Horses are prone to injuries and wounds that require prompt, skilled management. Understanding horse wound care is essential to preventing infection, complications, and unnecessary suffering.
Horses' unique anatomy makes wound management more challenging than in many other species. The lower limbs have minimal soft tissue covering vital structures, meaning that wounds which would be minor in other locations can be life-threatening near joints or tendons. The proud flesh response - excessive granulation tissue - is common and can prevent normal wound closure, requiring repeated treatment. Without proper wound care knowledge, well-meaning owners can worsen outcomes through inappropriate bandaging, delayed veterinary consultation, or improper wound treatment. Training horse owners in basic wound assessment and first aid is a critical welfare intervention, alongside ensuring rapid veterinary access.