Small, shallow cuts discovered and cleaned soon after they occur may need no topical antibiotic treatment at all, Hollis says, but tetanus remains an ever-present threat, so make sure your horse's
vaccinations are current.
Hold the Cortisone
Hydrocortisone, a synthetic steroid that reduces inflammation, is available over the counter and is a staple in many equine first-aid kids. It may be tempting to put hydrocortisone on a wound to minimize swelling, but it's not a good idea.
Hydrocortisone treatment may make a wound look less "angry," but inflammation is needed to jump-start the healing process, delivering white blood cells and other materials to a wound site. Limiting inflammation in new wounds can delay or halt healing. Hydrocortisone is better used
in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions, such as insect bites and rashes.
This article originally appeared in the April 2009 issue of EQUUS magazine.
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