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  Discussion on Sweating a sprained fetlock
Author Message
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Friday, Feb 11, 2005 - 9:06 pm:

Hi Dr. O,

Can you tell me about the practice of sweating a sprained fetlock w/glycerides(?) & alcohol?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 - 8:11 am:

Sure CP we have an article on this at, Equine Diseases » First Aid » Pressure Wraps, Poultices, Cold and Heat Therapy for Swelling in Horse Legs.
DrO
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 - 9:25 am:

I can't believe I missed that!! (sorry) You know I've spent about 10-years worth of HorseAdvice subscriptions on equine medical books I can't make sense of -- I just can't express enough how great your site is!

I do have another related question though. My horses limp has just now been diagnosed as a sprained fetlock and he's now confined to his stall (the hardest part) and getting his leg wrapped. How worried should I be that he had this limp for 2-weeks before we took action on the correct treatment? We're keeping him in for 1 week and will check for the limp after that.

Are fetlock injuries a recurring kind of problem? I worry since I just got him in November what may have happened in his past. He has a bumpy dried blood spot just above the fetlock on the same leg that I'm wondering about too.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Feb 14, 2005 - 7:07 am:

Unfortunately a strained fetlock is not really a diagnosis: the fetlock is a complicated mixture of 4 bones, 3 articulations, and a number of soft tissue support structures. Which one is strained and how badly determines your prognosis. The lesion suggests recent trauma.
DrO
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Monday, Feb 14, 2005 - 12:28 pm:

Well if he's still limping in a week the vet advised a scan or x-ray so I guess we'd know more specifics then. Hopefully it won't come to that.

In the meantime I'm praying for rain so he doesn't have to be alone in his stall (i'm selfish)...
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Sunday, Feb 27, 2005 - 4:34 pm:

Is it normal for all the fur to fall out while doing this? He's been wrapped for 2-weeks now with some yellow stuff (not sure what's in it exactly but it has FAG hand-written on the bottle if that helps), saran wrap, quilt, & polo wrap. The hair's coming out in clumps and exposing skin--I just want to be sure it's not getting irritated into a new issue or burning his skin. Oh yes, and it stinks kind of sour-rot-like.

We were also finally able to get x-rays done. Will get those results tomorrow.
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Sunday, Feb 27, 2005 - 5:54 pm:

One more thing--I just read about how the liniments can irritate the skin but at what point do you know to stop using them?

He is sensitive where the hair has come off and I'd hate to have blisters form or scars.
Member:
Eoeo

Posted on Sunday, Feb 27, 2005 - 8:39 pm:

How about alternating with lAloe Vera Gel? EO
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Feb 28, 2005 - 7:48 am:

He is reacting to your treatment cp, you need to contact your vet. In the meantime I would stop it immediately, carefully wash the skin with a mild soap, and thoroughly rinse until your vet can come out and determine how damaged the skin is.
DrO
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Monday, Feb 28, 2005 - 8:40 am:

UGH!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Feb 28, 2005 - 3:23 pm:

Cp can you find out what the yellow stuff was so others can avoid this?
DrO
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 1, 2005 - 9:26 am:

According to our vet it's normal to have the hair-loss so maybe my horse is being sensitive to the annoyance of having it wrapped all the time--he flings it up whenever I touch it while not wrapped. I'm going to take your advice and wash the old product off to get a clearer view of what's going on with the skin. I also took the advice of EO and got some 100% aloe gel (no alcohol) just in case it needs soothing. If all seems good with the skin I'll listen to the advice of my vet and reapply the liniment w/the wrap. I don't want to second guess anyone, I just want what's best for recovery. Does that sound like a ok plan?

Anyway for those who wouldn't want a bald-legged horse the contents of the liniment are furazone, alcohol, & glycerol (hence the FAG).

Good news is that the xrays came back w/no apparent injury. He's been limping for over a month now though, and of course broke free out of excitement after his first session of stall rest and RAN HIS TAIL OFF!--I guess sending us back to the beginning. We're treating with acupuncture now and I massage his legs whenever I visit. Another week in the stall and hopefully he'll start to show signs of improvement.

Looking ahead, how long after he stops limping should he continue rest? Should we start back excercising in straight lines rather than lunging for a while?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 2, 2005 - 8:00 am:

If there is no redness or sensitivity in the skin I guess it is OK. Hairloss is often the start of severe irritation however so I am uncertain what to tell you. I am not use to hairloss underneath my wrapping.

It really depends on the diagnosis and how severe the damage is, so I would also follow my vets advice on this. With the lack of other information, I would wait another 3 weeks and yes you should do straight lines for 3 weeks before you do circles.
DrO
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 2, 2005 - 8:33 am:

Thank you so much for your time! I don't know how you manage all this...
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Friday, Mar 11, 2005 - 2:13 pm:

Hey DrO I wanted to give you a quick update. I ended up discontinuing use of the liniment--skin looks ok and I think the hair will grow back.

He was STILL limping some this Monday and was given a shot of hyaluronic acid and now has an ounce of joint supplement added to his food daily. Incredibly this morning, 4-days later, the vet checked him and he's looking like he's on the road to recovery. I've been advised to still keep him in his stall for at least another week--torture.

Unfortunately I still don't know specifically what was wrong with him, only that it's something in his fetlock and it takes a while to heal.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you again and make mention of the possible help from the acid injection & joint sup. I read your piece about the hyaluronic stuff & vairations of--sounds confusing! I know it's not an instant cure all but perhaps it helped get us over that hump...
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 - 12:39 pm:

Good luck, CP.
DrO
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