Lead Your Horse To Water

By Dr. Valerie I. Smith D.V.M.

Water, it is so simple. Tow hydrogens bound to oxygen = H2O. Why not use it?

It is inexpensive and readily available.

Every single wound I see gets hydrotherapy or just cool running water out of a hose for 10 to 20 minutes twice a day.

Water cleanses, soothes, draws away inflammation and infection. While you sweep away dirt and debris, the cold water also reduces pain and inflammation. When using running or flowing water out of a hose, the water doesn’t warm up in reaction to equine body heat. It should be the first thing you do for cuts, scrapes, abrasions, kicks, bruises, swelling, etc… Hydrotherapy stimulates circulation and tissue regeneration. Unlike corta steroids which reduce heat and inflammation by shutting down the whole healing process, hydrotherapy merely controls and regulates it and promotes healing.

Every time I tell a horse owner that cold running water out of a hose can do more to heal a wound than anything else they can do, I always get a few strange looks. I then explain this is something widely used in human medicine. Why not use it for your horse?

Of course whirlpools for horses would be nice, but is a bit expensive. If your wound is extensive than we do have whirlpool boots to treat horses at the clinic. Still the wound would have to be pretty extensive for cold hosing not to work.

And as always remember: tetanus shots are a must for any cut. Antibiotics are always a good idea but may or may not be necessary.

Lastly, water is age old. There is no substitute for simple soothing H2O.