Volume 1, Issue 4

THE WOUND DILEMMA
 

Foot Wounds
 

Your horse's feet are vulnerable to a large variety of wounds. The most common are a result of an entanglement with wire or other debris, puncture wounds, or clipping a front heel with a hind foot. The resulting injuries can extend upward into the mid pastern, the frog or sole of the foot, or a piece of the heel bulb being torn off.  You need to take all foot wounds seriously. There could be joint involvement, or damage to the coronary band, which can result in permanently deformed hoof growth. 

Tip:  If your horse steps on a nail and your vet is within an hour's drive, have him x-ray the foot before removing the nail.  He'll be better able to determine whether vital structures, such as the coffin bone, were penetrated, and thus will be better able to select the appropriate treatment course. However, if part of the nail is sticking out of your horse's foot, or your vet is more than an hour away, pull the nail out and soak the foot for about 20 to 30 minutes in a bucket of warm water with 10cc of Betadine (approximately ¼ cup) added to it.  Protect your horse's foot with an Easyboot (or gauze padding and duct tape) until your vet arrives.

Flow Chart
 

1) Is there a sharp object imbedded in your horse's foot?

YES → CALL YOUR VET

↓

NO

↓

2) Can you see exposed bone, or a bubbling yellow fluid (joint fluid), indicating that the coffin joint is involved?

YES → CALL YOUR VET

↓

NO

↓

3) Does the wound extend through the coronary band?

YES → CALL YOUR VET

↓

NO

↓

4) Is your horse exhibiting an extreme degree of lameness (i.e unwilling to move or bear weight)?

YES → CALL YOUR VET

↓

NO

↓

5) Is there a large defect or separation of the tissues (i.e. the heel bulb is partially torn away from the foot)?

YES → CALL YOUR VET

↓

NO

↓

6) Will your horse allow you to treat the injury?

NO → CALL YOUR VET

↓

YES

↓

Apply Home Treatment
↓
 

> Clean the wound thoroughly by hosing it with a gentle stream of cold water for 20 to 30 minutes.  Using a syringe, flush the wound 2 or 3 times with a Betadine/water solution.
 

> Apply triple-antibiotic ointment (see "Wound first-aid kit" from issue 2).
 

> Flush daily until the wound has filled in with new tissue.
 

> Apply antibiotic ointment daily after flushing.
 

> If a coronary band/heel bulb is involved (versus a simple abrasion) apply a pressure wrap, and minimize your horse’s movement (stall rest is ideal) until the healing is complete. When you remove the bandage to check the wound.  Be sure that the wound doesn't protrude beyond the surrounding skin's surface.  This is a sign of developing proud flesh, which is excessive granulation (healing) tissue that grows into a large, unsightly mass.  If you see such a sign, call your vet.
 

If signs of infection occur (pus discharge, fever over 102 degrees, swelling, and/or extreme lameness), call your vet immediately.

What To Expect When You Call Your Vet
 

Your Vet…..

> Will clean the wound.
 

> May block the area with a local aesthetic, then suture the wound, if it's above the hairline and no vital structures have been damaged.
 

> May tap and flush the joint if he suspects coffin-joint involvement, to evaluate it for contamination and infection. If the coffin joint has been invaded, your vet may delay suturing a wound on the heel bulbs or coronary band, so the joint can be flushed regularly to treat/prevent infection.
 

> May apply a pressure bandage to a heel-bulb or coronary-band wound to keep it clean, and to prevent proud flesh.
 

> May apply a cast to the foot and pastern-particularly if your horse's coronary band is damaged, to minimize movement, helping to ensure normal hoof growth.
 

> May use a hoof knife to remove the sole surrounding a puncture wound, which will promote drainage.  He will then pack the opening with cotton soaked in iodine,
Betadine, or biozide, and wrap the foot.
 

> Will leave you with specific instructions for the after care, and schedule a return visit to check on the wound.
 

Depending on the seriousness of the foot injury, complete healing can take up to several months.

 ALWAYS REMEMBER…WHEN IN DOUBT….CALL YOUR VET

 © Wendy Teddiman, Trainer (wen-dacres@cox.net)  (http://Wen-D-Acres.com) (http://shop.wen-d-acres.com)  949-357-8040