How to Treat Puncture Wounds in Horses
A puncture wound can be extremely dangerous in your horse if not treated correctly in time. It is mostly caused by a sharp rock, nails, broken glasses or bottles, metals and many other sharp objects. These objects are often dirty and may end up causing infections that can be fatal to the horse.
A puncture wound may be susceptible to bacteria especially if the causing object responsible for the puncture has been exposed to the dirty elements. A puncture wound may affect tendon or muscle making the infection to spread fast to joints or bones. This will lead to a severe and life-threatening condition that may be hard or even impossible to treat.
Symptoms of Puncture Wound in Horses
Symptoms of a puncture wound depend on how severe it is, the location of the wound, and how deep it goes. The sole, legs, chest, abdomen, and head are areas prone to puncture in horses.
The most common symptoms of a puncture wound in horses are:
– Walking abnormally or limping
– A lesion or scar in the skin
– Foreign object protruding from the affected side
– Bleeding
– Anxiety and depression
– A swollen area or part of the body
– Difficulty when eating or drinking.
Puncture wounds in horses are categorized into:
– Incised wounds
– Simple puncture wounds
– Ripped or torn puncture wounds
Treating a puncture wound depends on the depth of the injury, location, the causal object, and the origin of the penetrating object. In some cases, the object that caused the wound can be pulled out, but one should be careful with this process because pulling out may cause further damage to tissues especially if the object went deep.
The following steps are involved in treating puncture wounds:
– Gently remove the object that caused the wound without causing any further damage.
– Carefully trim the coat and remove all the hair around the edges of the puncture wound then clean it using saline and cotton wool.
– Avoid use of hydrogen peroxide or other chemicals as this could force the contamination deeper and accelerate infection.
– Remove any devitalized tissue from the puncture wound
– Spray the wound with Vet Aid’s Animal Wound Care Spray to speed up the healing process and avoid further infections.
– It is recommended for puncture wounds to be left open to heal fast.
– Put the horse under a seven-day treatment procedure with antibiotics to accelerate the healing process.
– Vaccinate the horse against tetanus.
It is always advisable to vaccinate your horse against tetanus and other infectious diseases even though they have not been wounded because horses are prone to accidents and injuries caused by sharp objects. Give the horse the annual tetanus booster shot to enhance the horses fight against infections. Ensure you promptly attend to the puncture wound because if not treated early the infection may progress and ruin the performance of the horse or even lead to death. Always Vet Aid’s Animal Wound Care Spray within reach because it works wonders on puncture wounds. It is sprayed directly on the affected area after every five hours for the best results.
