Treatment of chronic wound to the elbow

[Cobs Can]

Looking for some advice on treating a chronic wound on my Clydesdale's elbow joint. It had near enough cleared up but took him out last week and its all opened up again.
Had the vet out and have had to use white lotion to clean the wound up to clear area of granulated skin.
My questions are, how does white lotion work? seems to me that you need the area to scab over but have been told to rub the lotion in (which removes the scab) so how does this assist healing. Have been applying it twice a day(since last friday) but can see it really hurts him and with him being 17.3 he can be a handful!!! Have reduced it to once a day from today and the vet suggested continuing for the rest of the week but the wound is quite pink now and granulated flesh has been removed so should i keep applying?

Secondly have read many articles about manuka honey. Spoke to the vet about it and she was quite positive about the healing effects of the honey but with it being on the elbow area how can I apply honey to the area and cover it with a dressing to prevent flies wasps etc or do I need to cover the wound/honey.

I know surgical intervention is an option with the skin being cut away and stitch but would prefer to not go down this route as he would be on box rest for 10 days and like him being out with our cob(even with this weather) Any suggestions or ideas/experience of this type of wound would be appreciated.

Also any ideas why it should always happen when I ride him and not the missus? the only reasons I can possible think of is that i over girth him or work him too hard whilst out, would love to figure this out and save me loads of ear ache as sure she loves him more than me!!!

 

[Cobs Can]

Wound getting better the honey seems to be working along with the white lotion. Applying honey before exercising seems to seal wound and prevents any bleeding whatsoever. Well worth trying was a bit doubtful bout the honey but glad I tried it.

 

[cptrayes]

I'm sorry I missed this when you first posted it. The problem with proud flesh on a wound on a horse is that the skin will not close in over it if it has come above skin level. If it's stopping skin cell growth it has to be chemically burnt or cut back, and then the skin will grow in from the outside. I'm guessing that the white lotion you were given was a mild chemical corrosive or possibly a steroid. When the bobbly stuff goes smooth, the wound will heal, as you have found. I use copper sulphate to do the same job.

I'm glad it's working for you.

 

[Cobs Can]

Thanks for explaining the principles of how it works(the vet confused me although that's not hard!!!!) going to stick with it and the honey