My horse has been bitten

T

Turtlebay69

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 November 2013
Messages
108
Location
Leicestershire
Visit site
My horse has been bitten by another horse in the field. It's fairly small but deep. I can see inside the puncture. He doesn't seem in pain and let me gently clean it with water?

Do I call the vet? Worried. Can't seem to upload a picture from iPad
 
I washed it with water, it is all I had to hand this evening when I brought him in. I have some hibiscrub would this be ok small amount diluted to clean it out with in the morning until I can get some supplies on Monday? Or no? The bite is half way down his neck. It's asking for a URL when the photo is in my album on iPad/iPhone
 
My horse used to get bitten all the time (horse no longer at yard so he fine now!). All i got told by vet when he came out, as i paniced cos lots of blood, was to pressure wash the wound for 10mins 2 or 3 times a day and put purple spray on for first day. As vet came out he gave me a course of antibiotics and bute to use. On a sun this cost me £250!! I would phone vet for advice as all horses/bites different and maybe get out on mon.
 
I have managed up upload a picture to my profile if you want to see. It wasn't bleeding but the puncture was filled with blood if that makes sense. I washed out with water and could see inside probably 1 or 2cm, like a flap of skin. I'll check AM and go from there!
 
Cant see pic in profile im afraid unless looking in wrong area! Pressure washing removes dried blood and any crap in wound to help it heal and stop infection. Badically just put finger over end of hose so it squirts out the water.
Defo check with vet if u r worried though. Put your mind to rest
 
If it's a bite from another horse, it won't be a puncture wound, so don't worry about that bit. Puncture wounds have a tiny entrance/exit over a deep wound, which allows infection to get trapped. Sounds like a deep bite, which should be fine if you keep it clean and keep an eye on it. Flesh does a remarkable job of healing itself, so adopt a minimal intervention approach, bit of salt water to clean it, then let the horse fix himself.
 
Pressure washing a wound OMG really?

you will potentially force any debris into the wound and remove any healing tissue, you could use a clean 20ml syringe and saline solution to flush the wound (a lot less force than a hose), then keep clean and allow to heal-all this is depending on size, depth and location of the wound if unsure send a picture to your vet and ask advice
 
Wash with plenty of saline solution, 1teaspoon salt to a pint of water. Usually these wounds heal pretty fast. Just keep an eye on the state of the wound and if it starts producing pus you may need to ask the vet for some antibiotics.

One thing my own vet recommended for wounds of this sort was to pack neat salt into the wound. Just place a small amount of ordinary table salt into the palm of your hand, add a drop of water to make the salt stick together and then press into the wound. Worked really well for my mare, you cannot see the injury, just feel a small lump under the skin.
 
Tnavas said:
Wash with plenty of saline solution, 1teaspoon salt to a pint of water. Usually these wounds heal pretty fast. Just keep an eye on the state of the wound and if it starts producing pus you may need to ask the vet for some antibiotics.

One thing my own vet recommended for wounds of this sort was to pack neat salt into the wound. Just place a small amount of ordinary table salt into the palm of your hand, add a drop of water to make the salt stick together and then press into the wound. Worked really well for my mare, you cannot see the injury, just feel a small lump under the skin.
Click to expand...
Yes, I would wash with saline solution, but pack neat salt into the wound? I would imagine this would be very painful for the horse!
 
Small but deep wounds are the most serious and the ones that cause most problems. Flush out with saline. Is your horse up to date with tetanus as this will be the biggest threat.
 
Agree with Auslander that this doesn't sound like a puncture wound. Flushing with water should be sufficient.

Puncture wounds are a particular risk if they are over a joint. Sounds like your horse has a flesh wound.
 
Salty water is better to bathe it, hibi scrub is a very harsh solution that is used in preparation before surgery, dab some healng cream or intrasite gel, it will be okay assuming its stopped bleeding.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top