Puncture wounds are always serious whether in the foot or on the body of the horse. When a horse steps on a nail creating a puncture wound, it is a true emergency and your veterinarian should be called immediately. The horse should be kept calm, and not allowed to walk with the nail in place. Do not remove the nail if your veterinarian can come promptly.
Examining the horse's hoof
Radiographs taken with the nail in place in the horse's hoof are helpful to determine the path of the nail, and if the nail entered the bone or any synovial structures.
Radiographs taken with the nail in place are helpful to determine the path of the nail, and if the nail entered the bone or any synovial structures such as the coffin joint, navicular bursa, or digital tendon sheath.
If any of these structures have been penetrated, surgical treatment and aggressive medical therapy may be necessary to treat infection, and prevent potential severe and life-threatening lameness that can result in founder of the opposite foot or even necessitate euthanasia.
Depending on the advice of the veterinarian, thorough treatment of a puncture wound involves the following steps:
- Removal of the penetrating object
- Stoppage of any bleeding
- Possible X-rays, if called for by veterinarian
- Thorough cleansing of the wound of all dirt and debris
- Flushing the wound with sterile saline solution
- Administration of antibiotics, if prescribed by veterinarian
- Removing devitalized tissue
- Establishing drainage of wound
- Application of antibiotic or prescribed ointment
The deeper the penetration is, the more likely it is that the pedal bone, the navicular bursa, the coffin joint, the flexor tendon, and other finely-tuned parts of the foot may be affected.
Unless the penetrating nail or object is removed and proper treatment given, serious complications may develop, requiring surgery and long-term antibiotic treatments.
Read more about puncture wounds