What
is in Vetericyn Wound Care?
A proprietary formulation of oxychlorine compounds based upon the Microcyn® Technology platform, Vetericyn Wound care is an FDA-cleared, one-step, pH-neutral and shelf-stable wound dressing that cleanses and debrides wounds, treats infections and speeds up the healing process.
What are the ingredients in Vetericyn OTC liquid?
Electrolyzed Water (H2O)(99.97%), Sodium Chloride (NaCI)(0.023%),
Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCI)(0.004%), & Hypochlorous Acid (HOCI)(0.003%)
What is the difference between Vetericyn available in stores and Vetericyn VF, the “vet strength” formula?
Vetericyn VF is only available to licensed vets and can only be obtained from a licensed vet. Vetericyn VF (Veterinary Formula) is double to potency of the FDA-cleared Vetericyn consumer formula. Initial studies, although not conclusive, are showing a 3 – 4 times the efficacy in managing the organic load of a wound bed over the consumer formula. In addition, VF seems to handle the more tenacious infections, like pseudomonas, better.
How does Vetericyn work?
When neutrophils in the body’s immune system encounter bacteria or other pathogens, the neutrophils engulf these pathogens and generate an oxy-chlorine compound with which to destroy them. This process is called the “oxidative burst.” These compounds typically have a very short life span as they are created “on demand” to accomplish a specific task and do not harm mammalian cells in the process. Mimicking the mammalian immune system, Vetericyn contains oxy-chlorine compounds similar to those produced in the oxidative burst.
What
makes Vetericyn unique from other animal wound cleansers/dressings?
In that Vetericyn has a safety profile comparable to saline (safety data available in a separate report), it is non-toxic and non-irritating while safe to use around eyes, nose and mouth. It contains no steroids or antibiotics and can be easily applied with no mixing or dilution required. Rinsing after use is not required.
Is
Vetericyn just “diluted bleach”?
No. Diluted bleach is also known as Dakin’s Solution and is made as needed with varying concentrations and does not have a long shelf life. Although Vetericyn contains trace amounts of sodium hypochlorite, the active ingredient in Vetericyn is Hypochlorous acid. Hypochlorous acid is a very effective antimicrobial, but is naturally unstable. Vetericyn has been able to stabilize its formulas and achieve 18 months of shelf life or longer. In addition, the pH of Vetericyn is targeted at 7.2, or pH neutral. “Diluted bleach”, or Dakin’s solution, normally has to have a pH of over 11 to achieve equal effectiveness in killing pathogens. Also, Dakin’s Solution harms healthy tissue while Vetericyn does not. Finally, Vetericyn is 100% non-toxic and can safely be used around the eyes, nose and mouth while Dakin’s Solution cannot make that claim.
Why
is it important that Vetericyn contains no antibiotics?
The overuse of antibiotics, in both humans and animals, is the primary cause in the epidemic rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. When overexposed to antibiotics, bacteria mutate thus reducing or eliminating the antibiotics’ effectiveness in curing or preventing infections. Along with MRSA and VRE, many infection-causing bacteria are becoming resistant to the most commonly prescribed antibiotics. Thus, the fact that Vetericyn does not contain antibiotics is most significant and positive.
What
other benefits are there in using Vetericyn?
Odors in wounds treated with Vetericyn quickly disappear. In that wound odors are the result of bacteria, one can surmise that Vetericyn is eradicating these bacteria. As well, the Microcyn Technology in Vetericyn has demonstrated separate wound-healing properties including reduction of inflammation and an increase of oxygen/blood flow to the wound site. It’s believed that the combination of these attributes contribute to the rapid wound healing characteristics of Vetericyn.
Why
do wounds treated with Vetericyn almost immediately turn red? Is this desired?
After using Vetericyn on wounds, clinicians have consistently described a color change as a result of the increased TCPO2 or oxygen levels at the wound site. The redness is the associated result of increased blood flow (and increased wound healing nutrients) to the wound.
How
is Vetericyn made?
Microcyn Technology
from which Vetericyn is formulated, utilizes a unique multi-chamber electrolysis
manufacturing process in which purified water containing trace amounts of
sodium chloride (NaCl) is oxidized creating a proprietary solution of oxidized
water (water is broken down into oxygen and other oxidized species) and oxy-chlorine
species (hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite).
Has Vetericyn’s efficacy and safety been proven in clinical studies?
Vetericyn has been tested in two animal clinical studies while the Microcyn Technology has been successfully tested in 25 human clinical studies.
Recent animal studies include:
1. Large Animal Respiratory Infections: In the first study, we tested Microcyn against Moraxella catarrhalis, a gram-negative, aerobic, oxidase-positive diplococcus, which causes respiratory tract-associated infection in both animals and humans. Microcyn/Vetericyn killed M. catarrhalis to the limit (99.98888889%) at each test data point = 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 120 seconds, five minutes and 15 minutes.
2. Cattle Pink Eye: In a second study performed at Texas A&M, Vetericyn/Microcyn was tested successfully against Moraxella bovis, the cause of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis, or cattle pinkeye. The disease is relatively common (though infecting cattle only) and is transmitted by flies. Vetericyn killed to the limit in five-minute and 10-minute test intervals. Results are forthcoming. The existing two common medical treatments for cattle pink eye are challenging and expensive:
a. Subconjunctival injection of a Tetracycline, or
b. A topical application of Cloxacillin.
