Ongoing Care For Horse Cuts And Lacerations (2 of 2)
Keeping The Wound Clean
The wound should be thoroughly washed, using cold water under pressure, to remove any scab and discharge. Spraying the surrounding area also soothes the trauma and helps to keep the flies away.
After washing liberally apply a topical treatment such as Schreiner's Herbal Solution ® to the wound and surrounding area twice daily.
Every third or fourth day the wound should again be thoroughly cleansed with cold water under pressure (a garden hose with a nozzle attached works great) and any new scab should be removed.
Continued this treatment through about six or eight weeks, or when the wound area begins to look more like a superficial problem. Finish treatment by simply applying a topical treatment such as Schreiner's Herbal Solution ® daily until the area was totally healed and the hair returned.
(Back to... Ongoing Care For Horse Cuts And Lacerations Part 1)
Follow Up Treatment For An Un-Bandaged Wound
If the wound is not bandaged, should be treated once to twice a day depending on the severity of the wound. Later, when the wound bed is almost level with the skin, you should continue to treat the site. The skin that is growing back across the wounded area must finish closing the wound. Continuing the treatment will stimulate the edge of the wound and speed the closure.
(Back to... Ongoing Care For Horse Cuts And Lacerations Part 1)
Follow Up Treatment For A Bandaged Wound
If the wound is bandaged, we recommend treating a minimum of every other day. This will not slow the healing process and dressings need to be kept fresh to allow the wound to begin healing. The bandage should no longer be necessary when the wound bed is filling in and approaching skin level.
(Back to... Ongoing Care For Horse Cuts And Lacerations Part 1)
Older And Persistent Wounds
For persistent hock sores and older wounds with a dry or brittle appearance, it is important to maintain an appropriate moisture balance to support the healing process.
While there are a number of topical treatments which would be useful in these conditions, we recommend:
Herbal Salve from Herbs of the World. This is a great product for treating "dry and crusty" older wounds. It is a completely herbal formula which includes Calendula, Beeswax, Frankincense, Myrrh, Wormwood, Balm of Gilead Buds, Olive Oil, Cocoa Butter, Sage, Echinacea, Comfrey, Devil's Claw and African Shea Nut Butter.
(Back to... Ongoing Care For Horse Cuts And Lacerations Part 1)
Portions reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
