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HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Overview of Diagnosis and Diseases of the Foot » |
Discussion on Horrible Hoof Disease? Injury? | |
Author | Message |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Friday, Sep 16, 2005 - 11:19 pm: A friends horse has something terrible happening to his hoof. It started 3 weeks ago with lameness that went away with a few grams of Bute. The Bute stopped working and he started to swell from the pasturn to the cannon.It opened 5 large holes from the pasturn to the coronet with the first opening at the pasturn. These are 3/8 to 1/2 inch holes draining yellow discharge. The rear of the hoof is separated from the coronet about 1" deep and it looks like the whole hoof is coming off. He is an old school horseman and uses things like diluted bleach or ammonia as antiseptic as well as hyDrOgen peroxide. I am concerned this is to harsh on the live tissue but would like comments. He has had several vets look at it in the last few days. They have prescribed several injectable antibiotics and samples are at the lab. He is just flushing it and wrapping it in the mean time. There has been thoughts of Autoimmune disorders and the body rejecting the hoof but I was not there when the vets came so I got that second hand. I realize you cannot really give a sound diagnoses without seeing it but would like your thoughts. |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Friday, Sep 16, 2005 - 11:30 pm: |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Saturday, Sep 17, 2005 - 12:56 pm: |
New Member: Kayababy |
Posted on Saturday, Sep 17, 2005 - 1:48 pm: Anyone offer some help to Zane & this poor horse? I myself would not even suggest a possible diagnosis, although I my own ideas... In any case, I agree, watered down bleach & ammonia sound a bit harsh on the live tissue... but many of the iodine based scrubs aren't much better. I just hope this animal gets relief...looks painful. |
Member: Suzeb |
Posted on Saturday, Sep 17, 2005 - 4:15 pm: Zane,That really looks nasty to me and maybe suggestive of an abscess or infection gone wrong or left too long before treatment. Hard to say what could have caused this; injury, bite or some other trauma that started out small and became infected. I would question the autoimmune thought as this is only happening in one leg. Without any more history, I would keep this leg as clean as possible with whatever the vets have recommended. If your friend chose to administer the antibiotics, the healing should start to be taking place. I wouldn't be putting anything caustic on this until I knew what I was treating. Keep it clean and flushed out draining is my best advice. To bute or not would be a vet's recommendation. Hope this helps, Susan B. |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Saturday, Sep 17, 2005 - 5:54 pm: Thanks for the responses. It didn't act like a hoof abscess and went from sore and a bit swollen to what you see almost overnight. The owner has been staying at the barn almost 24/7 and keeping it clean. Strong antibiotics started Thursday although I am not sure what he is using. |
Member: Canyon28 |
Posted on Saturday, Sep 17, 2005 - 6:06 pm: I wonder if the horse could have been bitten by a brown recluse spider. the bite of that spider will cause the flesh to rot like that. Also he needs to have it xrayed asap to make sure there isnt an infection in the coffin bone. this is the worst case of abcess I have ever seen, if that is what it turns out to be. whatever the owner does, do not let him allow the vet to suggest putting a pad under the shoe on this horse, that will end up causing his death. If necessary a hospital plate shoe can be used. NO PADS. Once a pad is in place under a shoe, you have no way to know what is going on with the sole of the foot. And the sole under a pad is an anerobic breeding ground for bacteria, etc. |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Saturday, Sep 17, 2005 - 11:17 pm: Christine I live in Maryland which is outside the territorial range for the Recluse. Good thought though. We do have black widows. Thanks for the advice. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Sunday, Sep 18, 2005 - 9:19 am: The problem with such a consult is that we do not have first hand information. As a result we should not expect to have a accurate or complete history. Though I try to avoid such the pictures are so remarkable that I think they deserve comment.First an autoimmune disease is unlikely as long as the problem is isolated to a single foot. I agree the above looks like a poorly controlled infection of the foot of several days to several weeks duration. Complications could very well be caustic, toxic, traumatic treatment. If we assume this really is the acute appearance 24 to 48 hours after the first appearance of symptoms, I strongly suspect a toxic / traumatic event with secondary infection. This would include venomous animals. Though the brown recluse is suppose to be rare here in NC we have had 3 bites locally in the last 2 years and MD is not that far away. Besides culture (bacteria and fungal) and biopsy I would suggest radiographs to see if there is bone or joint involvement and possibly looking for a foreign body. Until the results of therapy are different I would treat this as outlined in the article on long term wound care and bandage it in a poultice of either betadine or Nolvasan ointment. Bute would be important for the comfort of the horse. I should comment that the iodine based scrubs that Amy references above use "povidone" and are not near as caustic as bleach or even peroxide. DrO |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Sunday, Sep 18, 2005 - 10:50 pm: Thank you Doctor, The photos don't really show how bad it looks in real life. The lab tests I mentioned are for bacteria and fungus but I don't know about a biopsy. I am hoping he has radiographs done tomorrow.Does the fact that the hoof is so separated at the heel mean he will lose the hoof? If so what is the prognoses for recovery? He is a nice horse and a nice owner I would like to help them so thanks for everyones advice. |
Member: Ramonah |
