Page 103 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

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saline or diluted Hibiscrub with a 19 gauge needle attached. This also helps to remove
bacteria attached to the wound surface. If the wound is relatively clean, this is the best
VetBooks.ir method of cleaning as swabbing can sometimes cause further trauma to the tissues and
also spread bacteria.

If the wound is contaminated with mud that cannot be removed by washing, the cleaning
procedure can be continued by:
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• using a cleansing wound gel, e.g. Derma Gel or Intrasite ®
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• application of a ready-to-use poultice, e.g. Animalintex .

You may decide to call the vet at this stage if the wound is still very dirty or it is more
extensive than originally thought. The vet will trim away any dead or badly damaged tissue

and give the wound a thorough clean. This is known as ‘debriding’ the wound.

Has a joint or tendon sheath been penetrated?

If there is a puncture wound near a joint or tendon sheath, it is best to call the vet

immediately. Sometimes, clear, straw-coloured synovial fluid can be seen escaping from the
wound. However, it is not always easy to decide whether these structures have been

penetrated and special diagnostic techniques may be required.
In some cases the horse will be lamer than expected for a small wound. Again, immediate

veterinary attention is essential. If these injuries are not dealt with at once, the horse can
remain permanently lame and may have to be destroyed.

The control of infection

The risk of infection is reduced by:

• immediate treatment

• thorough cleaning
• maintaining cleanliness with appropriate dressings

• the use of antibiotics either topically (applied directly onto the wound) or systemically (a

course is given by injection or by mouth) which must be prescribed by your vet
• rapid diagnosis and treatment of severe injuries such as joint penetrations.

The control of swelling and pain