Re: proud flesh

[BMcCrary27@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/28/98 7:07:47 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
llbertol@atnet.net writes:

<< Help! I have a 4 month old colt that injured his knee and fetlock joint in
 a battle with a gate(he lost). The wounds are healing up nicely, except for
 some proud flesh building up on the fetlock. Anyone have any sure-fire
 remedy for taking care of this? It isn't going to interfer with his being
 able to travel, but it getting to be extremely unsightly. Thanks for any
 info.
 Lori B. >>

This response is late due to our being on vacation, but I feel strongly enough
about my solution to proud flesh to post this anyway.  Go to your vet and have
him supply you with silver nitrate sticks.  These look like matches with long
"handles", about 6" long.  You dip the head in distilled water (not regular
water) and roll the head over the proud flesh until the flesh turns ash grey.
The silver nitrate is actually cauterizing the proud flesh.  (I've never
noticed the horses feeling any particular amount of discomfort.)  After a bit,
a scab forms and you can pull it off.  Then repeat the procedure until the
flesh is reduced to the level of the rest of the area.  Proud flesh is bright
pink or reddish.  Eventually, with this cauterizing procedure, the flesh will
be not only reduced, but regain normal color, and the wound will heal.  There
will be a scar, but it will be much lower profile.  This is a procedure taught
us by an excellent vet about 40 years ago.  Today's vets will recommend
Granulex spray, but I personally feel that silver nitrate does a better job,
especially when the wound is older.  Granulex tends to control or prevent the
growth of proud flesh, but silver nitrate deals with it after it becomes quite
noticible.

Barbara McCrary