Give me your tricks for Minimizing Scarring? EDIT: photos added Post 13

[lifeishorsesarelove]

2023 has been a roller coaster and apparently it couldn’t go quietly. My mare has sustained an absolutely heinous bite wound over the crest of her neck from another horse.

My vet is aware and involved and antibiotics have been prescribed, but so far we’ve been able to manage it at home. The vet has declined coming out to debride it at this stage, stating it looks normal for a crush injury. I’m at the barn daily cleaning it, doing laser treatments (grateful for the handheld unit we bought last year) and applying a honey-based topical (Red Horse Products HoneyHeel).

I’m devastated that my beautiful mare’s neck has been destroyed like this and I am desperate to do absolutely everything I can to minimize scarring and encourage hair to grow back. It’s going to be very ugly for a long time, and I know there is damage into the muscle layers, and I know it will never look “normal” again, but if anyone has any advice for how to help make this the most minimal scar possible… well I’m open to anything short of magic spells at this point.

I could use some optimism because right now I’m feeling pretty damn awful and helpless. If anyone has before/afters to share of similar injuries, especially “crush” or pressure injuries, I’d love to see them, just to have a better idea, because it’s hard not to picture the absolute worst.

I am torn about posting photos - they’re pretty graphic and I’m not really in a mental space to have a ton of people second-guessing me and my vet.

[Tha_Ridge]

So I will say that I think people here are very considerate when it comes to graphic imagery, especially in instances where it’s clear that people either want help or are doing the best with what they have.

Having said that, my recs are for Vitamin E oil or SSD (silver sulfadiazine) cream.

[Bluey]

Once about 50 years ago someone left a gate open, one of our older stallions got out, jumped the fence into the gelding pasture and he and an older gelding that had previously been one of our stallions got into a big fight.
The stallion had a big square 1 foot large hole on the side of his neck, muscles there torn.

The vet came and took care of things and told us, best to do for that neck injury was to run water over it several times a day and watch for any infection, but best not to put anything on it right now that may slow down the healing.
We did and best I remember it took long time, the edges curled up and died and grew new tissues.
Being a grey horse, it was very ugly looking for long time.
Our vet came by regularly to check broodmares, etc, and kept an eye on it.
Once it was fairly closed, our vet gave us some “red oil” to put on it to help it heal without drying too soon.
In the end it all healed and haired over without leaving but a faint star scar in the middle.
It did heal with irregular shape, not smooth over tight muscles, but bunched up here and there.

Maybe your mare will do ok too, horses can heal from terrible injuries

Not so long ago someone on COTH had a filly receive an extensive injury on her thigh that looked very bad.
She documented how it was healing and it did extremely well:

Large open wound on unhandled yearling

Graphic Image Warning, long post it’s at the bottom, hopefully fixed link Short story long, was picking up some yearlings and one filly got hung up on a trailer latch. Careless mistake on my part and everyone else involved, and a completely preventable accident. She tore her hip open about three inches deep and more than a foot long, a really big and ugly wound. Fortunately we had facilities there to get a halter on her, get her loaded correctly, and start heading home where I was able to get …

[BrownDerby]

Maybe Mederma Scar cream?

I used to ride with a nurse and her unit would order Prep H by the case for burn scars but alas they have changed the formula.

[emeraldcity]

I would think just keep it clean and moist. I’m big on good old vaseline on wounds.

[outerbanks77]

@lifeishorsesarelove

involved and antibiotics have been prescribed, but so far we’ve been able to manage it at home. The vet has declined coming out to debride it at this stage, stating it looks normal for a crush injury. I’m at the barn daily cleaning it, doing laser treatments (grateful for the handheld unit we bought last year) and applying a honey-based topical (Red Horse Products HoneyHeel).

A mare at my barn slipped and fell in the arena, skidding and basically burning all the hide of her forearm over about a 5x10" area. The vet had the owner use Zarasyl on it after the worst initial healing. There is now just a small scar, and overall it healed amazingly, dark bay hair grew back in. I actually bought the rest of the tube from her when my mare got in a wreck over a jump and skinned her knees. they have also healed up quite nicely, so I’m using this stuff for those types of injuries from now on.

https://www.farmvet.com/Equine-Barrier-Cream?location=&quantity=1&healthcare-size=240

[NancyM]

I know it’s difficult, but keep up the hope for a good recovery. You are doing a good job, and it will heal. Antibiotics now, and I really like Biozide (a stablized iodine gel) topically, especially in the early stages, if you can find it. And give it time. There is no magic potion or magic treatment, just time to heal, and no infection to complicate things.

Years ago now, I bought a horse off the track who had run through a fence a year previously. Him, and another horse, together. My horse had been close to the post, and that post had had a gate on it once, the screw in hinge was still there, with the rails put over top of it. They broke the rails, all of them, and the L of the hinge went down the horse’s ribcage. He was laid open like a side of meat. It took 200 stitches to close it, hours of vet work, on the farm. I bought him the following year. Sweetest horse ever, and a successful jumper for years. And yes, it was a horrific scar, but he was functional, and I loved that horse.

However bad your horse’s injury is, it will heal up with your good care, and your horse will be OK. Maybe scarred, but alive, and probably functional. Count your blessings.

Since then, I’ve dealt with a few bad ones. And especially living remote from most veterinarians, it’s been up to me to do the best I can with injuries. And with basic care, it’s amazing how well a horse can heal. Remain optimistic.

