It happens in the paddock or even in the stall: your horse injures itself and may be bleeding. What should you do? Is it just a small scratch, a bump, or even a huge, gaping wound? Do I need to call the vet, or can I treat it myself, and if so, how? How can I minimize the risk of injury in the future? Kicks, bites, falls, or foreign objects can cause cuts, puncture wounds, abrasions, bruises, contusions, or burns in horses, which may require veterinary treatment depending on their severity. The severity of an injury always depends on its location and the involvement of surrounding structures, such as muscles, tendons, or joints. As with humans, a distinction is made between covered and open injuries in horses. In covered injuries, the horse's skin is undamaged, which is why this type of injury is not always easy to detect. For example, a kick may have caused a bruise that we as owners may only notice when grooming or when the horse is lame. Damage to the skin is referred to as an open injury or wound. This results in bleeding of varying severity, but even here, smaller wounds can be overlooked due to the coat.
If you are still unsure about the severity of the wound in all other cases, please always call a veterinarian, as they can examine and treat the injury immediately.
Individual treatment by a veterinarian will of course always depend on the location, type, and severity of the injury. However, the first thing to do is to check the animal's tetanus protection. If the horse has not been vaccinated regularly, passive immunization must be administered by a veterinarian, as the pathogens that cause tetanus are present everywhere in the environment and their toxins can easily enter open wounds.
Minor abrasions or cuts can be cleaned and treated with a wound dressing. For larger wounds, it may be necessary for the veterinarian to close the wound with stitches or skin staples. They will ensure that any wound fluid can drain away. The veterinarian will decide on a case-by-case basis whether anti-inflammatory or antibiotic medication is necessary.
If the veterinarian treating the horse in the stable cannot rule out the possibility that deeper structures such as muscles, tendons, or bones have been affected, the horse should be taken to an equine clinic immediately for further examination or any necessary surgery.
Horses generally have very good wound healing capabilities, which begin just a few minutes after the injury.
Wound healing can be divided into different phases, which are not strictly separated in time but sometimes occur simultaneously across different stages of wound development:
This process can take a very long time for large wounds and require a lot of care from the owner. Since open wounds are always an entry point for bacteria, small, undetected injuries in particular can easily become infected. The bacteria penetrate the subcutaneous tissue via the wound and lead to extensive inflammation of the connective tissue and lymph vessels, known as phlegmon. This occurs particularly frequently on the legs of horses and is better known among riders as "shot". This can cause the horse's leg to swell severely overnight. However, not every horse will develop a "gunshot wound" after a wound, as each horse has a different immune system at the time of injury and is differently sensitive.
In warm summer months, the risk of colonization by fly larvae (maggots) must always be taken into account for large open wounds that are difficult to dress. Therefore, pay meticulous attention to hygiene when caring for wounds and also clean the area around the injury that is contaminated with wound secretions.
The newly formed connective tissue, known as granulation tissue, is crisscrossed by a multitude of small blood vessels and therefore has a grainy surface (granulum = grain). Another complication in wound healing is hypergranulation, the formation of excess replacement tissue on the wound. Because the excess, deep red tissue protrudes above the skin level, it is colloquially referred to as "wild flesh." This disrupts the final phase of wound healing, as the wound can no longer close from the wound edge. This can be caused by local bruising or infections, but also by metabolic disorders such as vitamin deficiency or immune deficiency. Such wounds must always be treated by a veterinarian. Since the granulation tissue contains only blood vessels and no nerves, it can be easily removed by the veterinarian.
Of course, you can't wrap your horse in cotton wool if you want it to lead a species-appropriate life. However, certain precautions can at least reduce the risk of injury to a horse.
Periodic eye inflammation has been known for over 2000 years and is the most common eye disease in horses. It describes a recurring inflammation of the middle layer of the eye (uvea) in horses. In veterinary medicine, the term "equine recurrent uveitis" (ERU) is now used. The disease occurs repeatedly, initially at longer intervals and later at shorter intervals, and can lead to significant visual impairment. Since the affected horses often went blind from this disease and it was suspected that it was related to the phases of the moon, it was also commonly referred to as moon blindness.
