Making cuts heal faster

[vicm2509]

I posted last week about Baron having a cut. It is on his front leg just above his heel and looks like an over reach cut, although I think he did it on barbed wire as he had some very tiny cuts higher up his leg. Anyway it is about 2cm long. He did it the Thursday 19th March, just before easter

Had vet out the following wednesday (26th march) as there was still a slight swelling. He gave him 5 days antibiotics and told me to keep the cut open for a few days. All swelling has gone and he has been kept stabled (just inhand walks) and have been putting aloe vera gel on twice a day as advised by vet. The sunday before last he pulled scab off

It is now all scabbed over again but scab is coming off at the edge and it still looks very raw underneath. The scab is quite big and easy to knock.

Is there anything I can put on it to make it heal a bit quicker? With it being where it is I can not ride him, or turn him out and he is going up the wall now. He is usually happy to stay in but when he does he gets ridden. He is a very fit horse and all the others are getting turned out in the day and he is getting really fed up now and all because of a silly little cut

 

[Accy]

I always use Derma Gel for cuts and they seem to heal quickly with this then once healed and no scab left to promote the hair growth again i use Camerosa (SP)

 

[vicm2509]

I have some dermosolve - its a white creme which says it contains natural antibaterial and antifungal, helps to heal minor cuts and acts as a barrier cream. Is this the same kind of stuff?

ETA: This is the stuff I have http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/Pro...04202#sku.61333

 

[KrujaaLass]

This is a dodgy place for cuts to heal. My horse had a cut here and it has opened up twice in the past year. Can you not bandage it and then use overreach boots so he can have a bit of turnout. I tried most things,including big dollops of sudocream. Also Aloe Vera but it was very slow to heal.

 

[silvershadow81]

Try arnica. Its brilliant and worked on my girl!

 

[vicm2509]

I tried to bandage it and turn him out in the menage but the bandage seems to make the scab fall off. If I put over reach boots on they will rub it.

There is no way I can put him in the field as it is knee deep in mud. I did put him in the menage on sunday for about 10 mins but had to bring him in as he was going mental.

I think it is because the skin stretches here when he moves. If I ride I think he will over reach and pull the scab off as our menage can be deep in places. I could road walk but we have strangles on the yard at the moment so we can not leave. We do have a horse walker and he has been going in there since the weekend while I do my jobs but I have it on quite slow so he doesnt stride out too much.

He isnt lame and there is no heat or swelling, just a really annoying scab.

 

[vicm2509]

[ QUOTE ]
Try arnica. Its brilliant and worked on my girl!

[/ QUOTE ]

I will have a go as I have some of that. Does it matter if it is gel or cream? I have both.

 

[spaniel]

Vic you should not put arnica onto open wounds or broken skin. Its great for bruising but not really the best for cuts as it can cause a reaction.

Better to either leave the scab well alone, its doing its job, or, if you are worried about it coming off too soon, use something like calendula cream (tube at the chemists) which is designed for sore skin and cuts and scrapes.

(I find Hilton Herbs Phytobalm a very useful pot to have in my first aid kit if you happen to see it at your local tack shop at some point.)

 

[hussar]

I would use Camrosa - it can be applied direct to wounds and is waterproof. I tend to use it now for just about all skin problems, and it's great. See www.camrosa.co.uk

 

[archoak]

I would just clean it with salt water (boiled then cooled), brilliant for healing, then put aloe gel on once dry.

 

[vicm2509]

[ QUOTE ]
Vic you should not put arnica onto open wounds or broken skin. Its great for bruising but not really the best for cuts as it can cause a reaction.

Better to either leave the scab well alone, its doing its job, or, if you are worried about it coming off too soon, use something like calendula cream (tube at the chemists) which is designed for sore skin and cuts and scrapes.

(I find Hilton Herbs Phytobalm a very useful pot to have in my first aid kit if you happen to see it at your local tack shop at some point.)

[/ QUOTE ]

I did think arnica was for bruising and not open wounds but I would have read the leaflet before applying it

I have had a thought - does anyone think that spray on plaster would be any good? Just for a temporary measure to help the scab stay in place?

 

[vicm2509]

I have been doing that anyway, either salt or a splash of dettol just to keep it clean as the little bits of straw tend to stick to the scab if I dont. I only do it every 2 days as I dont want to soften the scab too much.

 

[silvershadow81]

[ QUOTE ]
Vic you should not put arnica onto open wounds or broken skin. Its great for bruising but not really the best for cuts as it can cause a reaction.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, should have been more specific... i use arnica oil in aromatics. This way my horse licks it from my hand and and i cannot force it upon her.

Carrot oil is also great for cell rejuvenation, so if you can get some of that it would be worth a go as it may help the scab heal quickly.

 

[bonney]

swear by aloe vera gel it always does the trick with minimum scaring.

 

[archoak]

Try clipping all the hair from around the wound, that way it will dry out quicker and hopefully the straw can't stick to it.

 

[KrujaaLass]

I also uses the spray on plaster. Best thing I found was the non stick dressings in Superdrug. Put them on with the shiny side onto wound.I then packed it well with cotton wool and then put the over reach boot on. This stopped the horse catching it when I turned him out in a dry paddock.

 

[Sugarplum Furry]

Arnica really shouldn't be applied to open wounds, calendula is much better.

Or you could try putting honey on the wound, preferably manuka honey.

 

[chriscrogul]

[ QUOTE ]
I always use Derma Gel for cuts and they seem to heal quickly with this then once healed and no scab left to promote the hair growth again i use Camerosa (SP)

[/ QUOTE ]

Another vote for derma gel, fresh cuts look days old after one application of this!