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Puncture Wounds

Horses are notorious for hurting themselves or injuring other members of their herd, and the resultant puncture wounds are common problems for horsemen. Whether it’s caused by running into a fence post, stepping on a left-behind roofing nail, or getting kicked in the chest by a flailing shod hoof, a puncture wound on your horse can be a breeding ground for a major infection by staphylococcus, pseudomonas, and streptococcus bacteria, and requires immediate horse wound care. Silverquine is manufactured to help you care for your horse whenever accidents happen.

Puncture Wounds Symptoms

A puncture wound is delineated from other scrapes and scratches by its depth. Typically, a foreign object has penetrated past the first layer of skin and gone either into subcutaneous tissue, or even further, down into muscle. The wound may or may not be bleeding depending on the size and location, but it is typically characterized by skin or fatty tissue covering the initial opening. This tissue closing around the wound provides a perfect opportunity for bacteria to flourish. If your horse has not had his tetanus vaccine within the past year, you need to have that done as soon as possible. Your horse should be revaccinated within 4 weeks to ensure that he doesn’t contract the disease.

Whether or not the injury is bleeding, you will need to rinse any dirt or debris out of the wound as quickly as possible with either sterile saline or clean, running water. You can gently clean the injury with Betadine soap or Chlorhexidine soap to remove any leftover debris, and to kill any bacteria on the outside of the wound. Rinse the soap off thoroughly with cold, running water.

Treatment for Puncture Wounds
Equine wound care has been made easy and effective with Silverquine, our all natural, water-based topical gel that has been clinically proven to work on equine skin problems. With twice a day applications, you can heal your horse of ringworm, rain rot, thrush and hoof thrush, summer sores, and even treat puncture wounds.

Based on traditional veterinary medicine that used silver to help treat wounds and other infections in animals prior to the invention of modern day antibiotics, Silverquine contains no alcohol or synthetic chemicals to inhibit stem cell growth or epithelialization – the growth of granular tissue over open wounds.

In addition, our Silverquine Technology consists of silver nanomolecules (less than .015 micrometers in size) suspended within a water molecule. Our gel has been safety tested and proven more beneficial than silver sulfadiazine cream, a veterinary cream that contains 100 times the amount of silver found in Silverquine®. Silverquine® has even proven so non-toxic that it can be used to treat eye infections in horses without adverse affects.

Don’t wait until your horse becomes tangled in a fence, or decides to play too rough with his herd mates. Be prepared for any wound, skin, eye, or hoof issues all year round, and keep a tube in your equine first aid kit.

Source: Silverquine

First Aid Kit

If your horse does any traveling, you should have two first aid kits: one in the stable and one in the trailer in case your horse receives injury away from home.

• Bath and hand towels for applying pressure to slow or stop heavy bleeding
• Rolls of gauze bandage and gauze squares for dressings.
• Surgical tape and duct tape (for keeping things where you put them)
• Rubber bands (for keeping tail or mane out of the way of an injury)
• Scissors
• Wrapping bandages
• Leg wraps
• Spray bottle
• Petroleum jelly
• Ointment
• Clean water
• Large syringe for wound flushing
• Sterile saline solution
• Betadine or other disinfectant
• Tweezers
• Q-tips
• Silverquine gel

Source: Horses and Horse Information

Thrush

Thrush is an affliction that is found on the underside of a horses hoof and can affect the sole, cleft and frog. Thrush can be caused from fungus or bacteria that develops in damp airless areas of the hoof that are most often packed with manure, dirt and other debris. This affliction can be harmless in the early stages, but if it is left untreated, it will cause damage to the hoof and even lameness.

What causes thrush?
Its not yet clear whether a type of fungus or bacteria causes this affliction, but most professionals agree that the organism lives in the soil. There is also a theory that the organism responsible for thrush already exists in the horse itself, thriving in the poorly oxygenated areas like the clefts of the hooves. This may not be noticeable in dry weather, but when there is an increase of moisture in the air, then an infection could make itself known.

What are the signs of thrush?
When you are cleaning out the hooves, if you notice a moist, black, foul smelling substance, this is the first sign that thrush is hiding in the cleft. The foul smell is unmistakable and once you smell it for the first time, you will remember that distinct odor. You will be able to scrape out all of the black substance, but there will be a dark stain left behind.

How is the horse affected?
A small amount of thrush can be harmless and even very treatable when caught in the early stages. The most obvious signs are a black tarry substance and a foul smell. If thrush is left untreated, it can spread and damage the hoof and permanently lame the horse.

