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Discussion on Rope burn/cut on Hock
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Member:
hwood
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Posted on Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 - 11:28 pm:
Dr. O. and fellow members. Remember how we recently mentioned that this year seems to be rather rife with horse misfortunes? Well, it's Sunday at the farm . . .
I have never seen the vet as much in my life as I have since we moved here to KS a year ago.
This morning, I was sickened to see Mark's favorite mare standing with her right hind cocked and swollen. The middle rope of the Electro Braid cross fence was down on one side of the pasture . . . (so much for it being the safest fence for horses)
This mare is a sweetheart with people and so well trained, but she is a total WITCH with other horses, and commonly kicks at her stall panels at feeding time, and I guess she thought she could kick at the Electro-Braid. I'm sure her injury was hastened in it's healing with Electro-Shock therapy . . . grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr . The two line post insulators (very strong) were snapped off the posts . . . and the copper fastener at the end of the fence had allowed the fence to slip off the end post, but seemingly, not without a brutal struggle.
So . . . I gave the mare a double dose of Bute with her grain and washed her leg with surgical scrub and cold water-hosed (cold water is a relative term here in KS . . . it's more like lukewarm-hosed) the injury and coated it with NitroFurazone and put gauze pads on it, wrapped with rolled gauze, then wrapped with brown gauze, and then put breathable tape at the top and bottom of the bandage. I took pictures before I cleaned it, but they didn't come out (I didn't realize that my digital camera has TWO kinds of batteries. I've replaced the AA batteries multiple times, but didn't know about the little round silver battery . . . so went to the store and got one today . . . ) but the second set of photos that were this evening before I cleaned, hosed, and rebandaged are below. I will call the vet in the a.m. Her temp has been 101 and 101.2 all day. She is eating well. I put store brand triple antibiotic and analgesic on the injury tonight before I rebandaged it. She is in a 16 x 16 stall so she can try to walk if needed. She was afraid to walk from the pasture to the barn this a.m., but once she got started, she did very well, but was definitely in pain.
Would you try ice on the lower leg or just continue to use the hose? Would you wrap the lower leg that is swollen or just gently wrap the hock? I'm not using vet wrap because I didn't think that pressure would be good, and she reacts when I put any pressure on the inside of her hock, but if I should use Vet Wrap, I have plenty. I have Banamine injectible, but the Bute was handy in the barn, so didn't give her any Banamine but will if it would be better. I thought there was a recent discussion of Bute/Banamine, but couldn't find it under either topic.
Thank you for your comments and help.
and lastly
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Member:
shirl
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Posted on Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - 12:42 am:
Holly,
I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this now. I'm no expert in this type of thing, so will let others and Dr. O. answer your questions, though it seems to me you are doing things correctly. Take care of you and I'm sending hugs, prayers and thoughts your way.
Shirl
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Member:
hpyhaulr
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Posted on Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - 8:32 am:
Holly,
Good Gravy Holly!!!! I am filing this under "yet another shred of evidence God is NOT a woman". Not to put this in the same category of issues you have had to deal with this year, BUT....ENOUGH ALREADY. GIVE THE WOMAN A BREATHER!!!!
I am interested in hearing Dr. O's input, looks like a sewing job to me and sounds like you have the mother/nurse Nancy thing all down pat (too much experience).
Repeat after me... that which does not kill me makes me stronger. Go Superwoman!
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - 9:18 am:
Holly looks like you have done a great job keeping it clean, i would guess you will be doing the hose thing for a while tho.. Not sure about the bandaging , that will be Dr. O's answer..
We love these horses, WE LOVE THESE HORSES... we love these horses.. $$$$$$$
On the first day God created horses , on the second day he painted them with spots.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - 9:37 am:
Hello Holly,
No I don't think I would ice pack this just continue the NSAID and wound therapy as described above. I would pressure wrap the lower leg to limit swelling. My first concern is did the wound penetrate the joint capsule. It does not appear so but I cannot rule it out in the distal aspect of the more lateral wound. I second concern is that little tiny tag of tissue is going to hold together long enough for the wound margins to granulate down. This piece is greatly decreasing the size of the open wound. It will heal either way but easier if the opening of the wound is smaller. Preserving that tag is best done with daily hosing to limit inflammatory materials that will break it down.
DrO
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Member:
lilo
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Posted on Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - 9:41 am:
Holly - I am so sorry to hear about you having to deal with this injury. I have no advice - just wanted to say I hope it heals up OK. The wound looks clean - I think you are doing a good job.
Good luck,
Lilo
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Member:
zarr
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Posted on Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - 11:35 am:
Holly, have had that type fence for ten years and not one horse has challenged it, except Pest who bit it, so sorry tjat is ugly. Our arab gelding had that same type of injury when he kicked with both back feet and planted his butt and both back legs into the rungs of the arena panel! Followed same path you are on and much time later he was fine. Best of luck! Think we should all send bubblewrap to each other for Xmas. Cindy
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - 11:50 am:
Oh Holly,
My daughter's retired AQHA mare kicked straight through a treated lumber/horse wire fence and tore her legs straight down to the bone this Spring. My vet said: it isn't the fence-- it's the mare. I think she was right. I have reorganized so that she shares a fenceline with the babies, who don't challenge her. And I keep lots of supplies (including baby diapers, since she's prone to oozing injuries) on hand at all times.
