A curious what would you do? Warning - pictures of a typical hoof strike wound.

[Sussexbythesea]

I know how I’m treating this wound but wondered how others would treat this? A couple of people on the yard have made loaded comments in that I’m being over cautious. I don’t care I’ve had horses over 40 years so I’m pretty confident in my own assessment but interested in how people perceive it, and can always improve knowledge.

It’s on the inside of the left hind fetlock / pastern and was caused when his back end slipped on a slippery surface and his unshod hoof struck his leg. He’s not lame and being turned out as normal daily. As a precaution due to worries about his pelvis / SI being impacted as he twisted he has been on a Bute twice daily since Sunday gone down to one a day today and will stop at weekend.

Day 1 before cleaning up (didn’t get a cleaned photo)

Day 2

Day 3

 

[Alibear]

I'd keep it clean and see how it goes, I wouldn't have given Bute as I never manage to have a stash to use in situations like this. If there was swelling lameness as time went on, then I'd call the vet.

 

[Dam1]

Looks fine. If he's not lame I'd just keep clean and protected from flies x

 

[IrishMilo]

Given it a long wash with the hose to flush out any debris/bacteria and then sprayed with woundspray to keep the flies off.

 

[dottylottie]

i’d keep it clean and probably opt for sudocrem this time of year, to keep the nasties out. purple spray if i felt it needed to “breath”

 

[palo1]

I'd have cleaned with gently running hose, kept the flies off (possibly with lovely summer fly cream!) and monitored. Heat, swelling, pus or lameness would have resulted in a vet call.

 

[ihatework]

I’d have cleaned it, plastered it with something and if not lame, no bute.
Looks pretty minor to me.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I'd keep it clean and see how it goes, I wouldn't have given Bute as I never manage to have a stash to use in situations like this. If there was swelling lameness as time went on, then I'd call the vet.

I gave Bute more for the fact he really twisted his pelvis going down not for the wound itself. Unluckily or luckily depending on your view after various veterinary issues I do have a small stash.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’d not be worried about the wound as long as it’s kept clean, but I’d be getting my chiro vet out to assess the horse after a twisting fall like that.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I’d not be worried about the wound as long as it’s kept clean, but I’d be getting my chiro vet out to assess the horse after a twisting fall like that.

Yes I will be getting an assessment, he gets regular physio/ massages etc. anyway but I think you have to wait a little bit after the initial injury to let it settle unless of course he was obviously affected in which case I’d probably have had the vet out.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

It might not be obvious in the photo but it is fairly deep and has gone through a few layers of skin but definitely not down to the joint. No swelling at the moment.

 

[paddy555]

I would have given bute, sent a pic to the vet after cleaning to show the extent of it just to check they didn't want to do anything. If they didn't then I would have covered in expensive manuka honey then sorted out fly control. .

It' not clear enough for me from the pic to be sure how far it has gone down so I would be getting a vet opinion and perhaps a better pic for them to show the depth (if possible)

 

[Marshpiper]

Have to say, think vet visit to suture…you may find “proud flesh” will form if it’s not closed properly

 

[SpeedyPony]

Thorough rinse, antiseptic spray and monitor- I'd probably not have given bute as I'd want to be able to see if he became stiff/lame afterwards and also so that if he was injured further up by the twisting he didn't bounce around on it.
That said, I'm used to my youngster being a plonker in the field, more sensible horses would probably be fine!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Agree with you everyone else. Hopefully will heal ok and he won't suffer from the twisting.

 

[khalswitz]

I'd have washed it thoroughly, first with hose and then with hibiscrub. It's superfiical so I'd have put some wound salve on just to stop flies getting in it for the first few days and then left it.

But we established the other day when I posted a wound thread on here that I am very cavalier apparently

 

[AandK]

I’d have cleaned it, plastered it with something and if not lame, no bute.
Looks pretty minor to me.

Ditto this. Would have cleaned it up and used filtabac on it.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I think the conclusion from reading people’s treatment strategies is that I am on the cautious side compared to most There are definitely many superficial wounds I’d bung Sudocreme or similar on but didn’t feel it was appropriate this time.

Bearing in mind it’s not just a scrape it does have some depth. It’s more of a slice which I appreciate may not be clear on the photo. I want to minimise risk of infection and optimise healing. It is on the inside of his pastern/ fetlock low down and liable to get knocked and get dirty and infected. Any vet advice on wound healing I’ve ever read says a moist environment is better for healing at least in the initial stages. I’d rather the wound healed flat with minimal scarring.

So day one I washed off with dilute hibiscrub and then put some flamazine I had left over on it with a animalintex dressing and bandages. This I hoped would draw out anything in the wound that hadn’t washed out.

Day 2 the same as above.

Day 3 changed to salt boiled water wash as less harsh than hibiscrub with a colloidal dressing (sort of trying these as not used before)

Day 4 as above.

Day 5 salt wash and medical grade manuka honey and animalintex dressing as seemed better with the honey. I didn’t have the honey available for previous days as just purchased.

