AJTCVM

American Journal of
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

Topical Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment of a Non-healing Leg Wound in a Horse: A Case Report

Zhiyi Shen; Miao Wang; Wuren Ma

Abstract

Wound care in horses, particularly chronic non-healing lesions, pose a major medical challenge for equine practitioners and can result in considerable financial loss as well as missed training goals for owners. The lower equine limb is particularly susceptible to damage due to the lack of protective muscling and superficial synovial and tendinous structures. This paper presents the treatment of a non-healing distal leg wound in a horse by topical application of a Chinese herbal medicine decoction using a traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) approach. The patient had sustained damage to the palmar aspect of the flexor tendons on the left thoracic limb caused by jumping off a transport vehicle. This injury was initially treated by cleaning the area, topical erythromycin antibiotic ointment and intramuscular injection of penicillin for 3 days. Over a 2-month period the initial trauma progressed to a chronic non-healing wound. Medical management of the wound was then changed to topical application of a Chinese herbal decoction which was applied 3 times daily. Over a 29-day period, this treatment encouraged normalization of the wound healing process with epithelization, tissue remodeling and normal scar formation. The clinical results achieved in this horse suggest topical treatment with Chinese herbal medicine can decrease complications and speed the healing process of chronic wounds. The use of the topical herbal formula in this case was convenient, simple to use, and cost effective.

Keywords
Citation
Shen Z, Wang M, Ma W. Topical Chinese herbal medicine treatment of a non-healing leg wound in a horse: A case report. Am J Trad Chin Vet Med 2024; 19(1):57-63. https://doi.org/10.59565/VRVC1369

Topical Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment of a Non-healing Leg Wound in a Horse: A Case Report

Zhiyi Shen; Miao Wang; Wuren Ma

Did you previously purchase this document?  Or do you have an All Access Pass?

You must first log in to access your prior purchases.

Simply click the gold “Login” button at the top or click over to the Profile page and log in.

Get this for FREE!

Purchase an All Access Pass and EVERYTHING on this site is included automatically

Searching...