To wrap or not to wrap?

[Carrie94]

My filly had a bit of an accident on Sunday and she now has a few scrapes above her hoof on her hind leg. (I’ll attach pics)

On Sunday after it happened - there was no bleeding or anything - I hosed it, put some ointment on it and left it unwrapped.

On Monday it was a little warm and swollen so I hosed it again, put ointment on it, and wrapped it.

Yesterday it it was a little more swollen and had some pus on it when I took the wraps off. I hosed it, rewrapped with ointment and turned her out again (she has 24/7 turnout).

She’s not really favouring that leg much at all. When I exercised her as usual (just groundwork), she was fine going forward in a circle at all three gaits but perhaps a tad bit favouring the leg when I asked her to do a sidepass type maneuver.

So, because she’s swollen, is it a good idea to wrap or not? Always struggle with this question. It’s just a scrape, basically removed some hairs. In her “accident,” it’s possible that she might have bruised her leg so the scrape may or not be the reason for the swelling. Just seems to me that wrapping would create more heat? I’ve only been wrapping the area with the scrapes, not any higher up the leg, because I don’t want cellulitis or another such thing to happen.

Advice?

Oh, and should I put her on antibiotics, you think? Just in case?

[Chestnut_Mare1]

I wouldn’t wrap that. Would try to let it dry out an should apply swat around (not on the wound) the area to keep flies off. Give her a break from the groundwork until she heels up a bit.

Is this a rope burn?

[JB]

She got something wrapped around her leg, and has a friction burn. The oozing is what happens with these sorts of things. It’s not just a scrape, in other words.

I think swelling more than just very minor, or lasting longer than a day or so, warrants wrapping. Swelling is part of how things heal, but excessive or extended swelling is not good.

what’s her turnout like? Me, I’d have a nice snug standing wrap on it with a good nobow and vetwrap (instead of a track wrap). But that requires excellent wrapping, and a horse who is quiet in turnout. If there’s any doubt, leave it unwrapped unless she’s in her stall for the night or something.

But it’s hard to tell just how much swelling there is, since a rested leg isn’t as “tight” as one that’s bearing weight. So in reality, keeping it medicated may be just fine. This is going to take a long time to heal, IMHO, because of what appears to have happened. Friction burns damage things deeper than just scraping skin off, and the location is high movement which retards healing. Keep it soft with ointments, even some Vitamin E slathered on it. Scabs will want to form, which not only are uncomfortable, but can lead to scar tissue.

[Chestnut_Mare1]

A previous lease horse of mine had an injury exactly like this when her owner let her get caught up in a lead rope on the ground

[candyappy]

I wouldn’t wrap that. Unless you are an expert at correctly wrapping you can do more harm than good.

[btswass]

I also wouldn’t wrap. But I’d use zinc oxide or silver ointment on it
https://www.argentoeq.com/products/leovet-zinc-oxide-spray
I’ve had really great results with the zinc oxide. Every day would use disinfectant spray then zinc oxide on one of our chickens who was attacked by a fox with some pretty serious wounds and she healed up amazingly.

I’d also keep doing ground work but only doing the things that don’t hurt. The movement should help with the swelling. But if the swelling continues to get worse I’d start her on antibiotics

[Carrie94]

Thanks!

You’re right - it was a rope burn injury. I’m grateful nothing worse happened, and I just want to make sure I do my part right to get her on the road to recovery.

I will follow your suggestions. Thanks again.

[danacat]

Prime area for the (maybe) development of proud flesh. I would treat for prevention - Wonder Dust. And I personally would do a furacin sweat on ankle – but suggest this only if you’re able to be an expert about it.

[Laurierace]

@danacat

Prime area for the (maybe) development of proud flesh. I would treat for prevention - Wonder Dust. And I personally would do a furacin sweat on ankle – but suggest this only if you’re able to be an expert about it.

That is the perfect recipe to create proud flesh in my experience. I would spray with alushield and cold hose a few times per day.

[danacat]

@Laurierace

That is the perfect recipe to create proud flesh in my experience. I would spray with alushield and cold hose a few times per day.

One of my geldings, many years ago, got tangled in electric tape fence and got an injury exactly like OP’s horse – bad burns on back of pastern, swollen ankle, various cuts. I treated with what I suggested, and my horse recovered quickly and without a blemish.

Alushield hadn’t been invented yet (when my horse got injured) so I have no experience with it as a proud flesh preventor but since you’ve had bad experiences with Wonder Dust and/or a sweat to take down ankle swelling (though I’m not sure how the two would ‘create’ proud flesh since the two treatments are not combined in the same area of leg) then perhaps Alushield is the way to go.

[JB]

@Laurierace

That is the perfect recipe to create proud flesh in my experience. I would spray with alushield and cold hose a few times per day.

Yep. There’s hard evidence out there, ie studies, showing that nitrofuracin promotes proud flesh on lower leg wounds. Certainly it doesn’t happen all the time, but when there are far better things to use that don’t do that (and aren’t carcinogenic), there’s no need to use Furacin at all, ever.

At best I can see a vet prescribing a dmso/azium mix to paint/roll on above, in the pastern and lower cannon area.

