What is proud flesh?

[flabbs]

Is it just scar tissue? Is it a bad thing? What causes it?

[patty dukes]

great question.....I was wondering the same thing myself.

[Blacklabs]

Here a link for more info and explaination.

Proud flesh is normal tissue that has become overactive. In an attempt to heal wounds rapidly, the surrounding tissue reproduces so quickly it accumulates more tissue than is needed. The process moves at such a rapid rate it has trouble stopping. The resulting mound of tissue will protrude beyond skin level. This is unsightly and may actually interfere with movement.


As we treat wounds, we must regulate the speed of healing in order that the final scab and wound closure will be at skin level. The treatments used to fill in a large wound would not give us smooth level wound healing of the skin.

http://horsedoc_org.tripod.com/id136.htm

[flabbs]

Thanks Kim. Still wondering though, what makes the normal tissue become overactive. hmmm... Is it only a problem with horses? Inquiring minds want to know. LOL

[chrystalpaths]

Proud flesh usually occurs with deep wounds such as elongated and deep cuts. Years ago I had a full sized mare who was spooked by a bear and ran thru a tube gate cutting her leg to the bone. The tear was so ragged that stitching was not possible. The wound had to heal very slowly from the inside out otherwise "proud flesh" could occur. It does because the exterior of the wound heals faster building new tissue over the wound before it can properly heal. This probably isn't the best answer but it's the best I can do in simple terms. Using an old fashioned remedy of plain white sugar and a diluted betadine mixed and poulticed healed the wound and left barely a scar.

[risingrainbow]

Proud flesh doesn't just happen on deep wounds, it can happen on a simple cut. I don't think anyone knows what triggers the overactive production of cells but one of the theories is movement. So one of the recommendations in dealing with it is stall confinement.

I also think the more muscle movement there is in a particular area, the more likelihood of proud flesh. For example a cut on a shoulder which gets lots of movement , is a critical area to watch for developement of proud flesh.

As far as animals other than horses, I think maybe horses are the most common. But they do debreeding in the care of burns so that must be an issue there as well.

[risingrainbow]

I forgot to answer if it's a bad thing. It is thick and rigid tissue so it affects movement. a large area like the wound I'm currently dealing with my yearling filly would definitely compromise her ability to extend her leg if the proud flesh were allowed to do it's thing.