VET VIBES
Wound first aid basics
second best option is to hose the wound with clean water. All dirt needs to be removed, but if it has become hard and dry then bandage after applying an ointment such as natural honey, White Healer, Potties White, Hydrogel, BR Wound Powder, Solosite, Terramycin Powder, Betadine, F10, Dermaclens, or Filtabac.
They’re at the fence looking fine, until you spot that nasty looking wound. DR DOUG ENGLISH explains what to do next.
Always apply a dressing to the wound and I prefer to use something bigger than the standard 7.5 centimetre dressing. Use a 10 to 15 centimetre wide bandage over cotton padding such as Combine Dressing, Gamgee, Pharwrap, or even plain cotton wool cut from a roll works well – but be sure to place a non-stick cover such as a Melolin low adherent dressing or a piece of paraffin gauze directly over the wound.
The inflammation process The next stage in the wound process is inflammation, and this stimulates healing. Anti-inflammatory medications will reduce this and should only be used for pain. They only suppress symptoms and do not cure, but they can have a positive effect by encouraging freer movement, which stimulates circulation and therefore healing. If the wound has been correctly cleaned there should be little infection. However, if infection occurs, it is best controlled by topical
H
orses can be prone to hurting themselves. No matter how vigilant we are, we cannot entirely safeguard them from cuts and abrasions either from an altercation with a paddock mate, or as the result of a lost fight with a wire fence. The first thing that happens after a wound occurs is bleeding, which helps to clean the wound naturally but can be severe before blood clotting is activated. Pressure bandages with a pad are useful to help clotting, and coagulant improving substances such as clay or cornflower can be placed onto the wound.
preparations because, unless you’re
Cleaning the wound Wounds on horses are often discovered after the clotting processes have already occurred. But just like all wounds, they need to be cleaned and it is best to spray with normal saline in a spray bottle
dealing with a deep puncture, injected or oral antibiotics do not get to a significant concentration in the outer areas of a wound. Although it does no harm to give antibiotics initially, they are often used when not really necessary.
or garden spray. Normal saline can
Keep the wound bandaged
be easily made by adding table salt to
The inflammation process stimulates
water at a rate of nine grams per litre,
the production of growth factors
or guess at one teaspoon to 500mls
from nearby healthy tissue and also
of water. Water from the hot tap is the
the migration of macrophages and
best option because it will have been
neutrophils, which are cells that clean up
sterilised by being in the hot water tank.
dead tissue, attack bacteria and release
If you have no other alternative, then the
further growth factors.
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