Horse that can't form scabs- low immune system??

[bushbaby28]

Hiya,

My tb seems to be forever getting cuts as thin skinned but the problem is that if he gets cut on his legs they just won't heal! The last two times have required penicilin injections as trims antibiotics do nothing at all.

the problem seems to be that they just don't scab. he got a small cut on his front leg almost 3 weeks ago and its still not scabbed- just seems to be forming new skin around the edge going into the middle. doesn't seem infected and sound on it.

when I first found the cut i washed it thoroughly and cold hosed, then left for a few days but whatever scab he formed just came off and it started bleeding again and now its stayed open and looks really sore. i have kept clean and dry but open.

so.... could this be:
- an immune system problem?
-A bloody clotting problem?
- a circulation problem (he has a heart murmour and has stable bandages as his legs fill at night)
- something else?

OR am i just fussy? Help, so confused and worried that its a symptom of something more serious

 

[kezimac]

try calendula (marigold flowers) in his feed i get mine off ebay and whenever mine has cuts like that as she thin skinned and cuts seem to take ages to go i give her that and seems to really help - helps any skin complaints.

 

[MrsMozart]

Try Manuka honey on it. Excellent healing properties

.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Take care cold hosing cuts. They need to be carefully cleaned out (if necessary) but the more you hose a cut - especially of you are really vigorous about it - the more you wash away the platelets in the blood that are trying to form a scab. Also, if it's very cold water, the blood vessels will contract so not so much blood + clotting agents will be delivered to the site of the injury. Muscle, tendon, ligament damage = yes to cold hosing but go easy on cuts.

Wasn't sure if you're saying that cuts don't scab over or that they scab over but are slow to heal? If they are very slow to scab over, your horse could have a low grade liver problem. I'd talk it over with your vet and get bloods taken if necessary.