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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
   
Location: Phoenix | What is your method/protocol of sweating a leg? I'm trying to pull out a minor infection/potential cactus fragment in a hind leg that has swelling. I'm currently using Sore No More poultice, saran wrapping and covering with a polo wrap for 12 hours and letting it air out for 12 hours. (Also icing and cold hosing for 30 minutes a day). I'm not great at wrapping, but I think I'm doing a decent job that isn't causing more damage.
Just wondering ehat what your method is? This is all new to me. Most swelling I've experienced has gone down with just cold hosing. Thanks in advance.
Edited by hammer_time 2015-05-08 8:24 AM
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I do exactly what you have been doing. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Dang you'r still having problems, hope that it didnt get into the joint when he got stuck with that cactus. Have you called your Vet and see what he/she has to say? Might need to be put on some antibiotic's.  |
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | I use furacin &/or other meds, plastic, cotton, gauze wrap (if not sheet cotton), then standing wrap or vet wrap. I only sweat if vet says, and I'm out if/when it needs DMSO...I can't stand the smell or taste! GROSS! lol!
I've shared before, but for a first-aid kit, you can use an OB sleeve and drop vet wrap and cotton inside. When you need a sweat, use the glove to apply furacin, then cut off the hand and up the length of the glove and you have your plastic. |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Furacin/DMSO and I love this stuff my vet mixes up bute (with glycerol added) /DMSO mix. The latter I mentioned has never felled to tighten up a leg but be forewarned it'll pop back up to stove pipe size quick.
I like cotton sheets, like the roll kind when sweating, with vet wrap over them. I'd rather use stuff that isn't disposable but I'm going to tell you about a vet experience I had and why I changed.
I quit using the plastic...just add another layer of cotton. My horse scraped its leg all to heck in a trailer ride to the vet. Rood and Riddle hospital put a sweat on him to come home with and they didn't use plastic just an extra layer of cotton and wrapped tight with vet wrap. Of course I was very interested in what all they did and I hope to someday aspire to their level of super speed efficient wrapping. I wish the techs there taught a class on it...anywho. I asked about care instructions at home and they said use the extra roll of cotton instead of plastic (less torque on the hair follicles and easier to deal with). I said okay so just standing wraps be fine over it and they said no with the extra layer of cotton just use trace bandages or vet wrap for a nice tight/uniform sweat. I've sweated two on my own since and I like this method a bit better than the plastic. However I don't really like using that much vet wrap for just 12hrs to throw away...I must say its effective though but even doing it the old way...its the same results. I do recycle the cotton rolls...eventually the end up with nice rolls laden with your choice of sweat.
I'd recommend shaving the hair if the horse hasn't shed out yet.
Edited by astreakinchic 2015-05-01 10:37 AM
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | hammer_time - 2015-05-01 10:18 AM What is your method/protocol of sweating a leg? I'm trying to pull out a minor infection/potential cactus fragment in a hind leg that has swelling. I'm currently using Sore No More poultice, saran wrapping and covering with a polo wrap for 12 hours and letting it air out for 12 hours. (Also icing and cold hosing for 30 minutes a day). I'm not great at wrapping, but I think I'm doing a decent job that isn't causing more damage.
Just wondering ehat what your method is? This is all new to me. Most swelling I've experienced has gone down with just cold hosing. Thanks in advance.
The only thing I would change is not to use a polo wrap. I know a lot of people wrap with them, but it isn't really what they are designed for.
Get a set of no-bow quilts and standing wrap to go over them.