As well, the Microcyn Technology has been the proven effective in reducing/curing infection and/or speeding the healing process in 25 clinical studies (many of them peer-reviewed) conducted on over 800 human patients worldwide. Probably the most impressive study in terms of credibility was the U.S. Phase II clinical trial evaluating Microcyn® Technology as a topical antimicrobial treatment for mildly infected diabetic foot ulcers. In results reported in March 2008, the clinical success rate at visit 4 (Test of Cure) for Microcyn-alone-treated patients was 93.3% compared to 56.3% for the levofloxacin plus saline-treated patients. Levofloxacin, a widely used antibiotic, generated $2.4 billion in global sales in 2005.
How safe is Vetericyn?
Microcyn Technology has treated over one million patients worldwide without a report of a single severe side effect.
What impact does Vetericyn have on the most common animal infections?
For large animals (horses, cows) Vetericyn kills 99.9999% of all organisms at the limit in 30 seconds:
- MRSA
- E. coli
- Salmonella
- Staph
- Strep
- Moraxella bovis
For small animals (dogs, cats) Vetericyn kills 99.9999% of all organisms at the limit in 30 seconds:
- MRSA
- E. coli
- Salmonella
- Staph
- Strep
- Actinomyces
- Pasteurella
The Microcyn Technology has received three 510k clearances from the FDA for use as a “medical device” for cleaning, debriding, moistening and lubricating wounds and burns. The Vetericyn Wound Care is approved by the FDA based upon these same 510k clearances.
Is Vetericyn available outside of the United States?
While the Microcyn Technology for human wound care is available in Europe, Mexico, India, China, United States and some Middle East countries under various brand names, Vetericyn has not yet been introduced commercially outside the U.S. Recently, Oculus announced agreements with Bayer Animal Health for Vetericyn animal use in China, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.
What is the shelf life?
Vetericyn delivers 18-month shelf life. Since Vetericyn actives are neutralized when exposed to foreign or organic materials including packaging, variance in shelf life is predicated upon the volume of the Vetericyn solution versus the amount of packaging surface. For example, in the one-gallon bottle the amount of Vetericyn per square inch of packaging will be much higher than it is in the eight-ounce bottle, thus it will most likely have an increased shelf life.
Vetericyn has a faint chlorine smell. When applied to an open wound, isn’t the chlorine painful to the animal?
While there is a slight chlorine odor, there is a proprietary amount of Free Active Chlorine (FAC) measured in parts per million, which is not significant enough to have a sensory impact. Vetericyn VF has approximately twice the amount of FAC than consumer strength Vetericyn, yet still does not sting when applied.
Can Vetericyn be used safely with kittens and puppies?
Yes, it is safe as saline and can be used without worry with young animals.
Can Vetericyn be used to treat eye, gum and ear infections?
Again, Vetericyn is indicated for the management of traumatic wounds, cuts, abrasions, skin irritations, post-surgical incisions and minor burns in animals and is safe for use around head and eyes. It can be used to treat infections. Only veterinarians, based upon these indications, may choose to use for other infections.
Can Vetericyn be used on all animals?
Vetericyn can be used on all animals except for food or production animals such as dairy cattle. We believe it is safe to use with food/production animals, but we do not yet have this specific FDA approval.
Are there other oxy-chlorine compound solutions available?
A few companies have produced super-oxidized formulas but these have not been tested extensively in human beings, have little-to-no stability or shelf life, and oftentimes are not pH-neutral, thus can be cyto-toxic to mammalian cells.
Is Vetericyn compatible with other wound care products?
Vetericyn is compatible with most gauzes and acrylics. In human wound care, the Microcyn Technology has demonstrated it can be safely and effectively used prior to treatment with silver dressings, skin substitutes, growth factors and negative-pressure therapy.
What is meant when you say that Vetericyn “tests free”?
This means that Vetericyn contains no ingredients that would result in a positive blood or urine analytical test for non-permitted substances in race or show horses (if ingested or licked).
How should Vetericyn be stored?
Store with cap closed tightly after each use in its original container at room temperature away from direct sunlight and heat. DO NOT FREEZE.
Are there any special handling requirements for Vetericyn?
Since Vetericyn is non-irritating and non-sensitizing to skin and eyes, no special handling precautions are required. Read
more here about how to use it.
What’s the difference between the Microcyn Wound Care for humans and the Vetericyn Wound Care for animals?
Vetericyn and Microcyn Wound Care for humans contain the same active and are both based on the same platform technology for manufacturing.
Is Vetericyn patented?
The Microcyn Technology from which Vetericyn is formulated has eleven patents issued and 86 patents pending for chemical composition, apparatus of manufacture, method of manufacturing and therapeutic uses.
Are there other Vetericyn products in development?
There are a number of new animal care products being examined including an anti-fungal gel, ear and eye rinse products, bovine eye rinse products, Veterinary Formula products at almost double the strength and chlorine content as the consumer formula, among others.
Has the Microcyn Technology which Vetericyn is based on been tested against other bacteria, viruses or fungi and what are the results?
Microcyn® Technology has demonstrated rapid activity against a broad spectrum of gram-positive, gram-negative and yeast species with the following in vitro time kill method results in solution:Please see useful chart here
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