Sinus flush hole in skull

[kerryn]

My mare had yesterday her drains removed following her week long sinus flushing. Vet happy with normal mucus in final flush. When it came to the removal of pipe she was obviously left with the hole. Vet was unable to staple this hole closed due to the skull having hardly any flesh there, so she has what I can only describe as being left with a blow hole like a whale! She has put a big plaster on and I have put her fly mask on. She is outside in an electric fenced controlled patch of grass to avoid any rubbing as advised.
I suppose my question is is she OK with this hole, will it heal itself over and how long? She is currently on 10 days antibiotics and has to go back to remove the other staples in 10 days
Thank you

 

[AmyMay]

What did the vet say??

 

[kerryn]

What did the vet say??

She just said keep it covered, carry on with antibiotics I’ll see you in 10 days for removal of staples. It’s not until afterwards you think of things you should have asked. I will phone her and put her reply on here it may be useful for others

 

[Britestar]

It will heal itself.

My horse had this as a 4yr old. It healed over just fine.
I kept it covered until the skin grew over. He just had a cotton face pad stuck over it.

Now at 27yrs old I can still feel a little dent in his head.

 

[Nicnac]

Friends horse had same and it healed relatively quickly. Just ensure no flies/dirt and keep a close eye on it if rubbing as it may well get itchy when healing. Ask vet about manuka honey dressings when they return in 10 days to aid healing.

 

[Red-1]

I knew a horse with this and it healed up just fine. Afterwards, if you didn't know it was there, you would struggle to find it.

 

[whizzer]

I had a horse that had multiple sinus surgeries for ethmoid haematoma. They used one of the same trephine sites 3 times. There was enough skin to staple the first time but it broke down anyway quite soon, everytime he had a hole in his forehead but it always healed absolutely fine. Was eventually just left with a small bald patch. Usually took a few weeks to heal, we dressed it with manuka honey.

 

[Snowfilly]

It will heal, my old boy had a different surgery but was left with a hole in his skull as a 5 year old and 20 years down the line, he’s got a dent and some white hairs that are now blending with the rest of his white hairs, but the bone remodelled and the skin knitted and it was all fine in the end.

Keep it covered as best as you can, manuka honey is very good for using once there’s a bit of skin coverage.

 

[Fjord]

I'm pretty sure that's what my friend's horse had, it healed fine.

 

[Vodkagirly]

I remember a horse that had this done. Looked horrific but actually healed very well