From: Alana
Hi,
My 22 year old horse has a 10+ year old barbed wire injury on his hind leg located to the front of his hock joint. The scar is large and had dried proud flesh (which I could pick off once softened but which would always grow back), but did not bother him. A few months ago, he started chewing at his scar daily, removing all of the proud flesh and causing it to bleed. I tried poulticing the scar (with Animalintex for 5 days), but this did not change anything. Recently, I have been washing the open wounds daily with Hibitane solution, and I have tried numerous creams in an effort to reduce the irritation (Hibitane Cream, aloe vera gel, vitamin E oil, Wonder Dust powder). None of these treatments have worked so far, and I find raw wounds and dried blood down his leg daily. I have not been bandaging the area as it is in a difficult spot to bandage and I thought it may be best to let the air at it. I'm wondering if you have any ideas about what may be causing this irritation and if you have other ideas about how to treat it? Thanks, Alana
Self-mutilation in horses can have a variety of causes, but in your horse's case I would certainly want to address the simplest possibility first - if the area itself is causing your horse pain, and if the pain is worse when powders and creams are applied, your horse may simply be trying to remove the pain by removing what he perceives as "something that hurts".
Not all of the products you have tried will reduce irritation - Wonder Dust, for instance, may actually increase it. Caustic powders can cause quite a lot of irritation to a raw, inflamed area like the one you describe. Many other factors could be involved - fly spray in a wound can cause severe irritation. Certain plants can cause photosensitivity, especially in white areas. There are so many possibilities, including certain sorts of tumours, that you're unlikely to be able to figure out the real cause - or the best treatment - on your own.
Get your vet involved as soon as possible. There may be more to this wound than "old proud flesh", and correct treatment will have to begin with an accurate diagnosis. Good luck!
Jessica
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