Hoof sores
Haven't you noticed that when you walk in wet environments, your feet develop small wounds? The same is true for horses that have to walk around different places with their hooves almost bare. However, wet ground alone will not be the cause of possible hoof wounds. Other factors can also come into play. In this article, we talk about hoof wounds and the treatments that can help to get rid of them in horses.
Description of hoof wounds
Hoof wounds are relatively common. These are lesions that can affect the wall, the glomes or even the crown. They cause a break in the continuity of the tissues and require a dynamic process to be repaired. Wounds will be differentiated according to their severity.
Superficial wounds are limited to the tip of the wall or soft tissues to a simple erosion with the edges slightly separated. Moderately debilitating wounds are characterized by the tearing of a significant portion of the hoof reaching the tubules of the wall or by wounds with edges too far apart to be brought together.
Serious wounds include damage to the lamellae of the foot or a lesion of the soft tissues, sometimes infected and with significant loss of substance. The location also plays a role in the differentiation of wounds. Hoof avulsions refer to a tearing of the hoof wall. Glomal wounds and crown wounds include any wound located in one of these regions.
Hoof wounds are essentially traumatic. They occur most of the time during transport, during an accident, in the field or in the box.
Diagnosis of hoof sores
First of all, the wound must be dated, located and the circumstances must be identified. The diagnosis is made on the appearance of the lesions and their location. It is therefore essential to differentiate the wound as mentioned previously. A wound with hoof avulsion will be assessed according to the proportion of horn torn off and the location. Crown wounds are not trivial and require early and appropriate care.
Hoof Wound Treatment
Whatever the wound, thorough cleaning with a mild soap or antiseptic followed by rinsing is necessary. A local antiseptic should then be applied for a few days. Such treatment is generally sufficient for superficial wounds. For a moderately deep wound with moderate loss of substance, an antiseptic cream will be applied before making a dressing which will be changed regularly depending on the exudates. Serious wounds require rapid intervention by the veterinarian, sometimes requiring general treatment with antibiotics or anti-inflammatories.
Some pharmacists advise never to use chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine simultaneously on the same wound, as one leads to the inactivation of the other. A mixture of sugar and povidone-iodine (10% solution) can be applied to the wound in order to suck out secretions while having an antiseptic action.
The mixture is obtained by mixing sugar and povidone iodine in a bowl until a smooth, not too liquid paste is obtained. It can be applied to a compress and held under a bandage available on La Sellerie Française