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Discussion on Mare with badly cut face
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 7:15 pm:
Dr. O, as you may have read, one of our mares went through a fence while we were gone and she badly injured her face. She cut the front of her face all the way down her nose almost to her nostrils. Evidently she peeled about a 6 inch flap of skin down from mid cut to bottom of the cut.
Luckily the young man horse-sitting for us had the good sense to get our neighbor (our farrier and very horse smart) who was able to find a vet tho' not our usual vet) who would suture the mare up on a Thanksgiving Day.
I took the mare in yesterday to have sutures removed. The skin died on the part of the injury where she peeled the flap back so the vet cut it off. This has left a large open wound which is so deep you can see her nose bone in one area. He told me to keep it clean, covered if I could, and to spray a medicated spray (Granulex V) on it once or twice a day. The mare was originally on bute and antibiotics when she was first injured, but is no longer.
The vet put a bandage on her nose,but it didn't stay on long enough for me to get her back in the trailer. When we got home I tried putting various bandages on her, but couldn't get any to last more than two hours. I tried covering with a sleezy, but it didn't come far enough down her nose. I also tried the left cut from a pair of panty hose, which came off as she chewed her dinner.
After reading your article I don't feel so compelled to keep the wound covered. However, I am concerned about the wound drying out. Will this hinder healing and the formation of granulation tissue? Even though there is bone showing and the wound is on her face, should I be trying to hose it daily at this stage (barely above freezing water) or should I be flushing it with saline solution? Or, just spraying on the Granulex? Should I put her back on antibiotics since there is bone showing?
Currently there is a little patch of granulation on one corner of the open wound, but none near the bone. Will this area also form granulation eventually?
Thanks a lot for your advice.
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Member:
Zarr
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 7:47 pm:
Sara I realize all fly masks are put up but you might try one of Cashels long nose ones they go down to nostrils? If they just made bubble wrap with velcro we be all good. Cindy
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Member:
Paul303
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 11:10 pm:
Oh, no, Sara...no more. I'm so sorry. Can a dressing be fixed to a DrOp nose band or a figure-8 nose band ( just the nose band and some kind of tube dressing like what is used for amputees )?
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 12:11 am:
Cindy, I do have a couple of those Cashel masks. I wonder if I could figure out a way to keep it tight enough to hold on the bandage?
I'll wait and see what Dr. O. has to say about whether or not I should try and keep it covered. It seems to me it would heal better/faster if it was kept moist and bandaging would be the only way to do that, but I might be way off base. So, I'll wait for an expert opinion.
I don't think the vet that treated her is that used to dealing with horses, although he has a really nice facility with stalls. His manor with her made me feel he was a little nervous around her (and she's a sweetheart to deal with.) First thing he did was have his assistant put her in stocks and then crank her lead down tight, even though he was going to sedate her. This didn't instill confidence in me.
Lee, I really do feel like I'm running a combo retirement home/hospital for animals. I feel like I should advertise for more injured, old animals and get paid for their care! I also feel like I should never leave home!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 6:17 am:
Sara, with exposed bone I would try to keep this moist but I would speak with the veterinarian about using something more tissue friendly than the Granulex. Until granulated in I would use antibiotics.
Because it is the head and it is freezing, I don't think the hose practical as everything would get wet. So flushing with warmed saline to which chlorhexidine has been added (final concentration about 0.5%, there will be some precipitate in the mixture but that is OK) would be practical then covered with a solution saturated bandage should provide protection while promoting granulation.
There are many ways to make such a bandage but we describe one at, Diseases of Horses » First Aid » Bandaging Horses. The Stockinette is available from your vet.
DrO
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Member:
Jockyrdg
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 7:40 am:
Hi Sara; It sounds like the area you are trying to cover is way down on the nose and the jaw movement disrupts everything. In addition to what's in the articles; have you tried the elastikon? You can get it in most pharmacies, or they will order for you. There is wide and narrow. The stuff is like an ace bandage with SUPER sticky on it. We use to hold hock and knee bandages in place and it lives through everything. Downside is, it's like your mom peeling a band-aid off when you were 4 - OUCH! But no one said healing was comfy. Try using it with your pad underneath and be sure elastikon attaches to pad and skin/hair. Good luck. Gee, wouldn't want that girl to sneeze on me - might come out like a blow hole!
