Equine Wound Healing Mechanisms and Treatments

Equine cutaneous wounds undergo a well-characterised cascade of inflammation, proliferation and remodelling, yet healing in horses—particularly on distal limbs—remains a clinical challenge. Initial haemostasis and influx of neutrophils and macrophages clear debris and secrete cytokines that recruit fibroblasts and endothelial cells. During the proliferative phase, angiogenesis and deposition of extracellular matrix by fibroblasts form granulation tissue, providing a scaffold for keratinocyte migration. Remodelling involves balance between matrix synthesis and degradation to restore tensile strength. Unique features of equine wound repair include a predisposition to exuberant granulation tissue on limbs, hypoxic microenvironments and a high risk of biofilm-associated infection. Traditional management spans primary closure where feasible, strategic debridement, controlled bandaging to limit movement and moisture balance, and topical antimicrobials or dressings to prevent infection. Emerging approaches draw on biomaterials—such as hydrogels and synthetic epidermal sprays—to maintain optimal moisture and barrier function, novel antimicrobial agents like gallium maltolate to reduce bioburden and modulate healing-related gene expression, and cell-based therapies including mesenchymal stem cells and growth factor delivery to accelerate epithelialisation and angiogenesis. Integrating mechanistic insights with field-applicable treatments promises to improve healing rates, reduce complications and safeguard equine welfare.

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Equine Wound Healing Mechanisms and Treatments publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in equine wound healing mechanisms and treatments across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Granulation tissue: New connective tissue and microscopic blood vessels that form on the surface of a healing wound during the proliferative phase.

Secondary intention healing: Wound closure by natural contraction and epithelialisation without surgical closure.

Biofilm: A structured community of bacteria embedded in an extracellular matrix that resists antimicrobial agents and host defences.

Debridement: The medical removal of necrotic or contaminated tissue to promote wound healing.

Epidermalisation: The process by which keratinocytes migrate over a wound bed to re-establish the epidermal layer.

References

1. The effects of a synthetic epidermis spray on secondary intention wound healing in adult horses. PLOS ONE (2024).
2. Biofilm and Equine Limb Wounds. Animals (2021).
3. Effect of gallium maltolate on a model of chronic, infected equine distal limb wounds. PLOS ONE (2020).