Can thrush be avoided?
Cleaning the hooves on a regular basis to remove all the debris will allow fresh air to the affected areas, along with keeping the foot dry. Trim the hoof on a regular basis to prevent deep clefts, where the thrush organisms can hide. Most importantly, keep all the areas of your horses environment clean and dry. Remove all manure, soiled bedding or spoiled food and any other damp places that are inviting to bacteria and other organisms.

Source: Dog and Horse Care

Skin Diseases: Ringworm and Rain Rot

A healthy horse has a smooth, shiny coat. A rough, dull, or patchy coat is a sign of underlying health problems. A horse’s skin is constantly under attack by a wide variety of viruses, bacteria, and biting insects. Symptoms of skin diseases can range from a simple, isolated skin lesion to generalized itching and hair loss over the entire body. Two of the most common varieties of skin diseases are ringworm, also called dermatophytosis, and rain rot, which is also known as dermatophilosis.

Ringworm

Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus that spreads between horses thorough the use of common grooming tools, saddle pads, or harnesses. Also, damp, dark, and crowded conditions (such as horses confined to their stable during the winter and fall) can predispose horses to contracting ringworm.

Ringworm is most common in horses under three years of age, and older or debilitated animals. It initially presents as small, circular patches of hair loss with scabbed or flaky skin beneath. If left untreated, these circular lesions will grow into large, irregular areas of broken hairs and blisters with scabs. These areas are susceptible to secondary skin infections. The lesions are most typically seen around the girth and saddle areas, on the face and around the eyes, and on the legs. Sometimes the lesions are extremely itchy. It is also very contagious, spreading between horses and even from horses to humans.

If ringworm is suspected, treatment should start right away. The infected horse should be isolated from others, and all tack and grooming equipment should be disinfected. This can be done with a solution of one part bleach to ten parts water. Also, a shampoo medicated with miconazole should be used daily on the horse for five days, and then weekly until all the lesions are fully healed.

Rain Rot

Rain rot is an irritating skin condition, also known as rain scald, or dew poisoning if seen on the lower limbs, it is caused by a bacterium with fungal characteristics. The bacteria live in the soil and generally cause infections during periods of prolonged wet weather, hence the name. It is contagious and can be spread to other horses by infected animals. Other contributing factors are poor stable hygiene and skin irritation caused by insect bites.

Horses with rain rot generally present with a series of small bumps down their backs. The lesions progress to form circular scabs and matted tufts of hair. Removal of these mats is painful and can cause raw, bleeding, irritated areas. Veterinarians sometimes call these circular tufts “paintbrush lesions.” These are generally seen on the back, rump, neck and legs. Animals that have rain rot should be kept dry and protected from biting insects. 

Silverquine can be used to treat both of these uncomfortable skin conditions.

Source: Horses and Horse Information

Preventing Summer Sores

Prevention is the best way to protect your horse from summer sores. Thankfully, summer sore prevention is tied to basic horse husbandry, including deworming, fly control, and wound care:

Deworming
Control of stomach worms is the best way to help prevent summer sores. Adult stomach worms thrive in your horse's stomach and release their larvae into the digestive tract, where they are passed in your horse's manure and ingested by fly larvae. The fly larvae matures into an adult and the adult fly then deposits the stomach worm larvae onto your horse's wounds. To help break this cycle, use a strict deworming schedule.

Fly Control
Since flies serve as the intermediate host of stomach worm larvae, effective fly control is also essential. In addition, even if your horse is on a strict deworming schedule, horses in nearby pastures or on the same trails might not be and the stomach worm larvae they pass could be easily carried to your pasture or barn. To combat flies, set perimeter traps and use topical sprays. Spot-ons or suitable insect-repellent salves can add insect protection to your horse's more sensitive areas, including open wounds. Furthermore, fly masks and sheets can also help protect your horse's eyes, ears, mouth, and other moist body areas. Insect repellent supplements may also help kill fly larvae in your horse's manure.

Wound Care
Wounds, cuts, and abrasions are vital entry points for stomach worm larvae. Therefore, wound-free horses may have less chance of developing summer sores. Of course, horses often get wounded. However, immediately cleaning and treating any skin abrasions, cuts, or wounds helps speed healing. Similarly, a clean horse may have less chance of infection.

Silverquine treats Summer Sores quickly, effectively, and naturally.

Source: Doctors Foster and Smith