MANAGEMENT OF MAGGOTED WOUND AFFECTING THE HOOF OF PONY

Kafle. A, Yogeshwar. K, Gogoi. T, Reddy. IP

Wound is an injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impact, typically one in which the
skin is cut or broken. Depending on the cause, site and depth, a wound can vary from simple to life
threatening. Depending on the healing time of a wound, it can be classified as acute or chronic.
Those classified as acute wounds heal uneventfully within a short period of time whereas chronic
wounds take a longer time to heal and might have some complications too. One of the major reason
which leads to delayed healing of wound is the poor blood supply as seen in case of hooves of
animals. Equines are very prone to hoof problems so a routine hoof care should be followed strictly
in order to prevent any deadly problems.

Case history

A five years old pony was reported to be limping from its right forelimb. The animal was shifting its
weight from right to left and the gait was abnormal. On clinical examination, temperature, heart rate
and respiration was found to be within normal ranges. The animal was showing discomfort. The
ventral aspect of the hoof showed wound with red localised broken skin of the frog of the hoof. On
closer look the frog revealed a complicated wound with a very strong foul smell and presence of
maggots which signifies advance stage of wound. Based on history and clinical signs the case was
diagnosed as complicated wound of the hoof affecting the frog and treatment was started without any
delay.
 A B

A. Case presented
B. Cleaning debris in an around the wound

Treatment and discussion

The site was cleaned initially with brush taking care of any further injury. The wound was washed
and cleaned properly with normal saline solution. A cotton swab dipped in betadine lotion was
applied to clean the tissue further. 10 ml Terpentine oil was instilled at the affected site to drag out
the maggots which interrupts the healing process. After 30 minutes the visible maggots were
removed by forceps and the wound was dressed properly using loraxane ointment. A systemic
antibiotic, Dicrysticin S 2.5 g was injected intramuscularly twice daily for three days to prevent any
systemic infection. The dressing was continued thrice daily for five days. The wound started to heal
from second day onwards and complete recovery was observed at 9th day.
 C D

E F
C. Cleaning the affected area with normal saline
D. Instiling turpentine oil
E. Maggots coming out of the wound
F. Recovery of the wound