Also known as pressure sores, pressure ulcers, paddock sores or stall sores, they are not something you want your horse to experience. Why? Because horses that develop them seem to be prone to them in the future, and once the cycle of injury begins, healing bed sores can take a long time.
What Are Bed Sores?
They are open wounds caused by friction or unrelieved pressure on the bony joints: fetlocks, knees, hocks, and even the point of the hip—anywhere there is little muscle or padding.
What Causes Them?
Pressure or friction from lying down and getting up from hard ground or bare stall mats can start the cycle of bed sores.
Why Are Some Horses More Susceptible to Bed Sores?
Horses on stall rest for illness or injury can be prone to bed sores if they lie down a lot, as well as horses stabled on dry lots that lie down on hard, compacted ground.
Older horses and those with weakened immune systems seem to be more prone to them, and to have them develop into more significant wounds.
Horses that have lost strength in their hindquarters and struggle to get up easily after lying down can be more prone to developing bed sores. Another cause is narcolepsy: sudden episodes of a horse falling asleep while standing, which collapses the horse onto his fetlocks without warning.
How Can You Prevent Them?
Preventing bed sores is key. During daily grooming, pay attention to the front of the fetlocks and knees and the outside points of the hocks. Be on the lookout for ruffled hair or hair that’s starting to rub away or looks crushed.
Now is the time to apply preventive treatments—before the skin develops a small, open wound. The time you take now may save agonizing days, and potentially weeks, of frustration in healing an open sore.
Here are a few ideas:
1. Apply boots or other protection.
Several manufacturers make a range of boot styles, from cushy and fleece-lined to more utilitarian rubber.
Some horse owners have success preventing bed sores by putting on a rubber bell boot upside down. Instead of the boot covering the coronet band and the hoof, it’s turned upward, covering the fetlock.
Whichever protective option you choose, be sure to monitor and remove it often to brush out any collected gravel, hay and other potential irritants. The goal is to keep dirt from collecting under the boot, causing even more abrasion and increasing the possibility for a sore to develop. While the boots are removed, you can monitor any potential wounds developing.
Tip: If your budget allows, buy two pairs of boots. This way, your horse can always wear a clean pair while the other is washed and allowed to air dry. See below for product options.
2. Add soft bedding.
If your horse in stabled on a dry lot, adding an area of soft bedding to lie down can go a long way in preventing bed sores. If your horse is stalled, adding deeper bedding can do the same.
Depending on the environment and your horse’s sensitivity, he may need to wear protective boots continually. That said, it’s important to remove them when possible, and especially during exercise, to allow airflow so the skin can dry. Days in a moist boot can weaken the skin.
Prevention Products Equipro Bedsore Boots  Click Hock Shield The low-profile design offers full coverage in the area where horses develop sores. The soft, flexible pocket in the center back of the Hock Shield provides comfort in the delicate area where the tendons pass just under the skin. This is the perfect solution for the majority of horses with hock sores. Now available in two adjustable sizes. Shop for $49.99 at hockshield.com.  Silver Whinnys An alternative to bandaging and fly protection or a barrier used to protect legs while scratches, mud fever, summer sores, and wounds heal. The socks breathe, allowing air to reach the skin surface, while moisture-managing yarns keep skin tissue dry. High-performance yarn continuously protects the socks from playing host to bacteria, fungus, mold and mildew. Shop for $90.00 at soxforhorses.com. Cashel Stall Sore Boots  A simple solution for horses bruising and developing pressure sores on the foreleg as a result of being down with medical conditions or stalled on hard surfaces. Helps protect existing sores from further aggravation for faster healing. Neoprene exterior, soft fleece lining, and open back for added comfort. Adjustable straps allow the boot to fit a wide range of leg sizes. Shop for $43.99 at cashelcompany.com.
 Professional’s Choice Bed Sore Boots These boots help to protect the front of the fetlock joint from developing bed sores and shield existing sores from insects and debris while they heal. Made of a breathable fleece interior and a neoprene exterior with long-lasting hook and loop closures. Shop for $42.95 at profchoice.com. |
How Do You Treat a Horse’s Bed Sores?
If you see a small sore developing, take aggressive action! Waiting to see if it heals on its own is risky, as the sore can quickly get bigger, deeper, and harder to heal.
In horses with compromised immunity, the sores can also become infected easily. If you live in an area with Habronema larvae, flies will deposit these nasty critters in the smallest wound and turn it from a dime-sized minor abrasion to an ugly, open sore double or triple the size in a few days. You don’t want this.
◆ Treating small sores: Dab on a bit of antibiotic ointment and cover with a nonstick sterile pad. Cover with sheet cotton and wrap the area with red gauze, then finish with Vetrap. Consult your veterinarian for proper wrapping technique, as too-tight bandaging can cause serious damage.
Once the wrap is in place, cover it with a boot. Fleece-lined boots are great at this stage, as they fit snugly and keep the wrap clean and in place for several days.
Remove the wrap in a few days and check the progress of healing. If the sore is closed and healed, you can put the clean boot back on.
Monitor frequently and carefully, as this area is now much more prone to future sores.
◆ Treating large sores: You’ll need keep up the wrapping and booting, with frequent changes of dressing, until the wound is healed.
Be on the lookout for fluid oozing through the bandage and soaking into the boot. If this happens, clean and dry the wound, then re-wrap and re-boot with a clean boot.
Key Takeaway
Bed sores can turn from tiny to gaping craters in a short time, requiring weeks of diligent care. The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” definitely applies here.
Here’s to a bed sore-free life for you and your horse!
This article about bed sores appeared in the June 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!
