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Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the systemic effect of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on the treatment of complicated wounds in dogs. Materials and Methods Dogs undergoing open wound treatment were randomly assigned to one of two groups: NPWT (n = 11) or polyurethane foam dressing (n = 11). Rectal temperature, heart rate as well as haematocrit, thrombocytes, leucocyte count, band neutrophils, C-reactive protein (CrP), total protein and albumin were recorded daily from the beginning of therapy (day 0) until day 5, as well as on day 10. The effect of treatment on systemic parameters was evaluated as well as the prognostic power of the individual parameters with regard to successful wound closure. Results A more profound systemic decrease was found in total protein under NPWT. This difference was non-significant. Patients with non-successful closure displayed a non-significant trend towards lower initial leukocyte and thrombocyte counts and significantly higher CrP values on days 4, 5 and 10 (p Conclusion There might be an increased loss of protein in NPWT-treated patients, which does not affect albumin levels, otherwise no systemic effects were detected compared with the control treatment. The parameter with the best sensitivity and specificity to detect serious complications (no wound closure achieved) was CrP at day 4.