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I would be going to the vet and having an ultrasound
I would then look at poulticing not sweating
There is a bread/milk mixture that is supposed to work well
Glycerine and Epsom salts I have had good luck with
I would also be discussing with the vet about antibiotics |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | Furacin, no-bow, saran wrap and then a standing bandage. |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | The vet came out yesterday since he's still really sore on it and it's only gotten about 50% better swelling wise. It's no longer SUPER stocked up looking, but there is swelling. Vet advised to continue the sweating, and did give me antibiotics and more bute. There's a really small opening on his ankle where the swelling was really prominent, and it's draining after the sweat. The spine was originally found closer to his hoof, but when I looked up his ankle was huge. I have a hard time believing something is in there because there wasn't any sign of trauma or opening or ANYTHING else found on the leg besides what I pulled out lower down |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | hammer_time - 2015-05-01 10:48 AM
The vet came out yesterday since he's still really sore on it and it's only gotten about 50% better swelling wise. It's no longer SUPER stocked up looking, but there is swelling. Vet advised to continue the sweating, and did give me antibiotics and more bute. There's a really small opening on his ankle where the swelling was really prominent, and it's draining after the sweat. The spine was originally found closer to his hoof, but when I looked up his ankle was huge. I have a hard time believing something is in there because there wasn't any sign of trauma or opening or ANYTHING else found on the leg besides what I pulled out lower down
Heck it almost sound's like he could have stepped on a snake and got bit.... Poor fella  |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I did Fura-Zone (black/yellow container), saran wrap, quilts and polos. 12 hours on, 12 hours off w/cold hosing. So sounds like you're on the right track. Hopefully it gets better! Mine also had a little cut, so I placed a piece of gauze over it and they said it would help draw our any infection. |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I guess I am poulticing right now, rather than sweating. I did wonder about standing wraps, but the polo is what I have available currently. I'll look into the cotton and standing wraps and watch a bunch of YouTube videos. I'm going to give a week on antibiotics and then consider the ultrasound. I did see improvement with the poulticing regimen I've been using WITHOUT antibiotics so it can only get better from here (I'm hoping). |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Southtxponygirl - 2015-05-01 8:53 AM
hammer_time - 2015-05-01 10:48 AM
The vet came out yesterday since he's still really sore on it and it's only gotten about 50% better swelling wise. It's no longer SUPER stocked up looking, but there is swelling. Vet advised to continue the sweating, and did give me antibiotics and more bute. There's a really small opening on his ankle where the swelling was really prominent, and it's draining after the sweat. The spine was originally found closer to his hoof, but when I looked up his ankle was huge. I have a hard time believing something is in there because there wasn't any sign of trauma or opening or ANYTHING else found on the leg besides what I pulled out lower down
Heck it almost sound's like he could have stepped on a snake and got bit.... Poor fella
It was so weird. We went on a leisurely trail ride with designated trails. We went through unmarked desert for maybe 5 minutes. Walking the whole time, and he was sound that morning because I roundpenned him for 2-3 minutes before we left. I get back and am hosing him off when I see the cactus spine in lower leg by hoof. I look up and ankle is swollen. I try to back him out of the wash rack and he doesn't want to put weight on it and is hopping along with his toe. Walking forward he's sore, but doesn't bother him as much. No puncture wounds or anything! So bizarre. But the vet did say that cactus spines do carry bacteria....yuck. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Furicin with DMSO, plastic wrap, cotton wrap and no-bows - and ALWAYS, ALWAYS do BOTH legs. If it's a hind, do both hinds, if it's a front, do both fronts.
OOPS - yes, I put the cotton on before the plastic!
Edited by Griz 2015-05-04 5:21 AM
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Try some Wong To Yick under a standing wrap , no plastic for 30 min. Then remove the bandage. Make a stretching ramp for your horse and start slowly stretching the horse. If you have a drive up ramp to change your trailer tires on that will work in a pinch. Those back legs are harder to stretch and my old track shoer would cut the shoe in half and have me walk the horse for two weeks really getting the ligaments and tendons amply ready for trot work. Horse must be stalled/run so it's not allowed to re injury the site.
Like someone said...an ultra sound maybe in order so that you treat this appropriately
Best of luck!
If you have an infection... EO of thieves is good. . |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | So if I have a horse with a lower limb infection-whether its foot abscess or possible skin puncture, close to a joint, I would soak in epsom salts for 20 minutes (warm) then cold hose. The sweat I would use is a mix of furacin and DMSO and if I worried about infection about 10 cc of gentamyacin mixed in. The DMSO should help draw the gentamyacin into the infected area. When the sweat comes off after 12 hours, I would scrub the area with iodine scrub and then repeat. I do use plastic wrap a cotton roll OR heavy no bows with fleece polo. I do not EVER make any of it too tight. I'm hoping that the antibiotics help what you have going on, but if you have some injectable gentamycin it would be worth a try. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| We do the Furacin with DMSO and Dex, and like everyone else mentioned above.
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | cheryl makofka - 2015-05-02 9:42 AM I would be going to the vet and having an ultrasound I would then look at poulticing not sweating There is a bread/milk mixture that is supposed to work well Glycerine and Epsom salts I have had good luck with I would also be discussing with the vet about antibiotics
i agree with cheryl......
m |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I went out tonight and I think we've definitely turned a corner! He's now backing up without limping on his toe and there's signs that he actually has an ankle and it's not just one big leg.
