VNJ Volume 41 (1) February 2026

Care should be taken to fully train staff in the application and management of NPWT devices, as the studies included in this review indicated that the incidence of complications often reduced as staff experience increased. Loss of suction is most prevalent in P-NPWT systems, which may require adaptation before clinical use in the veterinary field.

Despite a large breadth of research in canine NPWT, its depth is limited. Significant further research is required, particularly larger-scale prospective research. Further research should aim to determine the effect of NPWT on end-of-treatment cost to clients, as well as its effect on wound bacterial load, due to inconclusive current data.

In conclusion, NPWT is an appropriate and safe adjunctive treatment that appears to promote decreased time to granulation and may reduce overall cost to clients. The application of NPWT should be considered on a case-by-case basis due to variable patient tolerance and unverified antimicrobial benefits.

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