About
PCWC is a 100% volunteer service arm within Loving Care Cat Rescue (LCCR). This is a unique and novel wound care service that is not known to be available anywhere else.
PCWC was established in early 2024 when Cindi Scheib, BSN, RN and Wound Care Specialist for humans, was asked to help an injured feral cat, named Jessie Lynn, that had a very large and deep facial wound from an unknown origin.
The jaw bones were visible, and the wound stretched and contracted as the cat tried to eat. This was a difficult area to treat and bandage. Cindi had just been at an educational seminar to learn about a newer wound dressing, Altrazeal, a transforming powder.
This transforming powder dressing (TPD) is sprinkled on the wound and forms into an “artificial scab,” keeping the wound moist and protected so that it can heal from the inside out. She thought that this TPD might be the perfect solution for a complex-difficult to heal wound of the jaw.
She contacted the Altrazeal Life Sciences Inc. Regional Manager, who then contacted the CEO. The CEO was excited to send free Altrazeal TPD for Jessie Lynn. This complex wound completely healed in 60 days! Jessie Lynn was the first of many others to receive advanced wound care. Wound recoveries have now included cats, a dog and a horse. Each animal receives an individual wound care assessment and specific wound-appropriate treatment. You can read PCWC stories on our website and also see the Altrazeal case study Jessie Lynn was featured in.
ProjectCatWoundCare patient Meatwad
Cindi Scheib and ProjectCatWoundCare patient Jessie Lynn
Cindi Scheib has been a cat foster within LCCR since 2017. She started volunteering with the rescue as a way to divert her focus off of neurological symptoms related to a mountain biking injury. For Cindi, and for many others, volunteering and fostering is both a way to heal oneself and also help animals.
Cindi has been a Registered Nurse since 1986 when she graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the Pennsylvania State University. Her work experience includes Emergency and Trauma RN, Pre-Hospital RN with Advanced Life Support Unit, EMT, Medical/Surgical Critical Care RN, Post-Anesthesia RN, National Facilitator for the American Chronic Pain Association, Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation RN, and she currently works as Wound Care Specialist for in-patients at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) of south central Pennsylvania Pinnacle hospitals.
She resigned from her job as a Post-Anesthesia RN in May 2021 due to the challenging work conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She took a pivot year volunteering her nursing skills at Helping Hands – TNR (Trap Neuter Release) of Lancaster County. It was here that she witnessed many cats with wounds, and she was inspired to go back into nursing and specialize in wound care. This involved wound care education, training, and practicum. Cindi’s diverse experiences have melded, allowing her to help people and cats!
The impact of having wound care expertise, and uniting donated appropriate advanced wound products, has been enormous in the animals’ quality of life. In several instances, amputation and euthanasia were avoided. PCWC isn’t looking for work, but we are an option for animals for whom complex wound care has failed.
Vision
Future aspirations include providing continued advanced wound care to all animals in need so that they can recover from their wounds with positive outcomes. ProjectCatWoundCare has already assisted with wounds in other animals, including dogs and horses. All animals will be considered for treatment. This project does require donated, expired, opened, or deeply discounted products – and volunteers. Cindi sees a vision to educate and mentor other animal care providers in the practice of advanced wound care treatment. Wounds assessment and care treatment is also possible via teleconference. Cindi sees opportunity for other volunteer Wound Care Specialists to join this project. This could exponentially expand the geographic area of helping wounded animals well beyond the Central Pennsylvania region.
There is no fee for this service as this is 100% volunteer, but donations are gladly accepted. All donated proceeds go to funding wound care supplies. This project depends on donated, expired, or discounted products. Please consider donating money and/or supplies to Loving Care Cat Rescue (a nonprofit 501 (c) (3)) so that ProjectCatWoundCare can thrive . All proceeds go directly to obtaining necessary wound care items.
Disclaimer: Cindi Scheib is NOT a Veterinarian. She is a human Wound Care Specialist who loves animals and wants to use her skills to help animals who would otherwise suffer from their wounds. Wound care guidelines are based on WOCN Society recommendations. Each wound case is unique and the best evidenced-based practice treatments will be offered. However, results cannot be guaranteed. Some treatments may include “trial and error” and “experimental” treatments with the goal of improving wounds or life quality of the animal. Some wound treatments may not be available on hand, and then the next best options may be offered. Privately owned pets will require consent from owner to enroll in care. ProjectCatWoundCare and Loving Care Cat Rescue, and Cindi Scheib cannot assume any liability due to poor outcomes. All wound care enrollment is voluntary. Chronic or extensive wounds may take months to heal. Some wounds may never heal due to multifactorial issues such as poor nutrition, other medical conditions, or advanced age. There is no fee for service, but donations are always appreciated and welcomed to continue this project.
Last modified on October 2, 2024 at 1:33 am