Skin diseases are one of the most common reasons for visits to the vet, alongside gastrointestinal disorders. Pyoderma refers to purulent infections of the skin caused by various bacteria. In healthy animals, the skin provides good protection against infections through various defense mechanisms. There is a balance between the normal microflora of bacteria, yeasts, and parasites on the one hand, and the formation and breakdown of skin cells and their waste products on the other. The microflora feeds on the waste products of the skin and at the same time prevents the colonization of infectious germs.
This little-known neurological disease of the spinal cord and spine mainly affects older, large dogs weighing 20 kg or more. The disease develops very slowly but is very painful for the dog and causes progressive paralysis in the hindquarters.
Hoof cancer is a chronic disease of the hoof corium. Unlike hoof abscesses, hoof cancer does not cause individual cells to die, but rather leads to uninhibited growth of individual parts of the hoof corium, accompanied by a foul-smelling discharge and a lack of keratinization of this tissue. The term "hoof cancer" was coined due to the appearance of this excessively grown, cauliflower-like tissue, although it is not a form of cancer.
Borna disease, also known as contagious encephalomyelitis or head disease of ungulates, is a rare viral disease of the nervous system that mainly affects horses and sheep. However, other animals and humans are also susceptible to the Borna virus. The disease was first described in 1813, when a whole group of cavalry horses fell ill in the town of Borna.
In centuries past, looking into a horse's mouth played an important role, albeit primarily to determine the animal's age. Today, the focus is more on dental care and dental disease in horses. Dental hygiene is a very important aspect of keeping horses healthy. Regular veterinary checks of the mouth and teeth should be carried out at least once a year. The annual check-up and routine dental treatment can be carried out by any equine practice. In the event of specific dental problems or complications, it is advisable to consult a practice that specializes in equine dentistry. Typical dental problems in horses include tartar and the formation of hooks and edges on the molars due to uneven wear. These issues can be quickly resolved during routine treatment, preventing further damage. But how can we, as horse owners, tell if our horse has dental problems?
Is your dog moving more stiffly, reluctant to go down stairs or jump into the car? Is he limping or does he have a swollen joint? Around 20% of all dogs develop joint diseases such as arthritis and osteoarthritis during their lifetime. But what is the difference between them?
Ear infections in dogs are one of the most common reasons for visits to the veterinarian. However, the condition is often detected too late and not treated consistently. The anatomical structure of the ear canal in dogs and its length make it prone to inflammation. Due to various factors, some dog breeds are even more susceptible to inflammation in the ear area. Outer ear infections, also known as otitis externa, are the most common type. Middle and inner ear infections are less common. However, if not detected early, these can develop into chronic conditions that require intensive treatment.
Skin fungus, also known as dermatomycosis, is one of the most common infectious skin diseases in cats. It resembles many other skin diseases in appearance and is therefore not always easy to diagnose. Many types of fungus are also transmissible to humans, meaning that it is a zoonosis.
If your horse is rubbing itself more than usual, you should take a closer look, as itching can be a key symptom of many skin diseases or allergies in horses. However, some metabolic disorders can also cause itching in horses. This condition is very stressful for your animal and should therefore be examined and treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
It is a dramatic sight for us as owners when our own horse suddenly cannot bend its hind leg and can barely walk. In many cases, the kneecap dislocation resolves itself and the horse runs normally again. If the dislocation does not resolve, a veterinarian must remedy the situation by skillfully manipulating the horse and leading it backwards or sideways so that it can walk normally again. A brief digression into the anatomy of the knee joint provides a simple explanation for this phenomenon.
It is often a dramatic sight for owners and riders: from one day to the next, your horse suddenly shows severe lameness. The affected limb is increasingly rested or no longer placed properly on the ground. Occasionally, but not always, the affected hoof feels warmer than the other hooves. It is obvious that your horse is in severe pain and you suspect the worst. However, it is often just a hoof abscess. The colloquial term "hoof abscess" is misleading, as it is not an abscess or tissue growth, but a purulent inflammation in the form of an abscess. In such a case, please call a veterinarian immediately who can examine your animal, confirm any suspicions and treat it immediately.