[frugalannie]

I’m not clear on the dimensions of the wound, but my (now small animal, former large animal) vet suggested that I use scar tape on a wound my horse had. It’s a human product available at pharmacies OTC. Just cut a piece and lay it on “business” side down. You may or may not need a dressing over it just to hold it in place. Replace every day.
I found that the wound looked kind of mushy under the tape, but that’s the silicone in it, I think. I’d very carefully dab that off as gently as possible, then put more on. It worked like a charm, and I’ve since used it on wounds I have had. Doesn’t hurt and it seems to work.

I had another horse that had a huge gaping wound over the front of her fetlock, all the way down to the joint capsule. It was the size of my hand (and I have big hands). Working with my vet, we put fibrinogen patches on it at every dressing change (48 hours). It took a long time, but she was let with just a 3 inch straight line scar that her hair mostly covered.

Best of luck. With patience and no infection, your results may exceed your current expectation!

[ridernc]

Manuka honey and any thick cream to retrain moisture (petroleum jelly, corona ointment, etc.).

[luvmyhackney]

Keep it moist and use your laser.

It will heal fine, but look terrible as it should heal from inside out.

[Rel6]

I’m not sure of your wound dimensions, and that is a hard area to keep something on, but Cica-Care silicone gel sheets (OTC scar treatment for humans) were incredible in healing my horse’s leg laceration. My vet recommended them when it happened last year and it healed with minimal scarring.

Pics are a month apart. I wish I had a current photo because the scar is really barely noticeable. The sheets stick pretty well and you just wash them to reuse.

[Marla_100]

I’d also recommend putting your horse on Omega Horseshine
which is loaded w/ ground flax
and other vitamins especially good for skin and coat.

Then when the wound is mostly closed up,. Vitamin E capsules,
emptied over the scar can help. prevent scàrring.

[lifeishorsesarelove]

I may as well add photos, I suppose. I was feeling pretty rough last night, today is a little better. I ended up asking my vets office to send someone anyway and I’m glad I did.

These were the initial injury on both sides on December 10.

December 12th (which is when I gave up and roached her mane, glad I did)

December 14, when the peeling skin was really getting going

December 17, yesterday. These were sent to my primary vet and she advised they looked typical ans to just continue on with what I was doing.

Dec 18, today, pre-debridement (this was what I arrived to the barn to find, before any cleaning up, unlike the other photos which were all after I had scrubbed it for the day). At this point I couldn’t take it, I needed eyes and hands on from a vet in person. Fortunately another vet at the same practice happened to be in the area today, so it worked out.

Today, December 18, post debridement. I also clipped the surrounding area more extensively, I will be clipping her entire neck and chest tomorrow as she smells absolutely horrible. We don’t have a wash stall to do full baths/rinsing each day, so her hair is catching all kinds of discharge and gunk. Better to just shave it off.

Antibiotics we are doing STM and Excede. I will continue with daily betadine scrubs to whatever extent she will tolerate, and sedate with dorm gel once or twice a week to do a better job. Flushing with saline and applying/packing with furacin were the directions given. I’m not thrilled about the furacin but I will follow instructions because I’m not the DVM.

[kaya842]

The laser will help for sure.

I used Underwood’s Medicine on a mare who took off essentially all of the front of her knee (bigger area than one side of what you are dealing with). It healed up quickly (3 weeks or so and it was nearly completely healed just no hair growing in) with no nasty proud flesh or weeping or anything. Underwood’s IS ugly though, IIRC you layer it on to form a protective barrier while the tissues heal. I much preferred that to a wet ointment though as my mares injury was in the dead of winter.

Once the skin is fully healed over, vit E can help with the scar tissue (as can continued laser).

Coat Defense, or even baby powder, may help for the fur outside of the actual injury site that are getting gross - should help with the smell and get her a little cleaner without either of you getting wet. Another option is warm water in a thermos or crock pot and toweling the area every week or so.

[Tha_Ridge]

Oh, poor girl, I can only imagine how painful that must be! I think you’re doing a good job and that it will heal up quite nicely.

[lenapesadie]

Ouch! Very gnarly.

I think you’re doing fine and bet it will heal up nicely

[GraceLikeRain]

Not much help but a lot of empathy. The first few photos I was struggling to understand and then through the remaining pictures quickly understood the depth of the injury and your distress. That must be really emotionally draining and deeply uncomfortable for your poor horse. Thank you for sharing despite their graphic nature. I haven’t seen a crush injury like that and think it is a really valuable education tool. I’ve seen some gnarly COTH injuries heal beautifully over the years so hopeful for another wonderful after picture.

[Demerara_Stables]

I’m all for following vet’s directions, but I’d ask them about switching to SSD instead of furacin. I was a lifelong furacin user until last year when a vet recommended SSD for a client’s horse. I liked it so much that I now use it exclusively for cuts and scrapes. It heals faster, with healthier tissue growing in faster, and seems to encourage faster hair growth.

Once it’s scabbed over, I’ve had great results with vitamin E oil. I put it in a little bottle with a roller and roll it on every other day. Definitely make sure the wound is healed first though.

Good luck!

[NaturallyHappy]

It appears to me you are doing a wonderful job. I’m in the camp with all who shared positive stories and optimism. I would be devastated in your shoes, though. I think it’s very hard to be optimistic when it’s your own well loved pony. When my skin cancer things are removed, I’m only allowed Vaseline on them… for what that is worth.

[NancyM]

That will heal up just fine.