Filly slices face open and can't find the cause

[Dogstar]

Last night when I went to give my horses their supper, I found my rising 2 year old filly with a large deep gaping slice out of her face just below her eye. Within the sliced area there was also a narrow deep gouge which looked really nasty. It was such a shock as she had been fine an hour ago! Vet was brilliant, out in 20 minutes and stiched her up beautifully (11 stiches and a drainage hole). I found a broken rail but he said that it definitely involved a nail. Well I have been round the small field this morning and cannot find anything she has done it on (the fence isnt great but it is protected by a mains electric fence). So now I am paranoid that it could happen again. BTW the filly is happy this morning though swollen....

 

[monstermunch]

my mare had the same thing today. Only I saw how she did it. she literally cheese wired her self on the electric fence. put it in her mouth and dragged her teeth along it gashing her lip and muzzle in a perfect long deep cheese wire cut. Could yours hvae possibly done it on the wire in the fence if you have electric wire??

 

[Dogstar]

Thanks for the reply monstermunch, hope your girl is on the mend? The thing is, our fence is mains electric tape and is working ok- so I don't think she would touch it as she knows it is on...also, the deep gouge doesn't tally as that does look like a nail wound or sharp piece of wood. I have walked round a few times though and still cant work it out :-(

 

[xena_wales]

Mine did something similar - looked like he'd headbutted a nail or something!

Full face pic

We never found out what it was, and it healed fine, though I did have him on antibiotics just in case.

Hope your girl heals up well too!

 

[Dogstar]

That does look like the nail bit, but the gouge my filly had was a bit longer and within a 3" x 3" sliced flap! Reassuring that your chap healed well and that it did not happen again despite the cause not being found. My girl has had anti inflams and antibiotics but was already fully up to date with tetanus. I have to bathe the wound in salt water twice a day and open the drainage hole with a cotton bud, so it is lucky she has a sweet nature. She is the one in the avatar btw.