Even if you already know how to treat your horse’s wounds, you should consider what types of products to use. Not all first aid treatments will contain the same ingredients or have the same purpose, and your horse may react differently depending on the treatment. At Fauna Care, we aim to keep you as informed as possible on your equine treatment options.
- First Aid Products
- Long-lasting Healing Products
- Protect & Condition Products
Step 1: First Aid
If the wound is fresh, you should ideally treat your horse with an antiseptic or antibiotic to prevent infection. Fauna Care Equine First Aid Spray contains both bacitracin and zinc to disinfect and treat wounds at the same time. However, a simple saline solution may also be a sufficient antiseptic. We suggest keeping your product of choice in a first aid kit to avoid the hassle of gathering supplies during an emergency.
Step 2: Long-Lasting Healing
After the wound has been thoroughly sanitized, you need to protect the damaged skin from further irritation and encourage healing. Preventing infection requires an agent with antibacterial properties. For example, some minerals like zinc and silver act as both antibacterial and healing products.
In addition to the active ingredients, note the practical properties of the product you’re considering. How moisture-resistant is it? How many hours does each application last? What does it specifically kill--bacteria or other infectious microorganisms as well? The goal is to choose a long-lasting product that will allow your horse to stay active and comfortable while its wounds heal. Fauna Care Equine Silver Spray eliminates bacteria and fungi, protects skin and heals even in active situations.
Step 3: Protect & Condition
Protective and conditioning products create “skin care barriers” to help prevent wounds and other skin irritations. These products typically protect from any type of friction that a horse could encounter either from its equipment or environment. Fauna Care Protect & Condition Spray specifies that it moisturizes and soothes raw, irritated skin.
Of course, protective and conditioning products only prevent a percentage of possible wounds. However, they could also be used as a “final step” in the healing process. If the wound is almost closed up, you might not need the super strength of a long-lasting healing product. In that case, you could use a protective and conditioning product to guard against both infection and further irritation within the last week or so of healing.
So now you know the gist of what kind of products to look for and use depending on the situation and place in the healing process. Remember: if your horse’s wound is healing, then your product is working. Don’t overapply medication in hopes of speeding up the process. If you need consultation or are concerned about the effectiveness of your particular product, contact your veterinarian.
