Proud Flesh
What is Proud Flesh?
On the lower limbs of the horse however, the skin is stretched tightly over bone, ligaments and tendons. There is no muscle and the skin is constantly moving, being stretched and pulled this way and that.
All these factors combine and result in very slow growth of skin over wounds on the lower legs. Because the skin takes so long to grow over granulation tissue on the horses lower legs, the granulation tissue may start to grow out of control. Out of control granulation tissue is called proud flesh. Proud flesh grows in a big lump in the wound area and will eventually grow above the level of the skin, preventing the skin from growing and the wound from healing. If left untreated, a horse with proud flesh may be left with an open wound for months, leaving the horse susceptible to infections and other complications. This is why proud flesh must be brought under control as soon as it starts growing.
Ways To Treat Proud Flesh
They chemically remove it by cauterizing or burning the cells. However these substances are not selective with the cells they destroy, and they often kill surrounding skin cells. This means a slower healing time and a bigger scar. For these reasons, the use of these substances is NOT RECOMMENDED
Surgical Removal and Pressure Bandaging
The surgical removal of proud flesh and application of pressure bandage is another option.
In this process, the proud flesh is cut down to be level with the skin's surface. There are no nerves in proud flesh, so horses usually don't need
any anaesthetic to undergo this operation. While there are no nerves, there is a huge blood supply, so after the proud flesh has been removed,
a pressure bandage must be applied to help stop the bleeding. Keeping a clean pressure bandage on the wound will also help keep the proud flesh
from growing back and keeps bacteria from entering the wound.
When using a pressure bandage be very careful to make sure the bandage isn't wrapped too tightly, as you don't want the blood supply to the wound to be restricted. Pressure bandaging also helps to immobolise the wound which assists the healing process. While surgical removal is an effective method of removing preoud flesh and promoting healing, the process might have to be repeated numerous times which can be expensive.
When using a pressure bandage be very careful to make sure the bandage isn't wrapped too tightly, as you don't want the blood supply to the wound to be restricted. Pressure bandaging also helps to immobolise the wound which assists the healing process. While surgical removal is an effective method of removing preoud flesh and promoting healing, the process might have to be repeated numerous times which can be expensive.
Horse With Proud Flesh
Having the horse on a well balanced diet which means his nutrient requirements will boost the immune system and shorten
healing time, helping to reduce the likelihood of proud flesh forming in the wound.
Discuss with your vet when the best time is to take the bandages off and allow the wound to begin drying out.
Proud Flesh
If your horse sustains an injury always consult quickly with your veterinarian. With proud flesh, prevention is better than cure and with prompt veterinary attention, prevention may be possible.
