My poor boy, warning - pics of wound before and after stitches

simsav

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My poor boy was found like this first thing.... I am so upset about it, and upset for him. Over 30 stitches, he was so good for the vet, I am so proud of him, just hope he heals soon. No idea how he did it but we have a new livery and the horse has been injuring the horses out in the field, charging at them, kicking, biting etc so I thought I'd bring my boy in for a few nights to be safe, so was in his stable when this happened. Looks like an animal of some kind has jumped up at his door and done it. There is nothing that he could have caught it on in his stable :(

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That looks very sore ! but 10/10 for your vet what a fantastic job they have done ! good luck hope it heals well
 
My mare did almost the exact same thing in the field last year, but her tear was the other way. I thought she would have a deformed nostril for life, but my vet stitched it up and its barely noticeable now :)
They sometime do injuries like that by putting their nostril over something then pulling away quickly, but who knows. Hope your boy recovers quickly.
 
oh dear my immediate thought was barb wire but as you think it could be a new horse...teeth not smashed obvioulsy.But pre and post stiching looks like your vet did an excellent job and brave horse too for sensitive muzzle. Hope it heals soon.
 
omg poor boy so painfull hope it heals quick.


in ref to new horse prime example where yo must separate new horses b 4 putting with established group.
 
Poor boy!

That will heal fine, vet has done a good job and it was obviously very fresh when you took the pictures.

Has he got a clip on his door to stop him undoing the bolt? some of the snap hooks have a real point to them and I have seen horses get caught on them when they fiddle trying to undo the bolt.

it doesn't look like an animal bite as there are no puncture wounds.
 
Aw the wee soul, your vet mustve been a tailor on a past life, thats a good stitch up job. i am sure this will heal up well, with the help of pain relief and antibiotic cover to keep your boy comfy.
 
Vet has done a terrific job.

I would suspect he's done it on the door bolt or the like. Have seen a horse take a chunk out of its muzzle on a bolt before.
 
I know a horse that did the same in her stable - it was her lead rein clip!!!!!!!!!

I doubt an animal did it. It's soft skin and you'd be surprised what horses can manage!

On the upside, it doesn't take long to heal and although you may see a scar, many others wont. even though i knew the horse, I didn't spot the scar until I was giving her a good kiss and cuddle!!!
 
Ouchie ouch, but what a good stitch job. Another place I've seen injuries like this are on the clips that hold buckets on the wall, even when there's a bucket hanging in it!!! Horses are amazing at these things aren't they?!
 
Is your boy really friendly? I hate to say this but that looks like it's been done with a knife or scissors. Either that or a large dog has jumped up and held onto his nose. Or possibly another horse being led past, though I would have thought the owner would have done something about it. The clips that are sometimes used to secure the bolt are another hazard. Poor lad. Does someone live on the premises?
 
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Thank you everyone, I have just got home from the stables and he's left it alone overnight, the swelling has almost gone and he is his usual self again. I feel a lot more positive about it healing but time will tell. I have to shoot off to work now but will try and reply to those with questions as soon as I can because another 12 hour shift in the ambulance service is calling!!

xxxx
 
As some others have said it looks like its been caused by a clip from a lead rope or that holds a water bucket or are used by owners to stop escape artists. I saw one very similar at a show once, the owner went in to the horse to find it embedded in his nose and as soon as they tried to free him he panicked (the horse not the owner) and pulled back causing an injury similar to what your boy did. If there are no clips it'll be a mystery like so many horse injuries! Since I saw what happened that horse at the show I use a padlock on an escape arists door just in case. Glad to hear its no worse so far so good, fingers crossed.
 
Poor chap, that looks so sore.

A mare on our yard, came in with her ear half hanging off last year. It was severed at the base, but the vets did an amazing job of sewing it back, and it has knitted back together perfectly, and you would never know it had happened. She even has full movement of that ear now, which the vets were not sure she'd get back at first. Just wanted to share that with you, as sometimes even the most horible injuries can heal brilliantly. x
 
The vet has done a smashing job, I bet that when it heals you won't be able to see anything! Like someone else said, Manuka honey is amazing at healing and leaving no scars.
 
Oh my god! poor lad! Looks like vet has done a fab Job! I agree it looks like he has caught iton a clip or something...

Since I saw what happened that horse at the show I use a padlock on an escape arists door just in case. .

oh my god! Please don't do this!! What if there is a fire or emergency meaning the horse has to be got to/ out quickly?? use a trigger clip rather than the other sort of leadrope clip if you have to... or even better buy one of the special bolts designed to combat escape artists!! Like the one at the top of this page : http://www.brighteyesandbobtails.co.uk/acatalog/Stable_Door_Bolts_and_Hinges.html
 
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