Instructions
Restrain the horse in a safe area. Careful observation of the wound is easier if the horse is safely restrained. Even a normally calm horse can become dangerous if it is hurt. If possible, have someone to help hold the horse.
Stop any bleeding. Use a clean gauze or towel and apply pressure to the puncture wound. Depending on the area of the wound, an artery may be damaged if the blood is pulsating and in large amounts. Call a veterinarian immediately.
Rinse the wound with saline solution or water. Rinsing helps remove any dirt or debris from the wound. If the wound appears very deep, however, rinsing may wash dirt deeper into the wound. In this situation, call a veterinarian.
Check the wound for foreign objects. If something is still inside the wound, call a veterinarian immediately. Don't pull it out or dig around inside the wound. This can cause further damage to nerves and tissue.
Clean the wound every day with a strong (7 percent) iodine solution to make sure it doesn't close up. Puncture wounds must heal on the inside and then the outside. Push a cotton swab as deep as it can go, swabbing iodine on the inside. Covering a puncture wound with a bandage or wrap causes the wound to heal on the outside, but allows bacteria and infection to form on the inside. This can be very dangerous to the horse.
Give your horse a tetanus shot if he has not had one within 6 months.
Repeat the swabbing every day until the puncture wound is healed completely from the inside out. Remove any scabs that may form daily.
How to Treat a Puncture Wound on a Horse
Puncture wounds on a horse can come from an assortment of causes. Whether from fence posts and jagged tree branches to animal bites, puncture wounds can be dangerous. Immediate treatment can help aid in quick recovery. Learn how to treat a puncture wound on a horse and be prepared when an emergency arises.