non-viable tissue with debridement or by using an antimicrobial dressing such as a sustained released silver dressing. In recent years, sustained released silver dressings has increasingly been used to treat both chronic and acute wounds in an effort to provide a more conducive wound healing environment by decreasing the wound bioburden level (Wright et al 2003).