Horses seem to always be knicking themselves or getting small superficial cuts or abrasions all the time. Though it is always amazing to me how a horse in a pasture full of debris and junk never seems to hurt itself, but a horse in a practically padded stall can manage to find the one sharp corner.
Luckily most of these minor wounds do not require a veterinary visit and are treated by owners, however occasionally; a seemingly minor wound can turn into a major infection. An owner may see a wound on a leg one day, and the next day come out and the entire leg is hot and swollen, and the horse lame. This is a condition called cellulitis, and occurs when a minor wound becomes infected with a nasty bacteria. The exact bacteria is not always known unless the wound is cultured, but often is it caused by a Staph bacteria which is common in the general environment. The leg seems to blow up overnight, and often the horse has a fever as well. Usually there is no way to predict this will happen unless you have a horse that is known to be prone to infection.
If you find your horse in this situation you should call your vet right away. Luckily most cases resolve quickly with aggressive treatment which includes antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, cold hosing, bandaging and controlled exercise. If your horse ever has a wound over a joint and is lame you should call your vet right away too as a joint infection can cause permanent lameness.
So no need to panic every time your horse gets a little cut, but keep an eye on it and keep it clean so you notice if it starts to “go bad”.
