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  Discussion on Horse clotheslined by cable - HELP!!
Author Message
Member:
Kamla

Posted on Saturday, Jul 31, 2004 - 5:33 pm:

I have a mare that went over a fence into a pasture that had cable running from the ground to the top of the pole. She apparently was running full blast when she hit it and flipped herself judging from the dirt still on her face and in her eye. The wire hit a little above the point of her shoulder, across the side of her neck and then diagonally across her chest ending right above the opposite leg. Although she was not cut (just burned) she has a deep dent (large enough to lay your hand in) in her neck as well as huge swellings above and below the dent. She also has swelling in the front of her neck and a large swelling between her front legs. As best as I can tell the injury must have occurred sometime yesterday afternoon. I found it late this morning. So far, in the way of treatment, I have hyDrOed the area with cool water, iced it for about 15 minutes and the applied vetrolin. I also administered 2 gms of bute. I plan to hyDrO and ice again in a few hours. Is it possible that she may have severed the neck muscle when she hit and that is why there is such a huge dent? What are the implications if that is indeed what has occurred.
Of course this is my most valuable broodmare.
My vet is unavailable until Monday so any insite or help with treatment will be greatly appreciated.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Aug 1, 2004 - 8:05 am:

The dent sounds like it is the result of the differential swelling. Without cutting the skin severing the underlying muscle is very unlikely but there may be enough bruising to cause some necrosis and scarring with time. Cold hosing and bute seem very rational at this time. If I remember right Vetrolin is a "brace" and not a logical treatment for damaged skin. Better would be to apply neosporin.
DrO
Member:
Presario

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 3, 2004 - 12:22 pm:

Right, I would not use Vetrolin if there is any possibility of any broken skin. If you DON'T have broken skin, I highly recommend some arnica cream. You can find that at health-type stores, or if you can get some Sore No More liniment that contains arnica and is great for sore muscles and swelling.
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 3, 2004 - 3:19 pm:

Personally I like Icy Hot or Mineral Ice. Both promote relief of sore muscles. It's easy to find - most drug stores carry one or both. I use it a lot especially after a tough trail ride or when I was eventing.
Member:
Reggie

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 3, 2004 - 5:57 pm:

I buy Mineral Ice from the tack shop, much less expensive than the drug store.
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 4, 2004 - 10:30 am:

Cheaper at the tack shop? That's unbelievable. Usually it's the other way around.
Member:
Mwebster

Posted on Thursday, Aug 19, 2004 - 10:40 pm:

Here's what I've learned first hand about hematomas (from getting dumped very very hard on my butt and having to seek medical attention for a big one). Of course, the info below relates to a human hematoma, but I'm guessing this isn't so different from what our equine partners suffer.

First, big ones don't resolve on their own, at least not completely and certainly not very quickly: it can take many months, left untreated, and most leave some bump (which is likely a little fluid pouch).

About 70% of the ones you tap (aspirate) come back (refill). They refill with serum, not blood (unless there is some leaking vein issue, not common). Aspiration helps: the hematoma (once refilled) is smaller, but with a big one it isn't a cure.

The next therapy is to install a drain. Big hematomas form a pocket (the body creates a sort of membrane, which is what refills with serum).

In some cases, even with a drain in, the thing refuses to heal up (i.e. the membrane inhibits healing). In this case, it can require surgery to clean the thing out and get rid of the membrane that formed around the hematoma (creating the persistent pocket).

Of course, if the animal has a hematoma that isn't just one big pocket of fluid, there are other considerations. Ultrasound can differentiate these. Sometimes the thing is a lot of clotted material.

Just fyi, I tried Mineral Ice on mine, but it made it worse. Arnica cream had no effect.

M
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