How to Bandage Horse's Leg Wounds

Mastering the art of bandaging leg wounds is part of every horse owner’s repertoire; therefore, it is only a matter of time before you will need the skills to do it. Horse Deals has compiled the following 10 Steps to guide you in mastering the art of bandaging.

1. Clean it

Cleaning and flushing the wound is paramount, and the best option to use is a sterile saline solution of 0.9%, as it has the same concentration as other body fluids. Whilst tap water is not sterile it is better to flush the wound than leaving the wound contaminated. A one litre bag of sterile saline solution .9%, will cost under $10 to add to your first aid kit.

2. Dressing

Seek advice from your veterinarian on what type of topical antibiotic spray, powder or cream should be applied directly to the wound site. Once established, apply the topical antibiotic and cover the wound fully with a sterile gauze, smoothing it out over the wound site.

3. Padding

Cover the leg with a minimum of three layers of cotton and gauze wrap. This will protect the wound and reduce the time between bandage changes as it will absorb any discharge, dirt and debris.

4. Direction

If a wound is on a near side leg (left), bandage counterclockwise.If the wound is on an offside leg (right), bandage clockwise.

5. Wrapping

Avoid tight bandages by pulling out approximately 15cm of the bandage from the roll before wrapping the leg, allowing the tension to release. Repeat this process until the entire area is bandaged.

6. Secure It

Wrap a layer of an Elastoplast bandage directly at the bottom and top of the bandage with half the Elastoplast against the horse’s hair to reduce slippage. Secure the bandage further by wrapping up to three layers of electrical tape around the top and bottom of the bandage.

7. Pressure Release

Release pressure from the carpal bone located at the back of the knee by snipping the top of the bandage. For hock bandages, release the pressure by snipping the bandage at the point of the hock and the Achilles tendon.

8. Support

The unaffected limb will carry most of the load to compensate for the injured leg. Therefore, it is vital to stabilise the unaffected limb to support it.

9. Change It

The general rule of thumb is to redress a wound every two to three days, but it does depend on the wound itself. At every change, use clean, fresh dressings to avoid
the risk of infection.

10. Observation

An eagle eye on any changes to the bandage is essential. Look for any swellings or indentations above or below the bandage (which indicates the bandage is too tight). If the bandage has slipped, it is too loose, and if it is wet or smelly it may indicate an infection - if in doubt with any of these observations, change the dressing and address any concerns with your veterinarian.

Advice - Wounds need to be bandaged for as long as possible to accelerate wound healing and repair.

Article: Kerri Cock

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