That being said, my yearlings completely disassembled a very solid electrobraid fence this summer, and went off to play tag with the old stallion. Those insulators do break, apparently.
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Member:
hwood
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Posted on Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - 10:27 pm:
Thank you, all, for your commiseration and encouragement during my recent horse woes. It certainly has been a different kind of year for me . . . and thanks to me and my herd, my local vet can buy groceries every week.
I trailered Dixie to the vet today. I had hosed and bandaged her leg this morning and rebandaged it before I trailered her because the bandage had started to slip a little.
When the vet unbandaged her, the blood started to spurt and flow down her leg. There had been no blood like that since I discovered the wound and after 3 times of hosing and medicating and bandaging. He, at first, thought it was an artery, but when he put just a little pressure with his finger at the base edge of the wound, the bleeding stopped, so he figured it was a "bleeder" from the just starting granulation tissue. He said the granualtion tissue starts about 72 hours after the inception of the wound, but it was only half that time. (?)
Anyway, he used nitrofurazone and bandaged with a bit more pressue than what I had used (much to Dixie's dismay and discomfort). He used Vet Wrap, too, and then covered it with about $20 worth of Elasticon and told me that I didn't need to rebandage but every 3 days . . . If I wait that long, then I won't be doing daily hosing, and I showed him your post, Dr. O., and mentioned about the little tag of skin and how the cold hosing might save it . . .
He sort of agreed (oh, and doesn't think that the joint capsule was ruptured), so I will do the daily hosing, but will wait until tomorrow night because it seems a shame to waste all that Elasticon.
He gave her tetanus toxoid. He wanted to do the antitoxin and said that it really only adversely effects about 1 in 10,000 horses and he would probably never see it in his lifetime since the practice here is so small. Still, he made the point that we never know who the "one" will be . . . but if he ever DOES see a horse adversely effected by the antitoxin, that he said he would use it on every wounded horse after that point because he would have seen the "one."
Dixie is on Bute 2x a day and Tucoprin once a day.
She is putting weight on the leg and walking around her 16 x 16 stall. She had lain down to sleep last night as there was a hollow in the shavings and she had them in her mane and tail this a.m.. She is extremely sensitive to pressure on the inside of the hock. Oh, I used a foam/fleece quilt and polo wrap to help support the bottom of that leg.
Thank you for your advice.
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - 10:42 pm:
Elasticon, I too have spent a pretty $$ on that ,i found i could use less of it and put duck tape over it,* lightly* long as i had planned on redoing the next day ..
good luck , i am glad you took her to the vet..
On the first day God created horses , on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - 6:47 am:
Good golly Holly,
When you told me in your email Dixie had hurt her leg, I didn't know how bad as I hadn't read this. Where is my private jet when I need it? I wish I could fly down and help you doctor her.
She tore off the insulators too? WOW, I thought that was some tough fence you had going there, I am amazed she managed to get hurt in it.
You tell that silly mare to get better, not give you grief when being tended, and tell her I want to ride her again when we come visit, so no lameness allowed!!
I do think we are all jinxed this year with horse injuries too. I am doctoring Cody's rear leg also, he just bobbled it in the pasture, came up swelled on the pastern, but thank God nothing bloody like with Dixie.
(((HUGS HOLLY)))
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - 7:23 am:
Holly You are being tested. It looks like you have it under control and now the joys of bandaging.
These horses are enough work and expense with out owies...why they feel the need to test our devotion is beyond me.
There are days I wonder if it is all worth it....but IT IS...other wise we would all have to go to psychiatrists, and they are much more expensive (I think)
Hoping Dixie mends with out problems!
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - 7:24 am:
Hi Holly,
Just wanted to send more positive thoughts your way. Hope Dixie is OK and makes a full recovery.
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - 12:15 pm:
Oh Holly, it looks bad enough when its all cleaned up, can't imagine how bad it looked when it was all messy.
You are certainly getting your share of stuff to deal with.
He who overcomes will win the crown.
Hang in there.
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Member:
muffi
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - 2:38 pm:
Oh Holly - Hug and more hugs... sorry about the silly girl.
I was just going to post a concern but it's nothing compaired to this cut.
My boy fell down yesterday and did some skin abraisions. rubbed the skin off at the fetlock joint and up on the left hock. (good sized chunks of hair gone down a few layers of skin - some blood too YUCK!) I dressed them immediately and then did it again this morning. he put weight on it after that so he if fine - i was worse for the wear then him...
but Your little girl - she'll be fine. you are such a trooper....
bless you and all the beasties under your roofs....
Muffi
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Member:
hwood
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 - 3:18 pm:
Thank you, HA friends, for your perky, huggy, posts.
