🩹 Vet Insight 2025: How to Treat Pastern Lacerations in Horses for Fast, Stable Healing 🐎🦴

Author: Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

Pastern lacerations are more than just surface wounds—they’re some of the most complex and challenging injuries to treat in horses. Because the pastern is constantly flexing with every step, even a minor cut on the back of this region can reopen repeatedly, delaying healing and increasing the risk of infection. In this 2025 veterinary guide, Dr Duncan Houston outlines the proper emergency and long-term care for these difficult wounds. 🐴🆘

📍 Where and Why Pastern Lacerations Happen

The pastern is the area between the hoof and the fetlock joint. Lacerations most frequently occur on the back side of the pastern, where constant motion and skin tension complicate healing. 🐾

Common causes of pastern lacerations include:

• 🔩 Sharp fencing or metal in the environment
• 🌿 Sticks, rocks, or hidden debris in pasture
• ⚔️ Kicks or trauma from other horses

Immediate veterinary assessment is essential to avoid long-term complications and chronic lameness. 💉📞

🧠 Why Pastern Lacerations Are Difficult to Heal

The rear pastern is a high-movement area. Every step a horse takes stretches and compresses the wound site. Without stabilization, these wounds:

• 🔁 Reopen repeatedly during motion
• ⏱️ Heal slowly or not at all
• 🧪 Are prone to infection and proud flesh formation

Veterinary stabilization—often with a cast or compression bandage—is key to reducing wound mobility and speeding up recovery. 🛡️🐾

🚑 Step-by-Step Emergency Care for Pastern Lacerations

1️⃣ Initial Wound Wrap

If your horse suffers a pastern cut, wrap the wound immediately with a sterile bandage and call your veterinarian. ⛑️

2️⃣ Veterinary Examination

A vet will assess the depth and structure involvement. This step often includes:

• 💉 Sedation to allow thorough inspection
• 🔬 Local anesthesia to evaluate tissue layers
• 🧪 Checking for involvement of tendon sheaths or joints

Injuries to joint or tendon structures require surgical care and possibly intensive antibiotic treatment. 🧫

3️⃣ Pressure Bandaging

All pastern lacerations must be pressure wrapped for stabilization. Bandages should:

• 🩹 Provide compression to control swelling
• 🛑 Limit movement and help wound edges stay together
• 🔁 Be changed daily for the first several days

Always use clean, sterile gauze and consult your vet for bandage protocol. 🧼

4️⃣ Use of a Cast for Optimal Stabilization

The gold standard for healing pastern lacerations is casting. Though it’s more expensive upfront, a cast:

• 📉 Significantly reduces movement at the wound site
• 🚀 Speeds up healing
• 💸 May lower long-term treatment costs due to faster recovery

In wounds where sutures are used, a cast is often the only way to keep them intact. 🧵🩹

🧴 Medication & Topical Care

Topical antibiotic ointments are typically applied under the bandage to reduce infection risk. Common ingredients include:

• 🧪 Neomycin or triple antibiotic ointment
• 🌿 Topical steroids to reduce inflammation (when advised)

Systemic antibiotics may be prescribed if infection is suspected or confirmed. 💊

❌ Common Mistakes in Treating Pastern Lacerations

• ❌ Delaying vet care: Early treatment prevents long-term damage.
• ❌ Improper bandaging: Can do more harm than good if not applied correctly.
• ❌ Leaving wound exposed: Allows contamination and movement.

🧠 Expert Advice from Dr Duncan Houston

“A pastern wound needs stabilization to heal. Whether through bandaging or a cast, immobilizing the wound is the best investment in a horse’s soundness.” 🐴💡

📅 Follow-Up and Long-Term Care

Once stabilized, monitor healing with your vet. Typical follow-up includes:

• 🔁 Bandage changes every 1–3 days early on
• 📷 Visual checks for signs of infection or proud flesh
• 🏇 Gradual reintroduction to movement under guidance

🌟 Preventing Pastern Lacerations

While accidents can’t always be prevented, these steps help reduce risk:

• 🌿 Clear pastures of debris and sharp objects
• 🧼 Maintain clean, safe stall environments
• 👟 Consider protective leg boots during turnout

🔚 Conclusion: Prioritize Early, Stable Treatment for Best Outcomes

Pastern lacerations are deceptively tricky to treat. Don’t underestimate these wounds—early vet intervention, proper stabilization, and consistent wound management are your best tools for successful healing. ⏱️🩹

Need expert guidance for wound care or stable setup? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app to connect with a licensed vet anytime, anywhere. 🐎📲