I think I will keep poulticing, but I might go in search of some standing wraps/bandages tomorrow. Today I scrubbed him down for 2 to 3 minutes with the betadine scrub because he's got that really small oozing opening. Then I did a warm Epson salt soak, followed up with 15 minutes of a cold soak, and 15 minutes of icing the leg With ice rolled up in a wet towel. I poulticed BOTH both hind legs this time to provide support to the other weight bearing leg.
Geez I feel like a first-time horse owner… I guess I've been blessed to never have any lame horses or serious injuries growing up but GOSH--this makes me realize there's a lot that I still don't know even though I grew up around horses! |
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 Saint Stacey
| It's not a good idea to do plastic straight on the skin. You really need cotton then plastic. With the way plastic stretches and twists, it's way too easy to wrap bow one. Using cotton sheet wtap, then plastic followed by a quilt then standing bandage is the safest method. |
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 Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | I use a furicin mix I get from my vet, cotton wrap, and a finish with a track wrap. My vet said they don't recommend surran wrap anymore, just the cotton. 12 on 12 off. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | hammer_time - 2015-05-01 10:28 PM I went out tonight and I think we've definitely turned a corner! He's now backing up without limping on his toe and there's signs that he actually has an ankle and it's not just one big leg.
I think I will keep poulticing, but I might go in search of some standing wraps/bandages tomorrow. Today I scrubbed him down for 2 to 3 minutes with the betadine scrub because he's got that really small oozing opening. Then I did a warm Epson salt soak, followed up with 15 minutes of a cold soak, and 15 minutes of icing the leg With ice rolled up in a wet towel. I poulticed BOTH both hind legs this time to provide support to the other weight bearing leg.
Geez I feel like a first-time horse owner… I guess I've been blessed to never have any lame horses or serious injuries growing up but GOSH--this makes me realize there's a lot that I still don't know even though I grew up around horses!
So glad to hear this. Since often its very difficult to get a perfect ultrasound on a very swollen limb, as soon as you get the major swelling down its a good idea to find out what your up against here. Then once cleared I would start some very gentle stretching. If he's not bearing weight on the heel or going to need to go slowly!
Perfect advice from SKM. Hope he's walking soon!!
PS you can probably skip the cold soak and go right to the ice post the warm soak. I just hope he didn't sesquester the thorn in the joint! |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | So for the cotton, do I just get those sheets of cotton that's like flat but still kind of "pull-ey" (know what I mean?) or actual cotton quilts? |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX |
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30e07304-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5
hammer_time - 2015-05-02 11:10 AM So for the cotton, do I just get those sheets of cotton that's like flat but still kind of "pull-ey" (know what I mean?) or actual cotton quilts? Yes
Edited by uno-dos-tres! 2015-05-02 11:22 AM
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Or what about the wet paper bag method? (Followed by the no-bow quilts and the bandage? (I've been watching multiple YouTube videos to see what's the most popular).
Won't the cotton like.....stick to the poultice and not come off very well? |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | The cotton has a "quilt" to it. It will stick but if your not super good with paper you can crinkle it and cause sores. You don't want that. |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: Nashvegas | You asked about the paper bag method, that is what we use/used on the race track over poultice. Grain bags without the plastic on the inside work the best, cut the paper the size of you leg cotton (width wise) and make it long enough to wrap around the leg over one + times. Then roll the paper as you would a cotton and SOAK it in water (dunk it in a water bucket) before applying it over the poultice, then cotton and then standing wrap. |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I did the wet shop towel method this time and picked up some standing wraps and no bow quilts. The wraps wrinkle a lot easier than polos but I think I did decent?
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 Expert
Posts: 1268
Location: North of Tulsa, Oklahoma | total performance - 2015-05-01 10:44 AM
Furacin, no-bow, saran wrap and then a standing bandage.
This!!!!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 700
Location: Driving, Grooming, or Saddling for a Kid! | huh....so you put the no-bows straight on and THEN the saran wrap? Ive always did it the other way around. |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | No Saran wrap. Wet shop towel, no bows, standing wraps.
I'm wondering if I should start sweating it now since the leg has gone down considerably and there's just a little remaining at the ankle area..... |
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Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | DunIt - 2015-05-04 7:36 AM huh....so you put the no-bows straight on and THEN the saran wrap? Ive always did it the other way around.