No Wonder Dust or anything like that unless and until any proud flesh develops, and even then, put ointment on the non-pf areas before dusting on the pf areas

[gumtree]

I am totally with those who say don’t wrap. Most wounds shouldn’t be wrapped. If unsure check with your vet. Simple to take a pictures, text with details of what happened. Saves you the farm call and time for a vet to deal with bigger issues.

There is little to no profit for a vet in a farm call charge anyway. I would bet the invention of being able to take pictures and texting is god sent for most vets, lol.

Swelling should be expected with this type of injury, part of the healing process. But there is a difference between swelling as part of the healing process and “swelling” caused by an underlying infection.

Wrapping most wounds only promotes slow healing and an environment for infection to incubate. Deep wounds heal from the inside out. You want things to crust over, crystallize in a lot of cases. Vet’s call.

Big fan of Alushield great stuff. Especially in buggy months.

[Carrie94]

Thanks again for your suggestions, everyone. JB, she’s turned out 24/7 on about a 5 acre grass pasture and is really quiet, no crazy running around and kicking up heels like my 3 year old colt does.

Last night looking at her leg again I was relieved to find the swelling way down! Not all the way, but no extra heat and looking a lot better overall. She’s also still not favouring that leg. I removed the wraps so she’s without them now.

[gumtree]

@Carrie94

Thanks again for your suggestions, everyone. JB, she’s turned out 24/7 on about a 5 acre grass pasture and is really quiet, no crazy running around and kicking up heels like my 3 year old colt does.

Last night looking at her leg again I was relieved to find the swelling way down! Not all the way, but no extra heat and looking a lot better overall. She’s also still not favouring that leg. I removed the wraps so she’s without them now.

I’d be careful turning out in longish grass in the early mornings or late afternoon if you are in an area that is prone to morning dew, wet grass, or “afternoon dew” cause by high humidity and the lower temps as evening come on.

If you are in an area with these conditions I would stall her during these periods. Don’t turn out until the morning dew has evaporated off and bring in before evening dew sets in. Tuning out in a short grass paddock and or a “dry” paddock would be best IMO until the skin has returned to it natural tone/feel, none reactive when manipulated, touched, hair is growing back. But IMO the horse should be allowed to move around as much as possible, out more than in. Movement is key IMO and experience. Keeps things from getting “stiff” and possibly splitting open.

Keep in mind all of us are working off a picture. I personally do not like to give suggestions, advise based on pictures alone. They don’t always tell the whole story. Nothing beats hands on, eyes on as long as the hands and eyes have a fair bit of experience and apprenticeship working with good mentors and LOTS of horses over the years.

Might be a good idea to monitor for possible on set of cellulitis being a hind leg. It can come on very quickly.

[danacat]

@JB

Yep. There’s hard evidence out there, ie studies, showing that nitrofuracin promotes proud flesh on lower leg wounds.

I’m seeing now that I should have been more precise with my advice. I was not suggesting at all that the sweat was to be appllied to or include the pastern area that is prone to proud flesh-- only the ankle and above to take down the swelling. I personally prefer Furacin for those rare times I need a sweat + wear gloves and don’t eat it.

Back in the day, at the racetrack, furacin was used like mad for sweats – and retired horses still lived to a ripe old age and didn’t die of cancerous tumors. But why use it when there are better alternatives. Agreed.

Interesting COH thread on this that you participated in – from 2012.

https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/horse-care/186477-your-opinion-on-fura-zone-and-its-warning-label/page3

[EmilyM]

I aluspray most scrapes that happen in the field. I once alusprayed my shin that go rubbed from my stirrup leather thinking it would be like a band aid. Nope. It stings like you wouldn’t believe. So whenever I use it on my horses, I feel a little bad. But the stuff does work.

[beau159]

If you do start to have proud flesh form, do NOT cold hose it. The “stimulation” from the water running on the wound will often cause it to proliferate further. Same reason you should always be gentle if you need to clean a wound with proud flesh. Rubbing more than you need to just stimulates that proud flesh further.

I too would not wrap that wound. Just keep some sort of ointment on it and keep the flies off so she’s not stomping. Movement with turnout will probably keep the swelling down too.

[Dutchmare433]

@EmilyM

I aluspray most scrapes that happen in the field. I once alusprayed my shin that go rubbed from my stirrup leather thinking it would be like a band aid. Nope. It stings like you wouldn’t believe. So whenever I use it on my horses, I feel a little bad. But the stuff does work.

Interesting, I just sliced my finger open at the barn and sprayed it with alushield and it didn’t hurt at all…just a little cold.

[Foxtrot_s]

Remember that legs pool fluid - so it looks worse than it is. Keep an eye on it.

[gumtree]

@EmilyM

I aluspray most scrapes that happen in the field. I once alusprayed my shin that go rubbed from my stirrup leather thinking it would be like a band aid. Nope. It stings like you wouldn’t believe. So whenever I use it on my horses, I feel a little bad. But the stuff does work.

Well, that explains why most jump around, don’t dig it much when I spray them. I assumed it was more the “spray and noise factor”. Never tested on my self.