From the Guidelines
A horse bite requires immediate medical attention due to the risk of infection and tissue damage, and the most recent guidelines recommend cleaning the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and seeking medical care promptly for professional evaluation and possible antibiotic treatment, such as amoxicillin-clavulanate (875/125 mg twice daily for 7-10 days) as recommended by 1 and 1. The symptoms of an equine bite can include pain, redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or fever, and in severe cases, can lead to serious infections, crushing injuries to tissues and bones, and even rabies. The treatment of an equine bite typically involves:
- Cleaning the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and applying an antiseptic solution like povidone-iodine, as recommended by 1 and 1
- Covering the wound with a sterile bandage, as recommended by 1
- Seeking medical care promptly for professional evaluation, as recommended by 1, 1, and 1
- Possible antibiotic treatment, such as amoxicillin-clavulanate (875/125 mg twice daily for 7-10 days), as recommended by 1
- Tetanus prophylaxis, if the immunization is not current, as recommended by 1 and 1 Some key points to consider when treating an equine bite include:
- The importance of prompt medical attention, as recommended by 1, 1, and 1
- The need for thorough wound cleaning and antiseptic treatment, as recommended by 1 and 1
- The potential for serious infections and the need for antibiotic treatment, as recommended by 1
- The importance of tetanus prophylaxis, as recommended by 1 and 1 It is also important to note that deep or extensive bites may require surgical debridement, especially if there is concern about damage to underlying structures, as recommended by 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of an Equine Bite
- The symptoms of an equine bite can include direct destruction of tissue and risk of infection 2
- The bite can cause crush injuries, fractures, and dislocations, as well as damage to tendons and skin 3
- Infections of horse bite wounds in humans are usually due to bacteria that correspond to the oropharyngeal bacterial flora of horses 4
- The most commonly bitten areas are the back and/or upper extremities 5
Treatment of an Equine Bite
- Treatment of an equine bite typically involves copious irrigation with saline serum, tetanus toxoid, postexposure rabies vaccination, and prophylactic antibiotic therapy 3, 2, 5, 6
- Surgical exploration and excisional debridement of devitalized tissue may be necessary in some cases 3
- Antibiotic prophylaxis is often used, with the choice of antibiotic depending on the type of wound and the risk of infection 2, 5
- Rabies prophylaxis is indicated for bites by unvaccinated domestic animals, and tetanus status should be reviewed and updated as necessary 2, 5, 6
- Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is a commonly prescribed antibiotic for horse and donkey bites 5