Tag: Foal Care

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Moist or Dry: Which Heals Better and Why?

Moist or Dry: Which Heals Better and Why?

The debate over whether wounds should be exposed to air or kept covered in a moist environment is rooted in historical beliefs about the benefits of air and the origins of disease.

Choosing the best environment plays a critical role in their recovery and well-being. This decision impacts healing speed, infection risk, and the horse’s comfort throughout the process. 

By examining the benefits and considerations of both approaches, we can determine the most effective method to ensure optimal wound healing outcomes for these animals.

Benefits of a Moist Environment 

  1. Enhanced cell growth and tissue formation
  2. Reduced pain and discomfort
  3. Lower infection rates

Drawbacks of a Dry Environment

  1. Delayed healing process
  2. Increased risk of scab formation and potential complications
  3. Higher likelihood of pain and discomfort for the patient

Research

While air is essential for living tissue, the notion that wounds heal better when exposed to air has been disproven by research. Studies, such as George Winter’s work in 1962, have shown that wounds heal more effectively in a moist environment due to factors like improved cell growth, faster tissue formation, reduced pain, and lower infection rates compared to dry environments. 

Things to consider

For a wound to heal well, there are all sorts of things to consider, such as: 

  • Temperature – it’s not good for a wound to get too hot or too cold
  • Hydration – moisture helps cells grow, and helps speed up the formation of new tissue
  • pH – it’s not good for a wound to be too acidic, or too alkaline
  • The presence of microbes (bacteria, and such)

To learn the bandaging strategies for horse wounds, read the article “Equine First Aid: Bandaging Strategies for Horse Wounds” 

It’s advisable to work with your veterinarian when seeking to promote faster healing in a horse’s wound. 

CONCLUSION

Despite concerns about bacterial growth in moist conditions, evidence suggests that moist dressings actually promote the body’s natural defenses and result in better overall healing outcomes. Therefore, rather than focusing on exposing wounds to air, maintaining a protective, moist environment is recommended for optimal wound healing in horses.

Further reading: 

Should Healing Wounds Be Moist or Dry? – David Ramey, DVM (doctorramey.com)

Equine First Aid: Bandaging Strategies for Horse Wounds – My Horse Supplies

Equine First Aid: Handling Level 3 Wounds in Horses – My Horse Supplies

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Foal Hoof Care: When To Get Help

New Born Foals When to Trim?Many horse owners are curious about the right time for their foal’s first trim. Many believe that hoof care is necessary when the foal is a year old or is starting with its riding training. If you are concerned about the welfare of your foal then waiting a year is a big NO. As hooves get long, break or wear unevenly or not break and wear at all, they can potentially cause leg strain and deviation.

The more your foal matures the more difficult the corrections will be since as it matures, its bones continue to harden and joints formalize. ALL counteractive efforts and trimming to maintain the right shape and function of the leg should be done before your foal reaches a year old.

In fact, the first trim should be at your foul’s 3 to 4 weeks of age considering its legs are fairly normal and straight. If required, early corrections should be implemented to make big adjustments when it comes to correcting a deviated bone column. As majority of foals are born with several deviations, early corrections can help increase success of corrective trimming efforts.

The right hoof trimming can modify and improve minor deviations as well as maintain the right leg structure for foals born with averagely correct legs and hooves. Conversely, neglecting proper trimming can increase deviations to foals with only minor leg deviations and even to foals born with correctly structured legs.

Foals that are born with major leg and hoof deviations will take more than early hoof trimming methods for their deviations to subside. These foals may need surgery or attention from a veterinarian.

What to look for in a “normal” hoof

A freshly born foal will have front hooves that are fairly pointed. The pointy hooves on the front feet help in the positioning and delivery through the birth canal. In addition, they help rip off the placenta during delivery.

The pointed feet become useless after the foal is born. The pointed hoof prevents the foal from breaking directly over the front of the hoof. This complicates the flight path of the foal allowing it to become toed in (pigeon toed) or toed out (splay footed) (See Image Below). Neglecting this issue will allow further wear during break-over thus resulting to more deviations in the future.

Hoof Care Balance and Angles in Foal TrimmingThe ultimate aim of the first trim is to provide a straight break over point on the hoof. This technique will prevent any inward or outward deviation in the leg structure as well as movement pattern. This corrects and reduces additional deviation in the future. The proper first trim can supply a straight and simple break over point for the stride. This fixes minor deviations and provides a straight path for foals having already correct feet and legs needed for maintaining the right bone structure.

Trimming regularly every three to four weeks after the first trim will allow the solidification of the bony column in as correct and straight a line as possible. Remember to start the first trim earlier before your foal is a year old and practice the method throughout the life of your horse to improve its performance and function.