Special reports


Management of saddle and harness sores in a pack mule


Author: Glen Cousquer


Pack mules are often subject to tethering injuries and saddle sores. Prevention is the best approach to these injuries and action should be taken to ensure that the mule’s welfare is protected. Where wounds do occur, a wound management plan is required that addresses the underlying causes of any wounds and promotes wound healing.


Page points 1. The hair around the wound was


trimmed with scissors and the wound cleaned with a 4% chlorhexidine solution diluted with water


2. Removal of the hair, dust, exudate and wound discharge allowed for a more detailed evaluation


3. The tissues were found to be in a better condition when the dressing was removed on day four, although the


caudal aspect of the pastern wound still had a plug of devitalised tissue


INTRODUCTION This case study details the treatment of a number of injuries in an 18-year-old female pack mule, employed to carry baggage and camping equipment for tourists trekking in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco. Trekking is popular in this area and a reliance on mules to carry equipment combined with the use of substandard tethers and pack saddle blankets mean that injuries are commonplace.


WOUNDS The author examined the mule before the five- day trek and found tendon sheath effusions in both her forelimbs and a tethering injury to her left pastern (the part of the foot between the fetlock and the hoof). The mule’s quick withdrawal response after palpation of the digital flexor tendons and the pastern showed that it was in discomfort. An abrasion was also identified over the mule’s left upper hind limb, which was granulating well. There were a number of worn areas on the


References


1. Knottenbelt DC. Basic wound management. In: Knottenbelt DC (ed) Handbook of Equine Wound Management. 2003; Saunders, London 39–77.


2. Gomez JH, Hanson RR. Use of bandages in equine wound management. Vet Clin North Am 2005; 21: 91–104.


3. Dart AJ, Hawkins NR, Dart CM, Jeffcott LB, Canfield P. Effect of bandaging on second intention healing of wounds of the distal limb in horses. Aust Vet J 2009; 87(6): 215–218.


mule’s straw-stuffed pack saddle blanket and the loss of material allowed the exposed straw to come into contact with the animal’s skin. The padding was excessive in some areas and this had created an area of friction and increased wear. It was clear that it had not been individually fitted to the mule’s back. The owner of the mule was informed of the correlation between the wounds and the poor fit of the pack saddle and was given a set of cotton hobbles to use to tether the mule. The mule’s traditional bit was found to be


of poor quality and included a number of pieces of twisted wire — fortunately these had not caused any damage to the mule’s lips or mouth.


23 Wounds International Vol 2 | Issue 1 | ©Wounds International 2011


The mule was loaded with the group’s equipment for the trek [Fig 1]. The author and guide objected to the mule carrying an excessive load, but her owner was adamant that she could cope. Care was taken to position the securing rope across a small piece of material to protect the animal’s girth.


TREATMENT At the end of the first day, having covered a distance of some 20km, the mule’s wounds were re-examined and the left pastern wound cleaned and dressed. The hair around the wound was trimmed with scissors and the wound cleaned with a 4% chlorhexidine solution diluted with water. Removal of the hair, dust, exudate and wound discharge allowed for a more detailed evaluation [Fig 2]. The circumferential nature of the wound


suggested that it had been produced by the rubbing of an overly tight and narrow tethering rope. The muleteer was asked to change his tethering system and encouraged to try out the cotton hobble. He was reluctant to use the hobble and chose instead to attach one end of it to the pastern and use it as a tether. The caudal aspect of the wound was particularly


deep and contained an area of devitalised tissue. The wound was washed and a long strip of DuoDERM® Extra Thin (ConvaTec) was applied and secured with Micropore™ tape (3M). The area was then protected with a tubular bandage. This dressing was left in place for three days. Adjustments were made to the mule’s tether, replacing the narrow nylon rope with the wider, softer cotton of the hobble around one pastern. The tissues were found to be in a better condition when the dressing was removed


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