Head Wounds in Horses

Immediate care of the wound can make a difference in how quickly and completely it heals. According to David Wilson, DVM, "wounds are usually categorized by location of the injury since it will affect the horse in different ways and must be treated differently". The horse's head heals well due to its excellent blood supply.

  1. Assessment

    • Examine your horse thoroughly, asking questions about his condition. Can he get up? Can he see? Can he walk? Any swelling on the lower part of the face creates risk for suffocation, since the horse can't breathe through his mouth.

    Bruise

    • A bruise is a an injury where the skin is not broken, but may cause damage to the horse's muscle underneath. Bleeding does occur under the skin, which causes inflammation and pain. Cold water hydrotherapy is very affective in reducing blood circulation and constricting the blood vessels.

    Abrasion

    • Abrasions are simply scraped skin. They typically bleed only a small amount and can be effectively treated with an antibacterial cream daily until it heals.

    Bite Wounds

    • Examine your horse for injuries daily.

      Bites from other animals are usually the most common cause of injury. Depending on the size of the attacking animal, the injury can range from minor to very serious. Cat bites can typically be cleaned and treated with antibiotics. Dog bites can cause underlying damage to the injury site due to the tearing motion when they bite. The horse should have a thorough exam by a veterinarian to rule out injury to any organs. A snake bite is very serious due to the extreme swelling, which can result in death quickly.

    Laceration

    • A laceration is a cut with torn edges. The length of time to heal depends oh how extensive the damage is and if there are any muscle or tendons involved. The wound should be completely debrided before suturing, covered with antibacterial cream and wrapped. The bandage should be changed daily to clean the wound and insure there is no infection. If a laceration is severely contaminated with debris, it may be necessary to leave it open. A laceration through the eyelid or the lip should not be left to heal on its own, states Dr. Nelson, DVM.

    Punctures

    • When punctures are deep there is always a chance for deep tissue damage. It is extremely important that the hole does not close up on the outside first. To prevent infection, the wound needs to heal from the inside out.