Evaluation of Wound Healing Outcomes Using Honey-Based Dressings in Small Ruminants in Rivers State

Topical honey has been increasingly recognized as an effective antimicrobial and wound-healing agent in both human and veterinary medicine, yet its clinical application in small ruminants remains underreported in Nigeria's South South region. This study evaluates wound healing outcomes using honey-based dressings compared to conventional petroleum jelly dressings in naturally occurring cutaneous wounds in small ruminants in Rivers State. Sixty goats and sheep presenting with traumatic wounds at selected veterinary clinics in Port Harcourt and Ahoada were enrolled and randomly assigned to two treatment groups over a six-month period. Wound healing was assessed on days 7, 14, and 21 post-treatment using standardized scoring criteria for granulation tissue formation, wound contraction, and epithelialization. Animals treated with raw monofloral honey dressings demonstrated significantly faster wound contraction rates and lower bacterial contamination at day 14 compared to the control group. No adverse hypersensitivity reactions were recorded in the honey-treated cohort. Cost analysis also indicated that honey dressings were more affordable for resource-limited farmers in peri-urban communities. These findings support the integration of ethnoveterinary wound management approaches in veterinary practice within the South South zone, particularly in areas with limited pharmaceutical access. The study contributes to the growing evidence base for alternative wound care therapies in tropical small ruminant populations. Keywords: wound healing, honey dressing, small ruminants, Rivers State, topical therapy.