How Do You Treat an Open Wound On a Horse?

Once you become a horse owner, you quickly learn that wound care is essential to caring for your equine companion. Horses tend to get cuts and scrapes no matter how carefully you've checked over their living spaces. Pasture mates sometimes bite or kick each other, leaving behind evidence of an intentional retaliatory wound. Regardless of how the open cut or scrape occurred, knowing how to care for them yourself quickly and effectively helps avoid infections and complications.

Treating Your Horse’s Wound

Caring for your horse’s open wound requires prompt attention to prevent infection and promote healing. Bring your horse into the barn to assess the damage and get the bleeding under control. A wash rack with good lighting and crossties is the best place for wound management. A helper to hold your horse steady while you work is always another good option.

Types of Equine Wounds

Cuts & Lacerations - May be shallow with only a few layers of skin involved or more profound, which involves tissue, muscle and, in some instances, tendons. Many lesions require sutures or stapling from a licensed veterinarian.

Abrasions - The most common wound is due to friction from a rough or abrasive surface. Think of a skinned knee. Keep it clean and covered when possible.

Puncture Wounds - Caused by a sharp object penetrating the skin, such as nails, thorns, bites or wire. Likely to become infected because the puncture pushes bacteria deep into the wound. 

Pressure Sores - Often caused by improperly fitting tack that has rubbed the skin causing an open wound. The two most common pressure wounds are girth gall and saddle sores. The fix is to heal the wound and replace the ill-fitting equipment.

Incised Wounds - A clean, straight slice caused by a sharp-edged object like glass or metal.

Equine First Aid Supplies 

Before an incident occurs, having the right first aid supplies in your barn and trailer is crucial. The necessary tools allow you to quickly clean, assess, and treat cuts at home.

Here are a few suggested wound therapy supplies to keep in a quickly accessible place in the event your horse receives an abrasion or laceration:

• Clean Water

• Saline Solution

• Sterile Gauze Pads & Rolls

• Non-Adherent Dressings

• Adhesive Bandages (Vet Wrap)

• Antiseptic Solution

• Antimicrobial Hydrogel

• Scissors & Tweezers

• Thermometer

• Clean Towels

• Latex Gloves

• Clean Bucket

• Twitch

• Tourniquet

Steps For Treating Wounds on Horses

Here are general guidelines for treating simple lacerations and abrasions yourself, but it's crucial to consult with a veterinarian for specific advice based on the severity, depth and location of the wound:

Clean the Wound

Once you’ve managed to slow the bleeding, cold hosing your horse's wound will help remove debris and reduce swelling and inflammation around the wound site. Once you have cold-hosed the wound for 15-30 minutes, rinse or flush it gently with a sterile saline solution to wash away any further debris. You may have to clip the hair around the affected area using clippers to see better and keep it cleaner. (Avoid using scissors)

Apply An Antiseptic

Cover the wound with a mild topical antiseptic to clean the wound further and defend against microorganisms. At this point, it is beneficial to follow up with an antimicrobial wound spray or hydrogel that keeps the wound moist, creates a protective barrier to destroy viruses, bacteria and fungi, prevents infection and promotes faster healing.

Wound Dressing

Once the antimicrobial hydrogel is applied, you should cover the wound if it's in an area that can be bandaged. Apply an absorbent, non-stick, sterile gauze pad. If extra padding for comfort and protection is needed, cover the gauze with cotton padding. Leg wounds can be wrapped in thick cotton or quilts for support, swelling reduction and immobilization. Finally, carefully apply an elastic bandage (Vet Wrap) to cover all the layers and keep your handy work in place. 

If you are unfamiliar with proper wrapping techniques, get assistance from an experienced horse person or a veterinarian, as improper wrapping can damage tendons or cut off circulation. 

Equine Wound Management

Daily care is required to keep the affected area clean and promote healing. Bandages require changing every day. If the wound is left open, cold hosing, cleaning with an antiseptic and applying fresh antimicrobial gel or spray is needed several times daily. While tending to your horse's wound, check for proud flesh (granulated tissue). Extra applications of the antimicrobial hydrogel spray can help, but your veterinarian may need to debride all the proud flesh if it persists.

Also, it's essential to watch for the warning signs of infection, such as tenderness, odor, yellow or green discharge, redness, swelling or excessive heat. If you are concerned that your horse’s wound is infected or you haven’t been able to clear it, please contact your veterinarian to avoid serious complications.