Page 102 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

STEP 1

Thorough cleaning of any wound is essential. It should be done in an area of good light with
VetBooks.ir a clean floor so wood shavings, straw or mud do not enter the wound. If the bleeding is under

control, gently hose off any dirt before the vet arrives. If the injury is on a limb, begin hosing
below the wound. Gradually work upwards while quietly reassuring the horse. Try to ensure

that dirty water from around the wound does not run onto the damaged tissue. Continue
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hosing until the wound is clean and protect it with a non-stick dressing, Gamgee pad and a
firm support bandage until the vet arrives. This will minimize any swelling.

Not every horse will tolerate hosing or even gentle cleaning if it is anxious or in a lot of
pain. In this case, do what you can to protect the wound from contamination while waiting
for the vet. Do not risk being injured yourself while attempting to help the horse. In these

cases, the vet is likely to administer a sedative so the horse can be treated efficiently and
safely.

STEP 2

The following points should be followed if you decide at this stage to treat the wound
yourself.

• Wash your hands.

• Use curved round-ended scissors to trim away any hair overhanging the wound edges,
taking care not to let it fall into the wound. The wound can be covered with a wound gel,

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e.g. Intrasite or K–Y Jelly while this is being done. This prevents tiny pieces of hair
adhering to the injured tissue.
• Now clean the skin around the wound with warm water and a diluted antiseptic scrub,
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e.g. Hibiscrub , I Part Hibiscrub to 20 parts water. If this is not available, a saline
solution made from 500 ml (just under a pint) of cooled boiled water with a level
teaspoonful of salt dissolved in it can be used. Use moistened cotton wool or gauze

swabs. Alternatively, antiseptic-impregnated moist wipes are useful for this. Try to avoid
dirty water running onto the injured tissue.

• Clean the wound with cooled boiled water and diluted Hibiscrub or sterile saline. If the
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wound is large and very dirty, begin at the centre of the wound and work outwards.
Discard each swab or wipe as soon as it has been used – never put it back into the bowl

of washing solution. Do not use strong, undiluted antiseptics on the wound as they can
cause further damage to the exposed tissues.
• Forceps or tweezers can be used to remove any foreign material.

• Little pieces of dirt can be flushed from wounds using a 35 ml syringe containing sterile