Dixie's swelling was nonexistant when I took the pressure wrap off yesterday morning. I left it off for the day and her lower leg was only a tiny bit puffy by evening, so I pressure wrapped it again last night. The bandage the vet had put on the hock has slipped down a bit. I cut through the layers of expensive Elasticon (and shed tears over the waste of that stuff) and hosed off her leg last night, dried it, rewrapped with Nitrofurazone, lots of gauze and hot pink Coflex and then stingily put Elasticon only at the top and bottom of the bandage and the bandage was right were it was supposed to be this a.m. 
Dix is getting her Tucoprim in a couple of handfuls of some of the more tasty senior feed. She is still getting one gram of Bute 2x a day. Vet wants to see her back on Friday, but I really think everything is looking good, and she is getting around on it very nicely.
One of our members wrote to me that she was sorry to hear of yet another trouble here at the farm, on the other hand, maybe I was being kept unreasonably busy in order to prevent me from becoming a Soap Opera obsessed, lump of couch-potato flesh munching on bon-bons and sobbing into her beer after the loss of Mark. (or something like that, eh, Lee?)
It certainly has been a different kind of year . . . and that saying about "bad things come in threes"? Don't believe it.
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Member:
lilo
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 - 9:33 am:
Hi Holly - glad to hear the healing seems to be progressing well.
Continued good wishes for speedy healing,
Lilo
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 - 11:05 am:
Oh wow Holly! I think maybe perhaps Lee has a point?? I too am glad she's feeling better. Good luck to you!
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Member:
hwood
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 - 1:21 pm:
This is Dixie's injury on the third day with daily hosing. Tried to take some photos with the sunlight shining on the wound, but they were too glaring. Saw a few bits of tissue wash away as I hosed, and it seemed that I could see the wound turn more pink as the hosing stimulated blood flow. She is allowing me to put pressure on the inside of the hock as I dry off her leg before re-bandaging. Still using pressure bandage for most of the day or night, and it really keeps her lower leg looking normal. If I leave it off for a few hours, the lower leg stocks up.
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Member:
shirl
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 - 1:58 pm:
Good Job Holly!! You're a super Mom.
Shirl
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Member:
zarr
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 - 5:25 pm:
Only a group of women who love and care for horses would look at that wound and say looks great, good job! My husband looked over my shoulder and departed, fast, I yelled Honey shoulda seen it before, but he didn't come back!?? Looks to really be on the mend ! Cindy
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 - 5:48 pm:
isn't amazing how fast they heal.. ?
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
amara
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 - 7:53 pm:
wow! great job Holly! a testament to your time spent and the health of your horsies...
Cindy, you're husband had a problem with THAT?...ugly, but relatively "minor" as far as some of the open wounds i'm sure we've all seen...
keep up the good healing Holly!
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 - 9:28 pm:
Ha ha, no one in my family wants to see the wound either, and they all have met Dixie!
Looking good Mom Holly.
Don't see any reason why it won't heal up as good as new.
Take care girlfriend.
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Member:
srobert
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Posted on Friday, Sep 21, 2007 - 12:20 am:
Wow! What a difference. Keep at it girl!
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Member:
frances
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Posted on Friday, Sep 21, 2007 - 7:23 am:
Huge improvement Holly - and in only 3 days. Clever you!
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Member:
hwood
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Posted on Friday, Sep 21, 2007 - 2:47 pm:
Thanks, folks. I'm just following Dr. O's recommendations and the Good Lord is doing the rest.
The differences aren't heartstopping, but for anyone who is interested, here is the injury on Day 4 after hosing:
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Friday, Sep 21, 2007 - 3:08 pm:
It really looks good, Holly, to my non expert eye - very clean and healthy looking tissue. Kudos to your expert care!
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Member:
leilani
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Posted on Friday, Sep 21, 2007 - 3:22 pm:
Holly,
It looks GREAT!!! Good job; been there, did that and I know how the healing seems to crawl. Leilani
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Member:
paul303
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 22, 2007 - 1:52 am:
Sure looks a lot better than I ever thought it would - especially in an area that has so much movement.
Holly, a word of advice: drinking and many things don't mix.....especially beer and bon-bons.
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Member:
hwood
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 22, 2007 - 2:55 pm:
Hmphf,  Lee,
Shoot . . . well, is there a way I can do it correctly? I've been filling a class with champagne truffles and then adding the Rolling Rock. Works best with a spoon and a straw . . . like an old-time soda fountain drink. I feel pretty good afterwards, so it can't be all bad, eh?
Day five before hosing: Sorry about the glare. I can see that the diagonal slice is beginning to fill in a bit.
front on of right hock
Day five AFTER hosing:
front on:
Question for Dr. O.:
Vet is coming next Wednesday. From these next 2 photos, what is your assessment of the swelling on the inside of the right hock? Here is a photo of the injured hock and the left, normal hock. Thank you.
Normal Hock:
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 22, 2007 - 5:10 pm:
Hmmm visually it appears to be mainly edema but there could also be underlying joint swelling (tibiotarsal joint capsule). They will feel a bit different but both may be present. For more see the article on assessing swelling it will give you details on assessment.
DrO
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Member:
pbauer
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 22, 2007 - 5:44 pm:
Dear Holly,
I can certainly understand your concern...will be praying for your baby!
HA has a wonderful prayer support group...and I'm very happy to be part of it!
My Very Best,
Tonya
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