Volume 1, Issue 5

THE WOUND DILEMMA

Lower Leg Wounds

Consider lower-leg wounds to be injuries from your horse’s knee or hock to midpastern.  These are by far the scariest of injuries, because the lack of muscle covering this region means that deep cuts often involve tendons, ligaments, or joints.  It is not uncommon to find exposed bone.

Another risk with lower-leg wounds is the development of proud flesh.  While you rarely need to worry about proud flesh forming in wounds above the knees or hocks, it is commonly found to develop in poorly managed lower-leg wounds.

Flow Chart

1) Can you see a hard white mass (exposed bone, tendons, or ligaments), or a yellow bubbly fluid (meaning joint or tendon sheath involvement)?
YES → CALL YOUR VET
↓
NO
↓

2) Is your horse refusing to bear weight on the limb, or refusing to move?
YES → CALL YOUR VET
↓
NO
↓
       
3) Is it a “full-thickness” wound, meaning that it’s edges can easily be pulled apart, exposing underlying tissue?
YES → CALL YOUR VET
↓
NO
↓

4) Is there excessive swelling (enough to obscure tendon and bone definition) or drainage, indicating infection. (May or may not be accompanied by a fever)?
YES → CALL YOUR VET
↓
NO
↓

5) Will your horse allow you to treat the wound?
NO → CALL YOUR VET
↓
YES
↓

Apply Home Treatment
↓

> Clean the wound thoroughly by hosing with a gentle stream of cold water for about 15 to 20 minutes.  Then, using a syringe to flush the wound several times with a dilute Betadine/water solution.

> On simple abrasions, leave the wound open, and apply triple-antibiotic ointment daily after washing off any debris with a gentle stream of cold water.

> If the wound’s edges are separated and you have opted not to have it sutured, apply triple-antibiotic ointment, then apply a pressure wrap to prevent proud flesh from forming.

> Give your horse 1 gram of bute twice a day (or 2 grams once a day, depending on your schedule) for five to seven days to reduce inflammation and swelling.

> Change pressure wrap and reapply triple-antibiotic ointment every two to four days, until the wound has filled in with new tissue.  If the wound surface begins to protrude above the skin level, call your vet for recommendations about how to aggressively handle or treat proud flesh.

> If you see signs of an infection (refer to flow chart) call your vet immediately.

What To Expect When You Call Your Vet

Your Vet…..

> Will thoroughly clean the wound and examine it to determine tissue involvement.  A serious injury involving tendons or joints may require you to transport your horse to a veterinary hospital for surgical repair.

> May suture the wound and apply a pressure wrap.

> Will give you specific after-care instructions, which may involve changing the pressure bandages, and cleaning the wound.  He will tell you what danger signs, such as excess swelling, drainage, or loosened sutures, to watch for.

> Will probably suggest stall rest for your horse, to ensure proper healing.

> May prescribe antibiotics (pills or injections); he also may prescribe bute

> Will remove the sutures in about two weeks, if the wound has healed properly.

For uncomplicated wounds, your horse should be back to work within three to four weeks.  Serious lower-leg wounds---those that become infected, or involve bone, joints, tendons, and ligaments---can result in layoffs from about six months to one year.

    
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