Guide To Caring For Horse Cuts
Horses must be kept in areas devoid of sharp edges that may accidentally cause harm to them. However, we all know that accidents happen and even the most cautious horse owner can still end up with a horse that gets cut. Making sure that your horse's cut is treated as quickly as possible is the best thing you can do for your horse.
If your horse injured itself, the first step is to examine the damage. Deep or large cuts demand the attention of a veterinarian. Fresh wounds can quickly be stitched up before infection sets in.
Whether the cut is treatable by you or not, it is important to take some immediate action. Catch the horse and bring him to his stable. When a horse become injured, he or she may not act in the same manner as a healthy horse.
Whenever you can, you should trim the hair around the cut. This will prevent dirt and hair getting stuck in the wound and infecting it further.
Use an antiseptic and some clean water to wash the cut. Normal shampoo should be avoided as this will not disinfect the wound thoroughly enough.
Once the wound is clean, apply some antiseptic wound cream on top of it. Make sure you ask a veterinarian which product he or she recommends for cleaning out horse wounds. Most people opt for natural creams containing arnica, tree tea oil and aloe Vera when the cut is small. These creams do not contain any irritating chemicals but are very effective for minor wounds.
If the wound is large or at risk of opening up again, you may want to cover it up. Veterinarian wraps along with cotton wool is the usual method for covering up large horse wounds. It is absolutely crucial to change the wrap, wash and re-treat the wound every day.
As with other health care issues, if you are unsure about treating a cut on your horse, always ask your vet for advice. Properly treated cuts heal faster and leave a smaller mark. Cuts left untreated can lead to infection and even death.
