Equine Open Wounds - How to deal and Classify



Posted: Wednesday, May 05, 2010

by Tammy Patterson
Anything Equine Store

Technically a wound is classified as such if the skin or hoof horn has been traumatized in some way. The force experienced by the skin can cause any of the following - a superficial gall, graze, abrasion or sore that may result in a deeper bruising; a cut, usually short in length that can bleed badly or hardly at all depending on the site and size of the blood vessels damaged; a laceration that is usually longer than a cut and usually jagged, bleeding is usually superficial unless a larger vessel is involved; a tear which is a form of laceration in which a flap of skin results or a puncture which is a simple yet damaging wound that cuts deeper than others.

All wounds will have bleeding to some extent but it can be difficult to determine the amount of deeper tissue damage and bruising. The initial swelling is due to the escape of blood and serum from traumatized tissue cells. Chemical mediators that escape from damaged cells bring on a secondary self defense inflammatory reaction to help the healing process. Inflammation results in swelling and pain in the area as the nociceptors are stimulated by this. Infection as a result of a wound varies from aerobic, micro-aerobic and anaerobic; usually these germs are not susceptible to penicillin.

It is important to try and keep contamination of wounds to a minimum where possible. All wounds excepting bruises and galls are likely to get contaminated by the causative object, dirt, hair etc and depending on where the wound is movement, until the wound has healed can only add to the problem as the movement can cause suction aspiration. This draws in air causing subcutaneous emphysema and germs causing subcutaneous infection, spreading infection from a local area creating a more widespread problem and may eventually result in lymphangitis, septicemia and toxemia.

Tammy is a avid horse rider who trys to promote the best ways to be looking after horses. Tammy works part time for a company who specialise in Mark Todd horse rugs as well as Punky Ponies Gloves, Punk Ponies Stretch Tee & Punky Ponies Polo in the UK. For more info, read our horse articles
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