cuts and bites

[dcp]

Hello looking for some advice on how to treat my injured boy. One of the horses has taken a rather large chunk of hair from his back. It hasn't been bleeding it looks almost like a graze don't think we'll get a saddle on it for a while though. He also cut his legs when he jumped over the fence. The one on the inside of his back leg looks like worst. There are about two others just really small though. When it happened yesterday I gently hosed his legs down and put some aloe vera gel on his wounds which he didn't like much (poor boy). Can anyone suggest the best products to use and how often obviously I really don't want him to get an infection. Is it ok to sponge down his wounds two times per day?

Thanks

[Merlinz gal]

if the wounds are deep id get a vet out to flush them with sterile water.
vetrinary wound powder is good :)

[MeMe]

I personally wont advise, as it could be something that I would deal with myself, or could be worth a vet.

But I would say if your not sure 100% how to deal with it, and are worried about infection etc, then get the vet out, whom will prob give antibiotics and clean it up and will advise further.

[artemis]

Just bathe with salt water & leave them. If you was them every day when they are clean they are more likely to get infected.

[racipaci]

As everyone else has said it all depends on the extent of the cut, if it;s too deep, no amount of cleaning will prevent infection.

My boy is a wimp and given the slightest opportnity a cut will become infected so I have to be extremely careful when he gets a cut, so here I would disagree with leaving it and I woudl reccomend washing with diluted hibiscrub everyday and putting some sort of antispetic cream eg Demobian (sp) is excellent.

But each horse and owner probably treats wounds differently, this just works with my horse.

If the cut swells up and feels hot within the next few days, definitely call the vet. From your description the one on the back does not sound like a problem some cream will probably sort that one out but the ones on his legs may be more serious and the ones to watch.

[kayjayhorses]

I might be wrong but I thought you shouldn't use hibiscrub (sp) on open wounds, there is something in the back of my mind telling me this.

[racipaci]

I might be wrong but I thought you shouldn't use hibiscrub (sp) on open wounds, there is something in the back of my mind telling me this.

really? :eek:

I'm trying to think back to when Dave was at the vets, they always use hibiscrub to clean the cuts, although maybe I'm thinking more of when it's healed up you use it to keep it clean?

I'd be interested to know though as the vets always sent Dave home with it for his injuries and my dog recently was given it for a cut,

But maybe that's for surface wounds and not ones that have broken the skin, I have to say I don't think I've ever used it on a big gaping wound.

Would be interested to find out for future reference :)

[dcp]

Everyone thank you for your advice. He is my first horse and I've been in a bit of a panic about the whole thing. I will watch the ones on his legs and keep them clean. The one on his back looks awful it's a huge bald chunk. I'm so glad for this place it's great for advice.

Thanks ;)

[kayjayhorses]

I knew it was in the back of my mind for a reason, Hibiscrub is only to be used around the wound never on the wound.

Advice on a site that sells hibiscrub
http://www.horseactive.co.uk/offers.php?ID=
Anti microbial wash. Gross contamination should be washed off first with saline or a low pressure hose. Effective in the treatment of mud fever. Use diluted 1:40. Wash wetted hands and arms in a half strength solution before touching a wound, instruments or bandages. Hibiscrub is non irritant to most people. Keep solution out of the actual wound, especially if it could involve a tendon sheath, or joint or penetrating flesh wound. Use only around wounds