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Julie Masner
Member
Username: juliem
Post Number: 419
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 7:48 pm: |   |
I'm keeping a horse here for a friend. She just bought him and he came with some wire cuts. Nothing too significant, but one on the front of his hind cannon bone is about 2 inches by 3 inches. It has started to heal. She wanted the best outcome with minimal scarring so I said we should hose it per Dr. O's article. We did for two days. Prior to him being in my care, her farrier, who does not to my knowledge have a DVM after his name, said spray it with bleach! Not H2O2, regular laundry bleach. She did, but only once. I freaked and insisted we hose and apply either novalsan or furizone cream. We did for two days. The second day, I could see proud flesh forming. She insists that since it wasn't there before, the hosing caused it. Her elderly cow vet said water has too much bacteria in it and not to hose (didn't see the wound.) The wound looks to be about two to three weeks old and has a healthy pink margin. Noe to the questions finally. Bleach? My reaction was "Yikes!" Ok, it wasn't that specific word, but you get the point. Hosing, yes or no? Sorry I don't have pictures, but the wound is not deep, isn't sore, no pus or inflamation. Scabs over between hosing. Third question: When does proud flesh typically begin to form? We are really having words over this. She has asked the opinion of every horse person she knows and of course every one has an opinion. She refuses to speak to the equine vet over some snit she has going. My vet is gone until next week. I need to know if I'm doing the right thing by hosing and resisting the bleach. Bring on the HA help! |
Aileen
Member
Username: sunny66
Post Number: 2095
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 10:36 pm: | |
Julie, I wish I could help more since you were such a huge help to me with my boy (I thank you profusely from the bottom of my heart  ), please note that I have no experience with wire cuts, but I think you're doing the right thing hosing and resisting the bleach! |
Diane E.
Member
Username: scooter
Post Number: 2187
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 6:59 am: | |
Julie, that brings back some memories. Years ago a very experienced horse person I knew always used bleach for wounds, it had to be a certain kind tho and I don't remember which it was. She said this brand/type of bleach was the only kind you could use.
Surprisingly it worked well for her, she insisted I use it also, but I couldn't bring myself to do it, just seemed wrong, and thought it would have to sting like he$$. I think the hosing is the way to go also |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 20753
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 4:46 pm: | |
My thoughts Julie are that you should give the horse back to the girl and let her treat it the way she wants to treat it before you lose a friend.
The formation of granulation tissue is mostly a healthy thing not a bad thing though we do try to minimize the excessive growth known as proud flesh. The time frame for wound healing including the formation of granulation tissue and excessive granulation tissue is in the article on long term wound care.
DrO |
Julie Masner
Member
Username: juliem
Post Number: 421
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, Jun 1, 2008 - 11:56 pm: | |
Good advice as usual Dr. Oglesby. She has taken the horse away, so I won't know how her choice of treatment goes until I see him again. I think the friendship remains in tact. I'm still curious though about the use of bleach. Are there benefits? More importantly, is it harmful? |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 20762
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 2, 2008 - 5:59 am: | |
I have never seen any research on the use of undiluted laundry bleach on a deep open wound Julie. Heck people don't like to get straight bleach on their unbroken skin. The oxidative power and very alkaline ph would suggest it to be very caustic but it is amazing what you can do to small wounds and still have it heal.
DrO |
