How to care for minor wounds

Most horse owners are comfortable treating minor** scrapes and wounds on our ever-accident prone horses. But the myriad of available topical products can be overwhelming – what is best to use and when?

**As always, if you have ANY concern over the depth of the wound, if it’s a grossly contaminated wound, a wound near a joint, a puncture, or there’s a potential need for sutures, ALWAYS check with your veterinarian BEFORE applying any topical product.**

What is ‘Minor’?

First, let’s review what can be considered a minor scrape or wound. Most superficial wounds over areas of dense muscle (such as side of shoulder) or far from joints/tendon sheath/other sensitive areas (such as scrape over front of cannon bone) and only partially breaking the skin can be doctored at home.

Avoid application of caustic or potentially painful options, such as alcohol and hydrogen peroxide- these can be damaging to exposed tissue. Look for products that contain a list of ingredients- if you don’t know what’s in it, why would you apply it to your horse?

Superficial Wounds

For superficial abrasions and areas that cannot easily be bandaged, a liquid bandage product such as Alushield or Aluspray is a great option. In its aerosol form, it is easy to apply, allows necessary airflow to promote healing, and protects against wound irritants.

bandage on the leg of horse

Bandaged Wounds

For wounds that are protected with a bandage, the ideal topical product depends on the stage of wound healing. Large fresh wounds that tend to leak large amounts of fluid will not benefit from an ointment- they are too wet (and should be evaluated by your vet!) Less exudative bandaged wounds can benefit from topicals such as Neosporin (triple antibiotic), silver sulfadiazine (SSD), or manuka/medical grade honey. All of these options have anti-microbial properties and preserve a moist healing environment while promoting epithelialization of the wound.

Dealing with Granulation (proud flesh)

In later stages of wound healing, horses commonly produce excessive granulation tissue, also known as proud flesh. Proud flesh can be identified by its appearance as lumpy red tissue that may bulge over the margins of the wound and bleeds very easily.

Proud flesh is especially common on slow healing wounds of the lower limbs that require prolonged bandaging. The good news is that while it has impressive blood flow, proud flesh lacks sensation, allowing your veterinarian to debride and flatten this extra tissue if needed. A combination antibiotic and steroid ointment such as Panalog is often used over proud flesh to help smooth out the granulation tissue so that the wound can continue to contract and heal. Once the granulation tissue is flat and healthy, it is not necessary to apply panalog. Some wounds alternate between proud and healthy granulation tissue during the healing process, so we may alternate applications of panalog or manuka honey depending on how the wound looks at each bandage change.

Ensure your first aid kit is well stocked with a thermometer, clean bandaging material, and a few of the topicals previously mentioned. When you discover a wound on your horse, take a minute to assess its location and depth. And if in doubt, a phone call and photo to your vet is always a good idea to determine best treatment and optimum healing.

Trail First Aid. What Do I Need?

trail

QUESTION:
My wife and I were out riding over the weekend, and are relatively new to horses and her horse tripped and fell to her knees. The mare stood up quickly, and walked out of it ok. There were a couple of skinned areas on her knees and ankles, but nothing appeared significant. When we got home we cleaned her up as well as we could. We asked our friends what we should keep with us on the trail? I think that we have a pretty good list, but would like your input.

ANSWER:
When deciding what first aid items should come with you, consider the terrain you will be riding in, how far you will be from the trailhead/barn and the possible “emergencies” that could arise for your horse.

One of the most common injuries on the trail is a laceration- from a small scratch to a significant cut. As veterinarians, we’ve seen the full spectrum of wounds coming in from a trail ride, and they can happen from head to toe. When dealing with a laceration, the first step is to control bleeding. If you are carrying at least some basic bandage materials (which is never a bad idea) including sterile pads, some roll cotton, and some vet wrap, you can apply a pressure bandage. Call us about the varying bandaging techniques used on the horse’s oddly shaped legs. The bandage will also help with the second most important goal of wound care, keeping the wound clean until you can get your horse to the vet, or a vet to him.

No matter the terrain, there is always the possibility of colic with a horse. Dehydration can be a risk factor for colic. Decreased water intake prior to a ride, a significant amount of physical exertion, and even the length between drinks can cause dehydration in your horse. While not every dehydrated working horse experiences colic, the longer that they are dehydrated, the more likely colic is to occur. If your horse doesn’t drink well away from home, or frets on the trailer, using paste electrolytes to increase his desire to drink before the ride, will help him to “tank up”, as well as keeping his electrolyte loss minimized. Knowing your horses’ fitness level and his ability level will help prevent overworking your horse. Again, if you know your horse is going to exercise more than normal, electrolytes can help prevent an issue. Ask us about whether or not you should have a dose of Banamine (Flunixin Meglumine) with you on longer trail rides or overnight pack trips.

One other piece of a trail first aid kit is a section of old garden hose about 12 inches in length. This odd piece of “first aid” equipment is in the event that you and your horse run across a rattlesnake. It may seem strange, but the most common spot for a horse to be bitten by a rattlesnake is on the nose. The horse is usually trying to figure out what was making all of that noise. The horse’s nose will begin to swell, and can eventually reduce the amount of air he can more through the nose, to the point of suffocation. That’s when the garden hose comes in handy- the horse may not be happy about it, but it may save his life. If you are not familiar with what to do, be sure to ask us about how to properly use this technique.

The goals of first aid on the trail range from keeping a scratch clean to potentially stabilizing your horse until professional help can be obtained. As with many situations, a little first aid forethought and preparation can help your horse, and possibly even save their life. We have found that the following things can be a good starting point for a first aid kit, but feel free to ask us about what works best for your situation.

  • First Aid Kit
  • Stethoscope
  • Thermometer
  • Bandage Scissors
  • Flashlight/headlamp
  • 4×4 gauze pads (20-50)
  • Sheet or Roll cotton
  • 6” gauze roll
  • 3” or 4” Elastikon roll (1 or 2)
  • Vet wrap
  • Telfa (non-stick) pads
  • Plastic cup
  • Anti-bacterial hand soap or Anti-septic soap
  • Anti-bacterial first aid ointment (Neosporin or similar)
  • 12” length of garden hose