Application of an ice pack to healthy canine skin decreases skin perfusion

To determine the impact on skin perfusion of ice pack application on healthy skin.

A region of skin on the ventral midline was clipped from 10 healthy dogs. Skin perfusion was assessed with laser speckle contrast imaging at baseline, immediately after 15 minutes of icing, and 15 minutes after removal of the ice pack. Mean speckle contrast was calculated from the laser speckle contrast imaging images at all time points. Mean speckle contrast is a unitless measurement that is inversely proportional to skin perfusion. Local skin temperature was also assessed.

Skin temperature decreased from 92.2 ± 0.6 °F at baseline to 69.1 ± 1.1 °F immediately after icing and had increased to 87.5 ± 0.5 °F at 15 minutes after icing. Skin perfusion decreased (mean speckle contrast increased) by a mean of 10.0 ± 5.7% from baseline to immediately after icing and by a mean of 14.8 ± 7.5% from baseline to 15 minutes after icing.

Application of ice to the skin for 15 minutes decreases skin perfusion for at least 15 minutes after ice pack removal.

Veterinarians should consider that a decrease in skin perfusion is associated with the application of an ice pack when deciding whether to implement this therapy; however, additional research is warranted to determine whether there is an impact on healing.