Most superficial equine wounds heal without issue after routine cleaning. However, it’s still wise to keep an eye out for complications. If your horse’s wound is infected, it might show one or more of these signs, warranting a call to your veterinarian.
Heat
With a clean hand, gently feel the wound and surrounding areas for excessive warmth. You might want to compare it to the same area on the opposite side of your horse. Take your horse’s temperature, as a fever can also indicate infection.
Swelling
After an injury, damaged capillaries leak fluids into the surrounding soft tissues, while infection-fighting cells rush to the site. This influx of healing forces is seen externally as swelling if healing is progressing normally. Don’t confuse a wound filling in with granulation tissue with swelling, however. Look for swelling of the tissues immediately surrounding the wound and suspect infection if it worsens or returns after waning.
Odor
Any “off,” rotten, or pungent odor coming from a wound, especially the oddly sweet smell of dead tissue, can be a sign of infection. At the same time, a healthy, moist wound under a bandage might emit an odor when first uncovered, and any wound near a hoof smells foul when first unwrapped. If these odors persist after 20 minutes of “airing out,” it might be cause for concern.
Color
Red skin adjacent to the wound can indicate infection, especially if red streaks radiate from the area outward. Keep in mind, however, that redness might be difficult to see on dark skin.
Also observe the color of any exudate draining from the wound. Healthy exudate has a clear or creamy tinge—the result of natural sloughing of dead white blood cells and wound debris. On the other hand, bright green or yellow discharge indicates that bacteria and inflammatory cells are present and an infection is at work. A dramatic increase in the amount of exudate can be a warning sign, as well.
Tenderness
Wounds are likely to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, but these diminish quickly with healing. If your horse suddenly seems more reactive or upset when you tend to the wound than he did the day before, it could be the result of infection.
If you’re in doubt about how a wound is healing, snap a picture and send it to your veterinarian for guidance.
Related Reading:
- Help, My Horse Has a Wound!
- Be Prepared: Assembling a Basic Equine First-Aid Kit
- Types of Horse Wounds and How To Treat Them
This article originally appeared on EquusMagazine.com.
Are you enjoying this content? Sign up for My New Horse’s FREE newsletter to get the latest horse owner info and fun facts delivered straight to your inbox!
