Care and Bandaging of Horse Wounds

Wounds on horses, especially lower leg wounds, require diligent care if they are to heal correctly with minimal proud flesh.

The following principles, if followed, will greatly enhance your chances of having minimal scarring.
1) Cleanliness - Keep the wound clean to minimize chance of infection.
2) Protection - Wraps decrease the likelyhood of further damaging the healing wound. 3) Pressure - A well applied pressure wrap will help minimize proud flesh and deformation.
4) Decrease movement - Movement of skin edges will slow healing and create proud flesh. Confining the horse and sometimes splinting the leg will help.
5) Medications - Be diligent with prescribed medications such as antibiotics and antiinflammatories. Also ask your vet for the appropriate ointment to use on the wound.

Wrapping:
Please use the following protocol for wrapping the wound unless otherwise advised.
LAYER 1 - Telfa pad (or non-stick sterile dressing)
LAYER 2 - Soft absorbant layer (cast padding or cling gauze) to hold telfa onto leg. LAYER 3 - Thick padding (combine roll, roll cotton, diaper or quilt or fleece leg wrap). LAYER 4 - Non stretchable brown gauze - to apply even pressure.
OPTIONAL LAYER - Splint applied with brown gauze.
LAYER 5 - Vetwrap or derby wrap
LAYER 6 - Stretchable sticky tape for top and bottom of wrap (elastikon)

Please notify the doctor if any of the following occurs:
*Your horse discontinues eating or drinking.
*You notice any foul smell from the wound.
*You are having difficulties with any of the above instructions.
*Increase in lameness.

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