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 7:59 am:
Sara, when you figure out how to make money at running an equine retirement home/care facility, do let me know. We have thought of it many times, but are wary that folks would just dump horses here as an alternative to putting them down and would not be relaiable in paying for their continued care.
Sounds like a nasty wound. Hope the healing will go smoothly and won't leave much of a scar.
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 8:04 am:
Sara, would a grazing muzzle cover the bandages and help keep them on?
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Member:
Banthony
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 9:04 am:
If you use Elastikon there is a solvent remover that will let you peel it off without taking all the hair off. You can get it through medical supply stores in both a liquid and little packets like the ones alcohol pads come in.
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Member:
Kathleen
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 9:28 am:
Sara.
When Annie had surgery on her stifle as a two year old and the stifle joint was left exposed, the vet suggested suturing a bandage type thing to the wound site with an opening so the bandage could be changed as often as necessary. We ended up using a driving harness saddle and crouper combined with carpenters suspenders and an old neoprene neck sweat, blah, blah, blah, but it worked.
Good luck as always
Kathleen
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 10:25 am:
Dr.O, thank you for responding. You confirmed my concerns about her current treatment. I'll be visiting my regular vet and talking with him about her wound and picking up supplies this morning. After reading your article, I think the panty hose would have worked, but I didn't carry the hose up and over her head as suggested in your article with the stockenette.
Also, when I was applying the bandage, I did use elastikon, but the temperature was below freezing and it wouldn't stick right; also the roll I had was fairly old.
Fran, I think the grazing muzzle would hit right across the worst part of the wound, as does a halter.
Kathleen, if I can't get the stockenette to work, I'll take her into my regular vet and discuss options like the one you suggest.
Holly, you express the exact concerns I have about running such an facility. The other one I've thought of is a place for very pgregnant mares, foaling out, early foal care, etc. My concern there is the liability factor if a foal or mare died or was injured during delivery, etc.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 10:43 am:
Linda, I never knew about a remover for the adhesive. I'm going to look for some and keep it on hand. Thanks
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Member:
Peggyr1
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 11:12 am:
Gee Sara I'm sorry to hear this. Thanksgiving Day several years ago I had the same thing happen to a foal. She peeled her face from the forehead down, she ran head on into a fence. Our vet came, cut and sutured what he could. She recovered with very little scaring left on the forehead. I hoping all turns out well for your mare.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 2:31 pm:
Peggy, this is good to hear.
I picked up some bandaging supplies today at my vet's and made an appointment in a week for him to check her progress. He told me about another horse that did the same type of thing with resulting injury to the face where bone could be seen. The horse healed up fine; so that story and yours are encouraging. It's just so gruesome to look at!
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 2:45 pm:
Oh Sara, I'm so sorry .... I know you are a very strong and wise woman and you are handling all trials so well... I just wanted to say that I learn something from you whenever I read your posts, whether it be about horses or about heart.
Take care Sara.
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Member:
Peggyr1
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 3:00 pm:
Sara, I remember it was a really cold day for us and the football games were on. I looked outside and saw her running around like a fool and she failed to make the turn! There was blood everywhere and the flap of skin was just hanging there. It was my first experience with a really bad injury. Luckily my vet lives about 3 miles from me and was there in a flash. He said it'd be fine and I just couldn't see how. Her winter hair starting growing in and by spring you could hardly see it. I'm sure with your care she's going to be just fine.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 3:38 pm:
Aileen, what a sweet thing to say.
You would probably have learned a few new cuss words from me about an hour ago. I came in to find the dog and thrown up all over the floor...nice green manure.
Peggy, in a way I'm glad I wasn't here when she did this; I'd have had a heart attack! Head injuries always look so awful anyway. I've turned her out to move around a little and when I bring her in I'll try the new doctoring and bandaging.
