Manuka Honey:Advice please.

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pennypatch

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My filly cut her leg just below the fetlock 2 Weeks ago. The actual wound which was quite deep is healing really well. It has a thick skin flap which the Vet is going to remove once it's receeded further in about a Weeks time. I've been squirting a herbal wound healer in it twice a day which prevents proud flesh and is an antiseptic. The wound is now drying off and scabbing over at the edges. I've been reading about the Manuka honey and have read on here about tnvas saying you can heat it up to get it runny and then syringe it in the wound. I'd like to try this once the flap has been cut off. My question is, does it attract the flies?? Wouldn't want the wound to get fly strike. I can't bandage or cover it, as it's on a hind leg of a yearling who hates her legs being touched and kicks out if you even look at them!! Also, how often do you appply it?
 
My colt cut his leg about 2 weeks ago, the vet had to come out and gave us a honey type tube to put on it and use with poltice etc, the cuts are looking much better now. It was a special type of honey, but now everything is drying out and starting to heal, its scabbed nicely we've stopped using it and have a silver spray to use for a bit. I think it was the same stuff as you are suggesting.

Personally I would follow what the vet has suggested and if it is healing well then carry on as you are. We were lucky and able to bandage most of the area, the bits that didn't have bandage, like the huge scrapes on his chest where we used another type of cream. We weren't using the honey stuff unless it was covered - I don't know if it answers your question??
 
If there's any way you can get the honey on without having to make it runny first, then I'd try that. - if it's runny it may well just drip down her leg. Can you smear it on with a lolly stick? If you use it in its natural state, you can build up a thick layer so flies shouldn't be able to really reach the wound...i would have thought (have not used it mayself though!)
Just make sure that vet knows what you're planning to do, as don't want to interfere with their treatment of it.
 
I have never tried Manuka (touches wood) but it is commonly used in humans to get difficult wounds etc to heal. I would personlly put it on without thinning it and would then cover it. Uncovered it is bound to attract flies etc.

An alternative is to feed Manuka or aloe vera juice - both help rapid healing when given as part of feed. You can get an aloe juice with manuka honey in it - my dog is having it at the moment as he goes for surgery on Tuesday and he will keep having it for at least a fortnight after. It not only promotes healing but also helps prevent infection.

For Manuka to work it must be 10+ but you probably know that!
 
Have used it but tend not to heat it up as it tends to slide off the surface of the wound if it's too runny. It doesn't seem to attract the flies and works pretty well. Have also used Flamazine silver cream with good results - that seems to keep the flies off as well.
 
I had two horses badly cut when we had the thunder storm a couple of weeks ago i used Manuka honey +10 worked wonders the weather was very hot and did not have a problem with the flys.
I am very very pleased with how it work and would use it again if needs be.
Good luck and hope every thing heals nicely
 
if you find away to get near your horses leg without getting your head smahed in then please let me know. My yearling has a deep wound on her back leg which the vet wont stitch or bandage, we're feeding her global herbs flyfree to keep the flys off and syringing the wound with purple spray from a distance to keep it clean as she wont let us anywhere near her leg.
We're also feeding her something else from global herbs to help boost her immune system and its suppose to speed up the healing process. It does seem to be working now she's on the full dose.
Does feeding manuka honey help aswell then?
 
Thanks for all the replies. I would have to thin it a bit with heat so I can apply it with a syringe. There's no way in world she'll let me ladel it on the wound!

Kezzysenior: Sounds like we have the same problem with not being able to get near the back legs! It makes it so awkward doesn't it! At the moment I'm using Schreiners herbal wound healer. It's in a squirty bottle, so do just about manage to get some on her cut! It's good stuff and has prevented proud flesh and kept infection away. Thought I'd like to move on to Manuka honey to speed up the healing process now the actual wound is drying off a bit. Once the Vet cuts the flap off in about a Week it will hopefuly start to close up a lot quicker.

Never thought of feeding it. I will certainly try that.
 
i dont think it really needs to even be manuka honey any crystalised honey would do. and if your horse wont let you get near the wound ,use a long stick to plaster it on .
wink.gif
 
Used manuka on many a wound in summer, flies don't seemto favour it, it has a strong taste to me so maybe that is why, including a non bandagable head wound. Has been fantastic.

I'd use it at room temperature and the lolly type stick, attached with duct tape perhaps to a longer stick such as a riding length whip, would be a really good idea.

Or could you give her a little Sedalin prior to doing it? You may find you don't actually need to disturb it every day with the honey.
 
awkward aint the word, My mates stable block where she's in livery looks like its been attacked by vandals with purple spray! Luckily she's very understanding and is taking brilliant care of my horse when I cant.
Can you tell me abit more about Schreiners herbal wound healer. Is it for small or large wound?
 
It's for any size wound. cut, abbrassion, fungus etc. If you google it, you'll find the site. All the info. you need is on there. I found a UK distributor for it, as it's from the US. Let me know if you want some and I'll give you the link. I paid £15 + £3 P+P for 463ml.
 
I used the honey on my pony's leg last month. He wouldn't let me touch it either, so I took a clean facecloth and put a big glob on it, and then (with someone else holding the pony) just slapped it onto the wound. By the time he noticed and freaked out, I was well out of the way again.

As long as the wound is covered, I wouldn't worry about it dripping down the leg a bit.

When I bought the honey, it was somewhat crystallised, so I nuked it to make it liquid again. Before applying, I let it cool though. It remained liquid enough for the whole week I used it.
 
Have seen it used to great effect on our yard. I think you have to get the strong stuff and no don't think the flies are attracted to it.
 
Thanks everyone.Have just ordered the 25+ strength which is the highest one I can find. She's hopefuly having the skin flap cut off end of this Week. Can I apply it on to the new wound,(from the cut off skin flap), straight away??
 
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