Help, can't clean over-reach wounds

[bluesharvey1234]

Can anyone help - my new horse has got an over-reach wound on his off-fore and when I try to clean it he pulls back and and tries to go down. I do have someone holding him - any ideas?

 

[unbalanced]

Is he on any pain relief? What does your vet say?
Does it make a difference which leg you hold up?

 

[Dolcé]

Hose it rather than trying to wash it. Over reach wounds are funny, you need to ensure that there is no debris hidden away and flushing with a hose is the safest way of doing this. We had a mare that was treated by the vet when the wound was initially done, and every few months afterwards when it flared up again, after 2 years she had to have surgery to have part of the bulb removed because it just would not heal permanantly. It had the tiniest bit of debris buried and had I hosed it rather than getting the vet chances are it would have cleaned properly.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Agree ^^ At a first aid course at the RVC, the vet said that hosing a wound (unless there's a huge hole where water will collect) is the most important piece of first aid.

 

[Honey08]

Standing them in a river if you have one nearby is often good for horses that won't let you clean things or hose them.

 

[bluesharvey1234]

Managed to get the hose on it tonight and got it nice and clean - thank you very much.