27 August 2008 17:00
My horse recently had surgery for a torn suspensory ligament and he’s lost a six-inch square of hair from the inside of his thighs. This area was swabbed with antiseptic, and the vet says my horse was allergic to this – but I think it might be a tissue necrosis. Trying to keep the area clean and covered is a nightmare, but I’m currently using a hydrogel. What else can I do?
Answer
By Your Horse
Vet Mark Lingard replies:
It’s very hard to give a reason for the skin loss without seeing the damage. An allergy is possible and so is extravasation, or leakage, of antibiotics when they were injected into the site.
The area should heal well without the formation of granulation tissue as contracture of the skin edges takes place – it will probably just require time. Dressing the area is probably not needed, but application of a hydrogel such as Intrasite is a good idea. Scarring should be minimal especially as the area is not obvious to a bystander.