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  Discussion on Bruised or something worse?
Author Message
Member:
leec

Posted on Thursday, Sep 27, 2007 - 10:15 pm:

Hi Dr O,
Last Saturday morning (Sept 22) when I went to feed, my 2.5 yr old filly was grade 4 lame on her left hind. She could put weight on the leg, but was walking on her toe. I could tell she was in quite a bit of pain as she was pawing and trying to chew whatever was near her. From past experiences these are her ways of saying, 'this really hurts'. I palpated her entire leg and there was no heat or swelling – I got no reaction until I pushed on her heel/frog area. I cleaned the foot and rinsed it with hot water and Betadine, but I could not see anything wrong (punctures etc.). I called my vet and she suggested I give her some Bute and to continue monitoring the leg for swelling and to call her the next day. She was a bit better the next day, could put some weight on the entire foot, but still grade 4. So, we put her on Bute for 5 days and I’ve been soaking her foot with hot water and Epsom salts as often as I can. On the 25th, the top layer, about 1/4" thick piece of her frog came off, but underneath it was not raw, goopy or stinky. It just looked like normal frog shedding. I took extra time tonight examining her foot for any discoloration and could see nothing odd (she is still grade 4, but mostly noticeable when she pivots). I rubbed my fingers really well around her frog and smelled them to see if they stunk like anything bad is happening there, but so far only normal smells. Today is her last day for Bute until Sunday. I think she hurt herself while goofing off by kicking a wooden fence post really hard; nothing else makes sense with where she is kept at night and with where the injury is. She is not confined, but she doesn't have to move around if she doesn't want to – she has hay in front of her and there is grass available. My questions are... After this much time, could she still abscess? Should I have her x-rayed - could she have broken a bone in her foot? Should I just continue with what I'm doing unless her condition worsens? Is there anything else you can suggest I do or watch for?
Thanx, Lee C
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Sep 28, 2007 - 6:19 am:

Hello Lee,
Taking your questions in order:
1) Yes, foot abscess could be consistent with the history. But remember "could it be" questions almost no matter how off the wall almost always must be answered yes and therefore of little help as a diagnostic tool. For instance, tiny aliens COULD have taken up residence in the coffin joint, not likely I know, but I do not know anything in your description that makes this impossible.
2) The decision to radiograph depends on the exam findings.
3) Yes (see above).
4) I would recommend having the horse examined Lee. I do not like to see horses this painful more than 24 hours before an attempt is made to diagnose the problem if only to rule out joint pain. The reason is that joint infection has a quickly worsening prognosis after the first 24 hours.
5) For extensive information on treatment and diagnosis see Diseases of Horses » Lameness » First Aid for the Lame Horse and Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Localizing Lameness in the Horse.
DrO
Member:
leec

Posted on Friday, Sep 28, 2007 - 8:17 pm:

Hi Dr O,
Thank you for your advice. This morning after having no Bute for 24 hrs, she was as lame as last Saturday, so I had the vet come up. The inside heel area is badly bruised and the vet says she will be surprised if it does not abscess. We have poulticed, bandaged and booted her. I am to change everything every 24hrs for 7 days, as well as continue to soak her with the Epsom salts. From the examination, the vet did not feel it was necessary to x-ray. However, I am to call her if she takes a turn for the worse. We have put her back on the Bute. I asked about giving her Ace, to keep her quieter for these 7 days of confinement and the vet said it was okay. We decided the boot would have a better chance of staying on if she is not out in her hilly, rocky pasture, therefore we have put her in a smaller pen. She does not cope well with being cooped up for more than a day at a time (even when sore, she will pace). In your opinion, is the Ace not a bad idea?
Thanx, Lee
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Sep 29, 2007 - 7:47 am:

Hello Lee,
We discuss Ace and other techniques to keep stalled horses quiet at Training & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Stall Resting Horses.
DrO
Member:
leec

Posted on Friday, Oct 5, 2007 - 12:34 am:

Hi Dr O,
After 3 days with the poultice etc., I noticed grayish slimy goop on the bandage, not at the heel where I thought I would see 'stuff', but on the inside crevice where the frog joins the sole. At the same time, the lower leg started to swell. On the 4th day the leg was swollen to the hock and there was no tendon or hock definition, however the lameness was almost gone. Each day the same amount of stuff on the bandage. After 6 days, when I came home from work, she was doing levades and caprioles... We have now started giving some Ace. Tonight, still the fat leg, no obvious lameness, but much more of the gray goop which was all over the frog (she is down to half the original daily dose of Bute). The thing about it, is I can't tell where it's coming from. Is this gray stuff pus? My vet is not concerned and says to continue as we are for now and to keep checking her temperature. If it is possible her whole frog area has abscessed from the bruising, how long will such a thing normally take to heal?
Thanx, Lee C
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Oct 5, 2007 - 6:50 am:

Lee without examining the horse and grey stuff I cannot really say what it is nor do I have a ready explanation for the progressive swelling without any lameness or other signs of disease. My best thoughts are this may be a reaction to your therapy since it has occurred as the horse has gotten well.
DrO
New Member:
shequest

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 - 5:56 pm:

I have a gelding who is HYPP N/P. He was non-symptomatic, until I had to board him out. He was put on acetazolamide. That was in 2006 and has been on it since.
3 years ago, he was running and bucking in his paddock, came up deadly lame in left hind. Had x-rayed, broke coffin bone right down the middle. The Vet figured he had kicked out in playing and smacked the bottom of his hoof against a fence post. Kept him confined, and after 4 years he was sound.
We now live on a ranch which is 90 Km from town, very hard finding good farriers, have had lameness problems crop up from poor trimming and shoeing.
Now, he is very sore on sole between laminae and point of frog, both fronts, right fore the most painful. The laminae at the toe is stretched wider than on the side of hoof. The soreness started about 2 days after farrier had trimmed and shod. Had farrier return as front feet were not balanced, heels of shoes inside hoof walls and pressing on bars, toes long, and shoes set back, and appeared to be pressing on soles. Have been soaking with epsom salts, and using animalintex poultices, with boot changing daily. Is kept in sand paddock, about 24 x 24 in size.
I have made an appointment to haul him in to the Vet clinic to have fore feet x-rayed to rule out coffin bone rotation, any kind of laminitis, etc.

But my one question, really is, could the long term use of acetazolamide cause a horse to founder? And is there any other side effects to long term use of acetazolamide?
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