Proud Flesh in Horses: Welfare Management of Exuberant Granulation Tissue

Equine wounds on the lower limbs are prone to developing proud flesh that impairs healing and requires careful management to prevent chronic welfare impacts.

Key Facts

Proud flesh is exuberant granulation tissue that overgrows wound margins preventing re-epithelialisation
Lower limb wounds in horses are disproportionately affected due to reduced skin mobility
Once proud flesh develops above skin level, surgical or chemical debridement is required
Proper bandaging from the time of wounding significantly reduces proud flesh formation
Pressure bandaging prevents excess granulation tissue without damaging the wound bed

Welfare Considerations

Horses with established proud flesh face ongoing welfare impacts from wounds that fail to heal normally. The protruding granulation tissue is vulnerable to physical trauma causing repeated bleeding. Without management, wounds chronically drain, harbour infection, and permanently impair limb function. The prolonged healing process involves repeated veterinary interventions including debridement under sedation. Prevention through immediate and appropriate wound management is far preferable to treatment and significantly reduces the welfare burden of lower limb wounds.

What You Can Do

Apply appropriate pressure bandaging to all lower limb wounds immediately after veterinary assessment
Seek veterinary advice on wound management including bandage changes and corticosteroid use
Debride established proud flesh surgically or chemically as recommended by your vet
Monitor wounds closely for proud flesh development and intervene early
Ensure adequate tetanus protection in horses with penetrating wounds