As there is no swelling, lameness or sign of infection I haven’t felt the need to get the vet but would if that changed.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I’d have washed it creamed it and popped him back out to walk it off if not appearing lame.

Would have cold hosed for ten mins daily and re applied the cream if continued to be sound. Should there be heat, infection or he went lame then I’d get the vet.

 

[silv]

I think the conclusion from reading people’s treatment strategies is that I am on the cautious side compared to most There are definitely many superficial wounds I’d bung Sudocreme or similar on but didn’t feel it was appropriate this time.

Bearing in mind it’s not just a scrape it does have some depth. It’s more of a slice which I appreciate may not be clear on the photo. I want to minimise risk of infection and optimise healing. It is on the inside of his pastern/ fetlock low down and liable to get knocked and get dirty and infected. Any vet advice on wound healing I’ve ever read says a moist environment is better for healing at least in the initial stages. I’d rather the wound healed flat with minimal scarring.

So day one I washed off with dilute hibiscrub and then put some flamazine I had left over on it with a animalintex dressing and bandages. This I hoped would draw out anything in the wound that hadn’t washed out.

Day 2 the same as above.

Day 3 changed to salt boiled water wash as less harsh than hibiscrub with a colloidal dressing (sort of trying these as not used before)

Day 4 as above.

Day 5 salt wash and medical grade manuka honey and animalintex dressing as seemed better with the honey. I didn’t have the honey available for previous days as just purchased.

As there is no swelling, lameness or sign of infection I haven’t felt the need to get the vet but would if that changed.

It really is none of the business of people on your yard. Its hardly like you are not treating it! I don't know what it is about horse people they always seem they can comment what others are doing with their horses, but they would never dream of commenting about other aspects of their lives. Tell them to bog off, I know I would!

 

[misst]

I like your wound care approach and it reflects the same thinking as human wound care research shows.

 

[HopOnTrot]

I'd have washed it thoroughly, first with hose and then with hibiscrub.

I thought hibiscrub wasn’t advisable on open wounds?

I’d probably send a picture to the vet and probably put germolene on it as we rarely have horse wound cream and I always have stuff for the kids in the house!

 

[Sussexbythesea]

P

It really is none of the business of people on your yard. Its hardly like you are not treating it! I don't know what it is about horse people they always seem they can comment what others are doing with their horses, but they would never dream of commenting about other aspects of their lives. Tell them to bog off, I know I would!

It was tempting especially as they hadn’t seen the wound

It’s interesting how people perceive risks differently and all have slightly different approaches and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. I could have slapped some Sudocreme on and hoped for the best and it may have been fine but if it wasn’t I’d kick myself for not being more cautious.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I thought hibiscrub wasn’t advisable on open wounds?

It’s ok if properly diluted.

 

[maya2008]

We had worse last winter - hosed it off, tea tree spray twice a day, kept out (no stabling to create infection). Healed fine.

 

[SEL]

I was on livery at a ridung school some years back and was schooling a little cob they needed to sell. She came in one morning with 2 big gashes across her front legs - and whatever had cut her had gone through thick feather.

We did get the vet because we needed to sedate to get the feather off. Whilst sedated it was a good wash out with dilute hibiscrub then melolin pads shiny side to cut with vet wrap and bandage to keep in place. She was kept in for 2 weeks but it was muddy. I changed dressing daily. Vet gave antibiotics because he was worried about depth of cut and there was no money for x-rays / scans.

About 2 years after she finally sold i saw her all clipped out and I couldn't see a scar on either leg which surprised me. I guess if I'd run my hands down there might have been something but I didn't know the owners so that would have been a bit odd.

Anyway - I keep melolin pads in the first aid box but would very much depend on depth of cut, where it was & if I thought risk of blackthorn infection or rusty wire infection as to whether I'd need antibiotics. When one of mine found barbed wire hidden in a hedge I just kept everything clean, but slicing her nostril on blackthorn was a vet visit.

 

[Jenko109]

Clean it, purple spray it, then forget about it

 

[Polos Mum]

I would put something gel like on it - to keep it clean but open - so it doesn't heal too quickly on the outside

It is deeper than a usual scratch so I would want it to heal from the inside out - relatively slowly - and not scab over.

Something I'd keep a close eye on

 

[JenJ]

P

It was tempting especially as they hadn’t seen the wound

It’s interesting how people perceive risks differently and all have slightly different approaches and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. I could have slapped some Sudocreme on and hoped for the best and it may have been fine but if it wasn’t I’d kick myself for not being more cautious.

How on earth can they have ANY opinion about something they hadn't seen???

Day 1 and 2 photos had me a little bit "vet?" as it looked a bit deep/squidgy. However, the Day 3 photo shows it's healing up very nicely, and if there was no heat or swelling on day 1 or 2, then I think you were absolutely correct in not getting the vet, but still treating it as you did. I might have used different products to wash and put on, but that's purely personal preference. And if you have leftover flamazine, you might as well use it on something that it could help, before it runs out of date!

 

[millitiger]

Clean, filterbac and turnout for all of mine.

Older horse would also have a bute a day for a day or two, as he swells like no one's business with every little scrape.