I've found you get a much better sweat doing it that way. Is it messy, yep. You almost always have to use a new no-bow daily. |
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Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | hammer_time - 2015-05-03 3:47 PM I did the wet shop towel method this time and picked up some standing wraps and no bow quilts. The wraps wrinkle a lot easier than polos but I think I did decent?
Looks like you did a great job! Nice work. |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | I have been told by a lot of old timers to soak brown paper bags in ACV, wrap with that, then wrap with Saran Wrap. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | hammer_time - 2015-05-03 3:47 PM I did the wet shop towel method this time and picked up some standing wraps and no bow quilts. The wraps wrinkle a lot easier than polos but I think I did decent?
Pretty wraps, LOL.... How is your horse doing now? Hope he's better.  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1384
Location: Kansas | My horse did not have an open wound, just a physical injury. The 1st 5 days was icing with an ice boot 5-6 times a day plus cold hosing in between acting as a hydrating massage. Then the sweat wrap started. On 36, off 12. The mixture came from the vet, DMSO, Furason and something else. The long sleeve of the glove was used next to the skin instead of Saran wrap. It expands and stretches, Saran wrap doesn't. I used a cotton quilt. I have no bows but he said don't use them, I don't remember the reason. The outer wrap was cotton, not a polo.
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Little update....I've been diligent in doing a betadine scrub/wash, warm Epsom salt soak, icing and then poultice and standing wraps. I did that for a week straight (quite time consuming!). His leg swelling has gone down tremendously and "cooled" out and isn't so hot anymore. His fetlock has been the same size for a couple days now. I let it air out for the last 2 days while he was turned out. I lightly round penned him these last 2 days and he seems sound. He has a open wound that will drain with a bit of blood flow. While applying pressure to the oozing wound today trying to encourage more draining, I noticed another small opening and found another cactus needle!! It's so bizarre because upon initial inspection, I saw no openings. All the poulticing and antibiotics helped flush it out. YUCK. I'm guessing there will be another piece where the oozing is happening, just have to wait and see!!! The pictures below show the progress and the cactus spines. Dangerous desert! LOL.
Edited by hammer_time 2015-05-07 10:15 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Awe your a good mom!!
Nice job at healing him up  |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Not gonna lie--it took some dedication. Especially when I was tired and he wasn't feeling like icing. It's a good thing he's really cute!!
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | hammer_time - 2015-05-08 11:02 AM Not gonna lie--it took some dedication. Especially when I was tired and he wasn't feeling like icing. It's a good thing he's really cute!! Well I would like to see how cute he is so pictures please 
Never mine you were a step ahead of me, LOL
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2015-05-08 11:08 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Awe so glad you've been so fortunate to find the needles!! They can definitley hide really well.
I hate Cactus needles... Our big pasture is riddled with them... They're hard to kill and spread like wildfire.
I'll agree with a previous poster: You're such a good Mom!! |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Thanks guys, means a lot!! I try! I think there's still one more where the leg is oozing, but I don't think it's bothering him much. The guy that owns the place I keep my horse at--he said the one in his horse's leg finally surfaced like 2 months later.
I'm actually having the vet out again tomorrow to inject his knee because there's a lesion (but not a chip) so hopefully the injection will relieve the inflammation and discomfort. That, plus some Pentosan, a Chiro appt. and all this time off--hopefully he'll be sound! LOL after all that I can hopefully stop spending money on him!
And one more picture because I think he's the cutest thing alive. (This is probably how people with real kids feel haha).
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 Expert
Posts: 1218
Location: South MS | hammer_time - 2015-05-01 10:18 AM What is your method/protocol of sweating a leg? I'm trying to pull out a minor infection/potential cactus fragment in a hind leg that has swelling. I'm currently using Sore No More poultice, saran wrapping and covering with a polo wrap for 12 hours and letting it air out for 12 hours. (Also icing and cold hosing for 30 minutes a day). I'm not great at wrapping, but I think I'm doing a decent job that isn't causing more damage.
Just wondering ehat what your method is? This is all new to me. Most swelling I've experienced has gone down with just cold hosing. Thanks in advance.
I mix gel DMSO, furazone, 10cc dex in a container and put on gloves and apply - then brown paper bag it and wrap with polo wrap
I dont leave on longer than 4 hours as it can burn if left on a long time |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | Aw poor guy. I didn't know that happened so often with cactus needles (no cactus to be found where I live haha). Glad he seems to be doing better and that you're getting them out. |
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