How to Deal With Proud Flesh in Horses

Granulation tissue is a pink-colored, fleshy material that normally helps with the healing of soft tissue. Granulation tissue is supposed to stop forming when new skin starts to grow around the wound. When it doesn't, and begins to mound up over the edges of the wound, it becomes known as "proud flesh" and must be treated; proud flesh prevents the wound from closing up and healing completely. Proud flesh normally occurs in wounds on the lower leg, but can happen on other parts of the horse's body.

Things You'll Need

• Veterinarian
• Wrapping materials recommended by your veterinarian
• Topical cortisone medication
• Topical antibiotic cream

Instructions

1. Call your veterinarian to have the proud flesh trimmed down. Only trimming will stop the growth of proud flesh.

2. Cover the wound between trimmings to try to prevent the proud flesh from continuing to grow.

3. Ask your veterinarian for a topical cortisone medication to apply to the wound. The cortisone helps stop the proud flesh from growing.

Tips & Warnings

• Prevent proud flesh from growing by keeping the wound clean of debris and parasites, hosing the wound and applying topical antibiotic cream. Place the horse on stall rest or have your veterinarian stitch the wound closed. Movement of the flesh around the wound can cause proud flesh to develop.

• Proud flesh is prone to bleeding. Do not be worried if a great deal of blood appears while your veterinarian is trimming.

• Your veterinarian can show you how to apply the type of bandage appropriate for the location of your horse's wound.

• Ask your veterinarian about over-the-counter medications that supposedly prevent proud flesh from forming. Some of these medications may stop the wound from healing properly.

References

• Equisearch: Proud Flesh and How to Prevent It
• Equisearch: EQUUS Consultants: Proud Flesh; Navicular