This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Routine Horse Care » Particular Situations & Procedure topics not covered by above »
  Discussion on Scar tissue advice for abused horse
Author Message
Member:
gailkin

Posted on Saturday, Sep 8, 2007 - 3:57 pm:

My trimmer recently rescued a badly lame and foundered Premarin baby who is obviously half draft horse. She was called out after the laminitus was so bad that the horse could not get up or stand. His legs were bent from the misshapen and vastly overgrown hooves that curled in several directions. After sedation from a vet she was able to remove several inches of the hooves, but a rear hoof was bent clear backward behind him. The owner said that he had gotten into some wire a while ago. The next time she went out he was able to stand although lame. The owner was evasive and said no one could ever catch the horse so it wasn't treated. Anyway, she could not stand to see him in such deplorable shape talked the owner into letting her take the horse to her place. She had the vet out the next day and they took a 10 inch piece of copper wire out of his rear pastern. The flesh had grown all around the wire for two years and the hooves were soggy with thrush, etc. and the bottom of his feet were covered with blisters. She has slowly been healing his feet and he is such a happy, loving horse. My question is that he has a round ball of scar tissue all the way around the pastern so that there is no pastern showing. He keeps the hoof behind him although after healing the blood blisters and doing therapeutic trimming, he is able to stab the ground with his toe (coffin bone) now. The heel had to be cut down slowly and with movement he is getting closer to being able to put his foot flat on the ground. Our vet thinks that the scar tissue and tendon will stretch over time so he may not need surgery. He is 7 years old now. Has anyone ever had any experience with such a large amount of scar tissue? Obviously, this horse was abused so it is not a normal injury or situation that anyone would encounter regularly. His hoof does not go forward at all--there is no forward slope to the pastern; just a ball of scar tissue from the hoof bending clear backward for two years.
I would appreciate any advice from anyone who might have encountered a similar kind of injury. Our vet has suggested she start riding him. She has been taking him on trail rides in the woods with his girlfriend. He is always so happy and glad to see all horses and people. She often has him loose on her property because her alpha mares are really hard on new horses. He comes when called and plays and absolutely loves being where he is, so don't feel too bad about his poor start in life. We have high hopes that he will be sound and he is getting the best of care and training. Our vets just haven't had experience with this severe injury so am looking for advice from the larger horse world.
Thanks for any suggestions. Gail
Member:
zarr

Posted on Saturday, Sep 8, 2007 - 6:49 pm:

This is very old stuff its called Bag Balm and has been around for years, comes in a green tin can. Have used it on embedded halter wounds and on my own sliced arab but don't know if they were that bad? God love em the young are so resilent and have such joy of life. Sure there are more modern meds but have seen this work well many times over. Cindy
Member:
mcbizz

Posted on Saturday, Sep 8, 2007 - 8:51 pm:

Hi, Cindy...
Bag Balm, yes, the best "salve" around! Intended for soothing cow's teats...(on the farm, never without it.) Very good stuff to have around. It is also very good for rough hands... Bet it would be good for that wound, at least worth trying! I have to add this; I've learned somewhere that PrepH ( You know, for humans) is very good for that type of wound/injury...thoughts?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Sep 9, 2007 - 9:06 am:

Gail would it be possible to see the injured areas from several different view points?
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC