Horses are prone to wounds from their active and social nature, and appropriate wound management is essential for welfare, as inappropriate treatment can delay healing and worsen outcomes.
Wounds cause acute pain that requires appropriate analgesia alongside wound management. Deeper wounds involving tendons or joints are potentially life-threatening and cause severe welfare compromise without prompt specialist treatment. The formation of proud flesh in equine wounds can impair healing and requires active management. Inappropriate first aid including excessive irrigation pressure, application of caustic substances, or delay in veterinary assessment can worsen outcomes substantially. Owner education in basic equine wound first aid is an important welfare investment.