01/08/2026
This is a case from our vet, Carrie Symington, who has a real passion for wound management.
Jess, a retired mare, had unfortunately had an altercation with the field boundary. Once the wound was cleaned, it became clear that the cannon bone was exposed. These wounds are difficult to stitch because of tension and often break down.
Before repairing the wound, Carrie needed to carefully place multiple injections of local anaesthetic around the area to ensure Jess was comfortable for the procedure. Working around a horse’s lower leg isn’t always straightforward, even with sedation, so having a patient who stands quietly and accepts treatment makes a huge difference.
Carrie then carefully cleaned, debrided and repaired the wound in multiple layers before placing tension-relieving mattress sutures to minimise tension and give the wound the best chance of healing.
We then monitored Jess closely, changing her bandage every 2–3 days so we could keep a careful eye on her progress. We kept her in multiple layered bandages to immobilise the area as best as possible. And we also believe keeping the wound clean and the dressing fresh and dry helps too.
Fourteen days later the outer sutures were removed, and we are delighted with the result. Jess healed beautifully and, after a period of box rest, returned to full-time turnout.
It’s rewarding to see great surgical technique, meticulous aftercare, the dedication of Jess’ owner and, of course, Jess herself come together to achieve such a positive outcome. Her calm, easy-going nature and impeccable behaviour throughout her treatments made every step of her recovery that little bit easier and undoubtedly contributed to her excellent healing.
Thank you to Jess’ owner for letting us share her treatment from beginning to happy turnout!
