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  Discussion on Heel bulb sliced off
Author Message
Member:
remmi

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 9, 2010 - 7:21 am:

4 days ago my horse came in from the pasture with his hind leg's outside heel bulb almost completely sliced off. The injury included some damage to the coronary band. My vet came immediately and removed the thick flap - there was no option to suture the skin. He suggested using triple antibiotic and wrapping it - cold hosing it clean once per day. As a preventative we put the horse on SMZ's as well.

I am now concerned about proud flesh. I read all the articles about proud flesh and see that vaseline based ointments can encourage proud flesh - however my vet encouraged me to use vaseline type products. I wonder if I should switch to a nolvasan creme or antibiotic creme with cortizone?

The area is slightly swelled but he does not appear lame on that foot.

Thank you! Heidi
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 9, 2010 - 6:02 pm:

Have had some similar injuries and used Granulex at different stages in the healing process as advised by a veterinarian to remove deleterious tissue with good results.

I would be inclined to use a furizone (or nitrofurizone) type of product on such an injury, using the cream type if the injury is not too moist but switching to the spray if it needs some drying.

Such injuries require daily analysis to see if the tissue is too moist or too dry.

The triple antibiotic after a period of time seems to me to sometimes cause an environment that is too moist, potentially delaying healing.

Dr. O has some very good articles about healing all types of wounds.
Member:
gramsey1

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 9, 2010 - 8:59 pm:

We had a horse with a similar injury. He developed proud flesh. We had initally treated it with triple antibiotic and Nolvasan.

The vet cut it off and said that it would probably need to be done again. It is a tough spot to treat.

She offered a jar of Equaide Solution, and asked us to let her know if it worked. It was new to her, but she had heard good things about it.
Well, it did work. It was amazing. The wound healed quickly and without any proud flesh. It just closed in from the edges, in a matter of 10 days or so.
Member:
sdms

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 9, 2010 - 11:47 pm:

Hi Heidi. I just went through this exact same thing on a front foot. Flap couldn't be saved and there was damage to the coronet band, as well. I doctored and wrapped with sugar-dine and changed every couple of days at first then up to every 4 days as it stopped having discharge. I did have to wrap the entire hoof then wrap an outer layer over the hoof with duct tape to keep the bandage from wearing through and riding up. The wound healed beautifully with zero proud flesh. There is a scar and a line in the hoof where is grows from the injured part of the coronet band but she's not lame and you probably wouldn't see it if you weren't looking.

Good luck!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 - 12:58 am:

Hello Heidi,
My preference would be Nolvasan cream followed by Panalog or Animax ointment. Proud flesh is nothing to be afraid of as it is easily managed when it occurs.
DrO
Member:
remmi

Posted on Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 - 6:48 am:

Thanks all for your feedback and suggestions. It sounds like it's important to assess the wound daily and decide what product to use depending on whether there is proud flesh or just normal granulation present.

Dr. O -could you explain why you prefer Nolvasan cream over triple antibiotic creme? I have ordered some Nolvasan creme to get started with it.

Thanks again.

Heidi
Member:
paul303

Posted on Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 - 11:47 pm:

This happened to me with a 5 year old in 1985. I can't recall the salve that was used, but we first cleaned and cold water irrigated it. Then an antibiotic ointment was applied with a tiny bit of DMSO. It was finished with the salve ( probably Furizone )and an elaborate dressing. It was changed every 48 hours, unless it got drenched or destroyed. Took awhile to heal, but the heel bulb grew back, and, as Sara said, she had a vertical line forever after in her foot.

She's outside in the barn tonight. Turned 30 on May 2nd.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jun 11, 2010 - 8:12 pm:

Heidi, I have never seen a triple antibiotic creme, the ones I am aware of are ointments. As such they contain petroleum jelly which promotes excessive granulation tissue (proud flesh) you will find more on this in the articles on wound care.
DrO
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