If you are a horse owner, you may have taken your horse to the veterinary surgeon to treat wounds. While most horses are expected to recover fully, horse owners need to give their prized pets proper attention. Here we will discuss how you can help your horse get healed from wounds faster.
Back and leg injuries are common for horses, and these injuries can pose certain challenges while healing. Red light therapy has shown significant promise in healing wounds for horses. Horses can quickly recover from wounds with the help of this therapy which many veterinarians now recommend. Let’s discuss them in detail.
Wound Healing for Horses
Any horse, especially those used for competitive sports, can develop wounds in their legs or backs. Veterinary surgeons find a lot of horse owners where the horse has been wounded and needs to be treated. However, wound healing for horses can be complicated and quite expensive.
Thus, many horse owners are now leaning toward less-invasive and natural treatments to trigger the animal’s natural healing mechanism. In this manner, red light therapy has been a brilliant solution. Let’s discuss this therapy in detail:
Red Light Therapy for Horses’ Wound Healing
Red light therapy utilizes the natural light wavelength of red light and near-infrared light wavelengths. These wavelengths are the biggest among visible light. Therefore, they can travel deeper into the body and reach muscles and bones.
When these wavelengths fall on body cells, they energize cells’ mitochondria and increase metabolic activities. Thus, damaged cells get repaired and replicate healthy growth.
Additionally, blood flow in the body is increased due to increased metabolism caused due to red light therapy. It allows the body to receive the necessary oxygen and nutrients to heal wounds rapidly.
This therapy was primarily developed keeping astronauts in mind to help them with wound healing faster while in space. However, it was adopted quickly by the healthcare and skincare industries. Nowadays, many veterinarians suggest this therapy to heal the wounds of pet animals.
A number of health conditions that keep horses stuck in their stalls can be addressed with this therapy. Here is a list of conditions that are currently addressing for horses with light therapy:
- Wounds
- Joint pain
- Muscle injuries
- Connective tissue injuries
- Back pain
- Muscle recovery
- Inflammation
- Cartilage degradation
- Neuropathy
LED light bulbs emitting specific light wavelengths are used to deliver red light therapy. The wavelength used in this therapy ranges from 630 – 660 nm for red light therapy and 810 -850nm for infrared light therapy.
As horses have a relatively thick coat along with a thick coat, using near-infrared light can bring the best benefits for them. These wavelengths penetrate horses’ bodies in different tissue depths. In skin-deep penetration, these wavelengths help in healing wounds. When light wavelengths penetrate deeper into the skin, they can address joint pains and muscle tears.
Most chronic conditions in horses are caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, which is the primary reason for many horses suffering longer from wounds. Red light and NIR therapy address the mitochondrial dysfunction and reverse the condition. Thus, your pet horse can enjoy faster healing, reduced inflammation, and gain a stronger immune system.
Also, the collagen production in horses’ bodies increases due to red light therapy, which helps cure wounds faster.
So, if you want your horse to get healed from wounds faster and have good health overall, you should consider investing in a red light and NIR therapy device along with other appropriate care.
First Aid Wound Management
If your horse is wounded, you need to call a veterinary surgeon as soon as possible. They will help you determine how deep the wound is and what treatments need to administer to keep the animal healthy.
However, before the doctor arrives, you can give some first aid to help your pet. Here are a few things you can do:
- Calm the horse and restrain it
- Clean the wounded area with fresh cold water with a low-pressure hose for 10 minutes
- Apply a clean pressure bandage if the wound is bleeding to restrict it until the veterinary surgeon arrives
The wounds on horses can vary a lot, and it is hard to speculate the degree of the wound by visual inspection. So, no matter how small you think your horse’s wound is, call a specialist.
Inappropriate wound management can delay wound healing significantly and increase the treatment cost. Therefore, horse owners should be careful about this and take the necessary steps.
Bottom Line
As a horse owner, your animals are your prized possessions, and it is your responsibility to give them a better life. With red light and NIR therapy, you can help your horses get healed faster and see them lead a happy life.
Red light and NIR therapy are totally natural and have no drastic side effects. These light wavelengths are non-invasive, and research has backed up their benefits. So, for the ultimate well-being of your horses, get a red light therapy panel now.New Technology Shows Promise in Helping Horses Heal Faster – Red Light Therapy
