- Title: Burned bears treated with fish skin bandages
- Date: 25th January 2018
- Summary: MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - DECEMBER 12, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WILDFIRE BURNING
- Embargoed: 8th February 2018 21:49
- Keywords: wildfires bears burns fish fish skin bandage tilapia
- Location: RANCHO CORDOVA AND MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: RANCHO CORDOVA AND MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Environment,Nature/Wildlife,Human Interest / Brights / Odd News
- Reuters ID: LVA0027ZM3IVT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Veterinarians at University of California, Davis created fish bandages last month to treat two bears suffering from severe burns. Acting as a 'biological bandage,' the sterilized tilapia skins were sutured to the bears' paws, which were badly burned during December's Thomas Fire, the largest wildfire in California history.
UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Chief of Integrative Medicine Service, Dr. Jamie Peyton, got the idea from reading about a team in Brazil who used fish skins to treat human burns. According to UC Davis, Peyton's treatment of the bears was the first time such a procedure has been done in the U.S.
"Nothing is more rewarding than when you take an animal that won't walk because it's so painful. And we try a new therapy and put those bandages, the tilapia skin on her feet and right after we got done and she woke up, she stood up for the first time and was able to walk," explained Peyton, who says new skin grew back on the bears' paw pads within a matter of weeks following the treatment.
Peyton said she hopes the bears' recovery will lead the way for fish skins to be used in a wider capacity - both for animals and humans suffering from burns. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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