My husband had a helpful suggestion: pour some scotch on the wound and drink the rest!
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Member:
Pbauer
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 4:00 pm:
Dear Sara,
I know the last few months haven't been easy for you, but you have...true grit I'm sure there are already many prayers of recovery for your mare,***and for you***...in God's hands.
As a very dear friend always said to me..."keep your chin up."
Thoughts and Prayers,
Tonya
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Member:
Juliem
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 9:27 pm:
Holly and Sara, perhaps we should start a new discussion regarding retirement/rehab. I worry about my horses outliving me and would love to have a facility that would care for them and individualize the program for each horse. One, for example, must be diligently managed as to grass, requires frequent trimming, etc. A facility could require an established "trust fund" or some type of legal arrangement for payment, a detailed care plan and something like a "living will" for each horse. Lots of details to work out. Perhaps some horses could be leased and monitored by the caretaker if the horse was still usable before full retirement. Many different options would be needed as the care would need to be individualized. I'm afraid most retirement places just turn the old ones out to pasture and collect the board. I think a lot of horse (and other animal) owners would find comfort in working out an agreement and method of payment before it actually became necessary. In the event of death or incapacitation of the owner, the family would know exactly who to contact and the plan would be put into action. The fly in the ointment is the caretaker--who steps up to continue the care if the original one can't? Perhaps a "board of directors" that hires a new "manager"? Certainly going to require an attorney at some point! Stuff to think about, Julie
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Member:
Quatro
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 11:33 pm:
Before I got my Levi as a baby of 4 months, he had gone through a fence, had his face stitched up. When I saw him for the first time he still carried the fresh scars on his nose. The one on the center of his nose was in the shape of the Aries (sun sign). Since I am an aries, I took it as a silly sign that this silly gangly looking colt was the one for me.
After all the problems I have had, all the worries, I wonder if it wasn't a sign of what was to come!!!!
I am sure if anyone else would have picked him, who knows where he would have ended up by now.
His scar is barely visible, but I know it is there!
Good Luck Sara, you sure have been given your trials and tribulations lately! The new year is coming, lets hope for the best!
suz
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 14, 2006 - 10:16 am:
OH Sara.. we are kindred souls of late... I can't help with the bandaging... but can relate to this as well.. My gelding as a yearling try to go thru a solid fence and broke and sliced the bridge of his nose... It all healed nicely but he has a lump right at the nose band.. It was a bloody mess/ head wound.. and took a long time to heal over...
Good luck...
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 14, 2006 - 12:36 pm:
I think I've given up on the bandaging. I tried the stockinette over her face and behind her ears and down her neck a ways, and it lasted about half and hour. (I have a hard time keeping fly masks on her, too.) She will let me wash it off and apply medicine,so guess that's what I'll be doing. At least we don't have flies this time of year, which is a big plus.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 14, 2006 - 6:53 pm:
Perhaps a stockinet under and attached to a halter?
DrO
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Friday, Dec 22, 2006 - 12:19 am:
Sahira's face is looking good. Her open wound is about half way filled in, and you can only see the bone is one very small area. I'm so relieved.
btw, I tried your suggestion about attaching the stockinet to a halter, but couldn't get the halter to rest comfortably on her nose without rubbing the injury. If I lowered the halter enough to miss the wound, it DrOoped so low she could get her upper lip over it and pull it into her mouth.
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Member:
Paul303
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Posted on Friday, Dec 22, 2006 - 2:16 am:
Thank heaven Sara. Wishing you great luck ( it's about time some came your way....maybe Santa will deliver some???). Hopefully all will be well soon. Give my love to Libby, also!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Dec 22, 2006 - 7:17 am:
Super Sarah,
DrO
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Member:
Peggyr1
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Posted on Friday, Dec 22, 2006 - 9:12 am:
This is just great Sara, I know it is going to turn out well for her. Peggy
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Friday, Dec 22, 2006 - 10:30 am:
Good news Sara! Merry Christmas!!!
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