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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
    
Location: Kansas | I just wanted to get some advice on what would be the best for my geldings leg. Two weeks ago, noticed he was a bit gimpy on the back leg...didn't see any cuts etc, so gave him bute and swelling went down. Next thing I know his leg completely balloons 3 times normal size, and bursts open just above the hind left fetlock. He was not able to bend the leg at all, and was able to get his leg in a bucket of epsom salt water to soak for about 20 minutes. He knocked the bucket over, was drinking heavily and still eating. Then went down, had already contacted the vet at this point. Vet gave him IV antibiotics, as well an an anti-immflamatory, he still couldn't get up through the evening. So I bedded him down really good, made sure he had a few buckets of water within reach and hay. The next morning grandma was able to get him up and into a pen for me while I was at work. Vet gave him another antibiotic. He's been on oral antibiotics and bute the past week. I stopped bute this morning for fear of ulcers. Swelling in the leg has gone down tremendously, and he seems to be getting around better, but a tendon is literally hanging out of his leg. The vet won't cut it off until most of the infection is out of his system. He gets cold hosed 5 times a day for 15 minutes at a time. Anything I can use to put on the leg to help with the sores? I'm pretty sure he's developing proud flesh. Also anything therapy wise to help once most of the gunky stuff is gone?
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | Ewww - wow! Poor guy. Did he get bit by a snake? |
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Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | GoMistyGo - 2015-08-03 2:44 PM
Ewww - wow! Poor guy. Did he get bit by a snake?
We honestly still aren't sure, The vet hasn't diagnosed him. we are just taking it day by day, so who knows what happened. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316
| Oh wow. Good idea on stopping bute in fear of ulcers. Maybe ask your vet if previcox would be helpful in keeping swelling and pain down since that can be used long-term  |
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
| Absolutely previcox. You can give it months of needed. I would also be putting a poultice on it like sore no more etc. wrapping is optional but the poultice will pull infection out and protect leg from bugs etc. I would rinse and apply couple times a day. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 369
Location: south arkansas | clean it with iodine soap real well, mix dmso gel and fursome put that all over the leg wrap with cotton and vet wrap change 1 daily. That will help pull the swelling out of the leg and help with the infection. |
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 Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | I had a mare who did that two years ago, her leg split and opened up an old scar. We would sweat the leg and I used eclipse wound wash and ointment, and equaide for the proud flesh. I also kept a hidez compression legging on it for a while to keep the swelling down. Watch for abcesses in both hind feet. This sort of thing can get ugly fast. |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | Order some Nitroxide and Nutrawound from THE, that stuff really can make all the difference in the world. |
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Veteran
Posts: 289
Location: Where I need to be | i agree with using equaide for the proud flesh. It works really well. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Get the horse on some antiinflammatories, yes bute can cause ulcers, so can previcoxx. Honestly I would stick with bute as it works on cox 1 and 2 pathways where previcoxx only works on cox 1 pathway so doesn't block all inflammation.
Ulcers can be treated, you can always give tums with the bute, or milk of magnesia to help reduce the risk.
I would be getting a culture of the wound then treating with appropriate antibiotics.
Proud flesh I have learned can actually mean the infection is worse then one thinks, generally the bone is affected, you may need to do an X-ray to ensure the bone is not infected, if it is it will need to be scraped so this means surgery.
You say the tendon is hanging, are you sure, it is the tendon?
Also I would be cold hosing, and sweating the leg above the wound.
The wound I have great luck with sprinkling cayenne pepper on the sound then wrapping the area in apple cider soaked gauze reinforcing with vet wrap, and changing daily. The apple cider vinegar will kill quite a bit of the bacteria as it is a change in ph. The cayenne pepper I honestly don't know what it does, but an old horseman told me this and it has never failed me. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | hoofs_in_motion - 2015-08-03 2:26 PM
I just wanted to get some advice on what would be the best for my geldings leg. Two weeks ago, noticed he was a bit gimpy on the back leg...didn't see any cuts etc, so gave him bute and swelling went down. Next thing I know his leg completely balloons 3 times normal size, and bursts open just above the hind left fetlock. He was not able to bend the leg at all, and was able to get his leg in a bucket of epsom salt water to soak for about 20 minutes. He knocked the bucket over, was drinking heavily and still eating. Then went down, had already contacted the vet at this point. Vet gave him IV antibiotics, as well an an anti-immflamatory, he still couldn't get up through the evening. So I bedded him down really good, made sure he had a few buckets of water within reach and hay. The next morning grandma was able to get him up and into a pen for me while I was at work. Vet gave him another antibiotic. He's been on oral antibiotics and bute the past week. I stopped bute this morning for fear of ulcers. Swelling in the leg has gone down tremendously, and he seems to be getting around better, but a tendon is literally hanging out of his leg. The vet won't cut it off until most of the infection is out of his system. He gets cold hosed 5 times a day for 15 minutes at a time. Anything I can use to put on the leg to help with the sores? I'm pretty sure he's developing proud flesh. Also anything therapy wise to help once most of the gunky stuff is gone?
Bless his heart--prayers it clears up quickly and completely. Keep us updated |
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 Lived to tell about it and will never do it again
Posts: 5408
| If you had enough confidence to call the vet that is working on your horse then I would treat the way he says. He is the one that has seen this horse first hand, not in pictures plus he is the one that has the degree. If you don't have enough confidence in this vet then I would be calling another one. |
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Miss Southern Sunshine
Posts: 7427
Location: South Central Florida | I truly like Underwoods and Bevs Salve. But not on something unknown. Iv used both with great success on wounds, but I knew what I was deali g with and neither draw out infection. Honestly I would not worry as much about the ulcers but try to keep him comfortable. Treat the ulcers later or keep him on omeprazol. Wow, hope he heals up soonI think asking on here is always a good idea. You have good advice and we can learn a lot from each other. You dont have to do what people say here, and you can and should check with the vet too but I dont understand why people kind of push only talking to your vet. Learn everything you can. |
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
Location: stray dump capital of the world | My mare kicked through the fence and tore the heck out of her hind leg exposing bone. The vet had us wrap for a little over week, changing daily and cleaning the wound with bentadine scrub, coating with furazone and rewrapping. We hydroed it when we took the wrap off. She saw the vet today for a check up, and he gave us a mix of dmso, dex and an antibiotic. He said to hydro 2x a day and paint the mixture on leaving the leg unwrapped so it can start drying out. I was concerned about proud flesh, and unfortunately at this time of year with the heat, it is the devil, but if you stay on top of the injury, and you seem to be, you will have a handle on it. I agree with the poster who said to follow the vet's advice. Sometimes photos don't show the extent of an injury and you don't want to hamper the healing process.
Finally, I want to say what a beauty your boy is. He looks like he's a big guy! I love appy's too. Sending healing prayers your way. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Something like this Id also follow the vets advise if hes a top notch vet.. if not get another opinion.. I personally though would be giving Bute.. |
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Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | cheryl makofka - 2015-08-03 8:18 PM Get the horse on some antiinflammatories, yes bute can cause ulcers, so can previcoxx. Honestly I would stick with bute as it works on cox 1 and 2 pathways where previcoxx only works on cox 1 pathway so doesn't block all inflammation. Ulcers can be treated, you can always give tums with the bute, or milk of magnesia to help reduce the risk. I would be getting a culture of the wound then treating with appropriate antibiotics. Proud flesh I have learned can actually mean the infection is worse then one thinks, generally the bone is affected, you may need to do an X-ray to ensure the bone is not infected, if it is it will need to be scraped so this means surgery. You say the tendon is hanging, are you sure, it is the tendon? Also I would be cold hosing, and sweating the leg above the wound. The wound I have great luck with sprinkling cayenne pepper on the sound then wrapping the area in apple cider soaked gauze reinforcing with vet wrap, and changing daily. The apple cider vinegar will kill quite a bit of the bacteria as it is a change in ph. The cayenne pepper I honestly don't know what it does, but an old horseman told me this and it has never failed me.
He's on antibiotics currently, he gets 10 crushed pills each feeding twice a day. I'll put him back on the bute. I've been cold hosing it and using wound kote around the area. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| hoofs_in_motion - 2015-08-04 8:03 AM
cheryl makofka - 2015-08-03 8:18 PM Get the horse on some antiinflammatories, yes bute can cause ulcers, so can previcoxx. Honestly I would stick with bute as it works on cox 1 and 2 pathways where previcoxx only works on cox 1 pathway so doesn't block all inflammation. Ulcers can be treated, you can always give tums with the bute, or milk of magnesia to help reduce the risk. I would be getting a culture of the wound then treating with appropriate antibiotics. Proud flesh I have learned can actually mean the infection is worse then one thinks, generally the bone is affected, you may need to do an X-ray to ensure the bone is not infected, if it is it will need to be scraped so this means surgery. You say the tendon is hanging, are you sure, it is the tendon? Also I would be cold hosing, and sweating the leg above the wound. The wound I have great luck with sprinkling cayenne pepper on the sound then wrapping the area in apple cider soaked gauze reinforcing with vet wrap, and changing daily. The apple cider vinegar will kill quite a bit of the bacteria as it is a change in ph. The cayenne pepper I honestly don't know what it does, but an old horseman told me this and it has never failed me.
He's on antibiotics currently, he gets 10 crushed pills each feeding twice a day. I'll put him back on the bute. I've been cold hosing it and using wound kote around the area.
The antibiotics may not be treating the infection. The bacteria strain may be immune/resistant to the antibiotic, this is why a culture may be necessary to ensure your not wasting your money. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | that doesn't look to bad actually, sounds like you have gotten some great advice, good luck
m |
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 Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | Oh wow, I am so sorry! that looks terrible! Sounds like you're doing the right things and people have offered great advice, hope it heals up in no time! |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | Bibliafarm - 2015-08-03 10:31 PM Something like this Id also follow the vets advise if hes a top notch vet.. if not get another opinion.. I personally though would be giving Bute..
Exactly. Put him back on Bute, give him some Gastrogard, and culture that wound to see what antibiotic will work best. You'll also want him on a probiotic so that his digestive system doesn't get totally wrecked from everything you're having to give him. I would rather see an IM antibiotic than a pill on something this significant. Some sort of support wrap would really help his level of comfort as well. Wrap both back legs to keep him from injuring the good leg. |
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