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  Discussion on Cut and bruised bulb
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Member:
cmatexas

Posted on Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 - 11:00 pm:

Our gelding apparently hit the side of is back left leg on the round pen today. I heard the impact, but didn't notice any change in him and continued his work-out. He never limped or reacted. The round pen is made of rolled steel horse panels, no sharp edges, and footing is sand. When I was rinsing him off, I found a clump of partially dried blood on his back foot. On closer inspection, he had cut his foot on the back, right in the coronet band, and peeled the hoof down about 1 inch. The peeled down part of the hoof is about 1/4 inch thick at top, and narrowed as it went down into the hoof. He was not lame on the foot, and not sore when I pushed on it. Over the next little while, the bulb of his foot turned red, and started to bruise pretty badly, but there was no swelling. I rinsed it very well with the hose, then with sterile saline, pushed the hoof back together, put some furazole (sp??) ointment on it to keep it moist, and put a non-stick pad over it, held on with vet wrap (not tight, just keeping the pad on). When I got home, I read that I should have used betadine. I will be feeding/checking in the morning. Any suggestions as to what I should do then? I didn't use betadine b/c I read last week not to use it on fresh wounds as it can damage living tissue and I don't want to damage his coronet band. Never treated a hoof problem worse than a little thrush one wet spring.

By the way, Doc, this is the gelding I took to A&M for skin problems last month. Gone through several fly sheets, and gallons of spray, but his coat is AWESOME, no itching, reactions to flybites he does get very reduced with no more nasty sores. Feeding Glanzen supplement with good results, as well as 8 hyDrOxozine (sp??) daily. Use medicated shampoo and lotion weekly. Just thought you might want to hear some good news. :-):-):-)
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 - 9:44 pm:

We recommend you follow the directions in Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Wounds / Burns » Wounds: First Aid Care. Concerning betadine, used at proper concentrations it is mild enough to flush contaminated peritoneal cavity or a infected uterus with excellent results. I have been using it to clean contaminated wounds for decades also with excellent results. You have to look at cost and benefit, if you put it on healthy tissue you may have a point but if you are treating traumatized contaminated tissue the benefits far outweigh the negatives. I do prefer chlorhexidine for open wounds however as it has a bit more persistence.
DrO
Member:
cmatexas

Posted on Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 - 10:51 pm:

Will do. Looked at it this evening, and see no change. The peeled off area does not look dead, but it does not appear to be "reattaching", nor does it look to me like it is something that can heal. It looks more a like a broken fingernail that will eventually harden and fall off, but I have no idea how it will work in a horse. It's still about 1/4 inch deep, directly in the coronet band, and the tissue is very tuff, but obviously alive (as opposed to the hoof). The leg is not swollen, although there is a faint bruise, but no heat. It was tender to the touch. What should I look for over the next few days? If he is not lame, is he rideable? He is only ridden by my son in the arena and in the pasture, nothing heavy. I am not familiar with chlorhexidine. Where might I get some? The vet? Tractor supply? Is there a brand name I should look for?

Thanks for the advice!!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Apr 23, 2007 - 8:26 am:

Perhaps several good photos may allow us to help with specific recommendations and predictions. Nolvasan is a name brand for chlorhexidine.
DrO
Member:
cmatexas

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 - 8:49 am:

Well, whatever I should have done will probably be moot now!! His shoe cut through the bottom of the vet wrap and tape yesterday, and slipped up, and the peeled back area is full of sand and whatever else!! I rinsed it out, but the area is dry and hard now. It didn't seem sore to the touch, no fever, no blood or drainage. Good thing God takes care of the "simple creatures", cause that's what this big boy is!! We will take him to the farrier, see what he thinks. Stupid horse!! Learning that if you put one out in the pasture of barbwire full of poisonous plants and sharp tin, they will grow fat and slick, but if you remove all dangerous things and feed them good food and doctor them, they will KILL themselves!!!
Member:
maggienm

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 - 9:50 am:

Yup, that about sums it up Michelle, as Alden can attest to.
Member:
quatro

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 - 9:26 pm:

I can relate to that Michelle, How true. My neighbors horses never seem to have a problem. They just roam free, tractors parts everywhere. Levi is spoiled rotten, and always has something wrong with him. :-)
suz
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