Wire injury- best way to treat?

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poiuytrewq

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I'm a little out of touch having realised today I've had this horse 3 years and this is his first injury! Not bad going.
My peaceful haven has been destroyed as two mares have been moved into the field backing into mine which previously has always been empty. They are dirty little flirts and my usually sensible horse has become the grubby old guy who is obsessed with them!
Today he managed to wreck our electric fencing which got him to their wire fence where he managed to get stuck.
He has a cut about 4-5" below his fetlock, above his heel.
I didn't call the vet, it's not deep enough to stitch. I hosed, cleaned and dry dressed it, also gave bute as an anti inflammatory, plan to keep an eye and will get antibiotics if needed.
What's the recommended treatment now for wounds?
Moist or dry environment?
Not sure if wound powder or hydrogel type treatments would be best and quickest to heal problem free?
Also I could actually turn him out as the field has dried up sufficiently to be able to keep a bandage clean so would movement (keeping swelling and stiffness down) be preferable to standing in?
My TB days are well and truly behind me- this used to be an everyday occurrence!!
 
Um, without wishing to sound over-reacting here, but for both injuries I'd get the vet out PDQ TBH. Yes, its an extra expense, but I've known more "superficial" injuries than those described and/or photos above, to go septic and mega-huge problems develop as a result.

Sorry, I'm over-cautious, but I'd get the vet out. A shot of anti-biotics won't do any harm and will do an awful lot of good, in both instances. Plus (sorry to be obvious but its amazing how often people let this go) - am presuming anti-tets up to date???
 
Sounds superficial so I'd just put Manuka honey on it and it will heal up in no time. I find keeping horses out is best with small wounds like this, providing the ground is good and not muddy.
 
If it doesn't need stitches I don't get a vet out either - manuka honey and a padded bandage until wound is closed and they remain in their paddock. They heal pretty good.
 
My horse had a wire injury. They were only small punctures and I rang the vet purely because he was new to me, his vacs had lapsed as he had a cold so the vet wouldnt vaccinate until he was well. Vet was more concerned about tetanus and came out and gave him a jab and some painkillers. His leg was all puffy the following day but healed well with cold hosing.
 
I'm totally confident I don't need a vet, his tetanus is up to date and if there is the slightest sign of infection I will get antibiotics and jab him myself. The vet won't do anything at this stage other than hand me the bottle.
He has a slightly questionable gut so I don't want to give antibiotics unless they are really needed.
Honey! Of course I will go and get some today, would I need a health food shop or will a normal super market stock Manuka?
 
How you treat it depends on whether it's an open wound, or a narrow cut where the margins can be held together. Open wounds ideally heal best in a moist environment. I was a nurse and we spent a lot of time dealing with wounds. The reason is the cells need moisture to migrate across the wound surface as part of the healing process. There are so many dressings and topical agents to use that it is down to personal choice. Cleaning by gentle irrigation would be my choice. And keeping it covered unless it is really superficial. But sounds like its in an awkward place :(. I think I would keep the horse in for a day or two if possible. I would steer clear of wound powder personally.
 
For minor wounds I flush out with warm salt water, let it dry, then apply a liberal amount of good old fashioned purple spray....
 
My mare did this a few years ago on the fence by rolling through it. The cuts went all the way down to her fetlock. I wasnt there when it happened and the yard cleaned it and smoothered it with cream and decided it didnt need the vet. I wasnt happy when I went up at night and saw it that night (no one had told me she had done it) The following day her leg was huge and I phoned the vet and explained how yard had treated it etc. He came out and said he could of done more to it the day before but gave her antibiotics, steroid cream and a barrier cream and it was thoroughly cleaned. In the end it did heal well and you can only tell in the winter with her hairy legs there had been injury there. But we did have one cut that took a lot longer to heal as it kept opening up again. If it was me I would phone the vet for advice and send them a picture and they can decide the best treatment etc.

 
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I too am a big user of the wonderful 'Honey'.. with it have antibactierial properties amongst other things. It's part of my first aid kit and truely is a great healer in my humble opinion.

It's your call i guess as to whether you want to call the vet,..but i'm sure you'll be phoning them if needs be.

Hope the wound continues to heal well.
 
My horse cut his neck on barbed wire a few years ago, it was quite nasty but by the time we got to the yard it was too late for stitches. Vet gave me a tube of Flamazine, I applied it twice a day for 2 weeks and it healed up so well. It was left open and he was turned out daily.
 
paulineh said:
You need to get the highest Activity you can get. I think H&B do one of +20 and one of 40+ but that one is is expensive.

If you can get the medical grade all the better.
Click to expand...

Was speaking to manuka honey producers and was told anything above 20 doesn't actually give you any more benefit, similar to the high protection sunscreens.
 
I've had really good results using Veterycyn and more recently Hypocare which most places seem to stock, if it isn't deep and and unlikely to leave bad scarring/proud flesh, this is what I would use now. I have bottles of it everywhere now and if anything comes in with a cut/rash or anything else I lace it with this stuff several times a day. Our terrier got loose the other day and went down a badger sett, she came out with horrible wounds to her face and basically a big hole under her chin. It really was grim, this was a Sunday afternoon and I applied Hypocare liberally to it a couple of times and was thinking we would probably need to take her to the vet in the morning, expecting it to swell massively etc, she was feeling so sorry for herself. But next morning, not much swelling and she seemed much happier, wound looked healthy so continued to spray it several times a day - 2/3 days later it was pretty much healed - I was very impressed. I think veterycyn and Hypocare are a similar product but I now buy Hypocare as it's cheaper and seems to work as well if not better. Think Manuka honey is good but personally I didn't get on with it when I tried it on a wound.
 
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