Posted on Monday, Sep 19, 2005 - 12:40 am: We had something similar happen to my husbands calf and ankle (except for the seperation of hoof!). The emergency room swore we did not have brown recluse spiders in Western Washington. They called our local poison control, which informed the emergency room of the brown hobo spider which we do have locally, and which, when bitten, the area acts the same. My advice is to research more varieties of poisonous spiders, and make sure that horse has a current tetanus shot. |
Member: Mrose |
Posted on Monday, Sep 19, 2005 - 11:31 am: We have hobo spiders here, too. And they can cause a lot of damage. A friend of mine got bit and she not only had a part of her leg severely damaged, but also got symptoms similar to Lymes disease which took over a year to get over.Since this horse only has one hoof looking like this, I too would really suspect either a spider or snake bite. I would suspect this even though you may think you live in an area that supposedly has no poisonous spiders or snakes. The ranges of these animals have changed due to the wide range of transport for fruits and other products. Good luck to the horse and owner. With proper care, I would think the horse would recover eventually. |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Sunday, Sep 25, 2005 - 11:09 pm: Well Punch lost his hoof and the infection has moved up his leg as well as gone systemic. Our vet looked at him and said he may live but that was as optimistic as he got. |
Member: Frances |
Posted on Monday, Sep 26, 2005 - 7:14 am: How terrible. Is the vet treating the infection aggressively? It sounds rather as if he's given up, but maybe I've just got the wrong impression? |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Monday, Sep 26, 2005 - 7:54 am: Zane could we have some more pictures? I have put such a foot in a rubber boot with daily cleaning with the hose and applying betadine ointment early and discontinuing this as it recornifies. It first will develop a thin layer of horn over the whole foot in about 3 or 4 weeks. Second the wall reestablishes itself over the next year. The question here is there a basic disease process that might further complicate the health of the foot.DrO |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Monday, Sep 26, 2005 - 4:08 pm: I have not taken any images of it with the hoof off but will try to get some. The feeling is that this was a injury that the owner did not recognize as an infection until it was too late which leads me to believe a disease is not an issue just the infection.Frances, they are treating it aggressively with antibiotics. The statement from my vet is his candid opinion to me but he is not the vet treating the horse he just took a look while at the barn. |
Member: Corinne |
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 27, 2005 - 10:01 am: My thoughts and prayers are with the poor guy! |
Member: Sunny66 |
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 27, 2005 - 10:41 am: Sending positive healing thoughts as well... |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 10:18 pm: Thanks for the thoughts and prayers I passed them along.Doc I have some photos for you. As horrible as this foot looks it stopped smelling like rot and has little drainage. The owner is cleaning it once a day in iodine,bleach,and salt diluted in water.He then covers it in silver sulfadiazine,wraps it in cotton padding and gauze with vet wrap on top. I showed him your recomendation for betadine gel in a boot. He is treating Punch with Baytril and I think Banimine. Punch seemed not well today but yesterday was walking the aisle 3 legged picking at hay bales. He supposedly had a bad reaction to penicillin and "freaked out". Thats when he threw the hoof which may be the best thing to happen because it was foul with the hoof on. Punch had what looked like a swollen jugular today and an odd swelling on his side that I have pictures of. |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 10:56 pm: Swelling in the leg. One vet mentioned a possible cause for this but I can't remember the term,lymphgitis? something like that. |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 11:00 pm: |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 11:09 pm: |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 11:12 pm: |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 11:18 pm: the swollen jugular. could this be a reaction to the antibiotics? I'm not sure what he gets I.V. or I.M. |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 11:22 pm: odd lump on side. Could this be fro holding that leg up? |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 11:22 pm: |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 11:26 pm: |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 11:29 pm: Punch in better days |
Member: 36541 |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 12:05 am: Cripes Zane, is that BONE?! Does it feel like bone, does it tap like bone, is it sensitive???Is he febrile? I have seen horses recover from some really rough stuff over the years, three times against all odds, so I am furiously sending some of that karma to this lovely, kind looking boy and to you guys as well. I don't know how it can't be osteomyelitis at this point. By the by, my vote is "no way" on the spider connection based on all my human patient experience with the recluse, hobo, and widow. I just can't imagine that total hoof involvement without some initial activity up on the fetlock. Praying for Punch tonight, Stacy |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 7:47 am: No you are not looking at bone Stacy, you are looking at the underlying corium of the hoof. On the wall early cornification has begun. On the sole it is having more problems with some granulation tissue forming where there is trauma. If the trauma is severe enough the tissue over the bone will die and then bone will be exposed.It appears the wounds further up the leg are healing. I really cannot make our the jugular swelling from the photo. The hips appear to be loosing muscle mass most likely do to disuse atrophy and I see the bony prominences of the ilium and ischium but cannot clearly make out other swellings. DrO |
Member: 36541 |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 9:48 am: Dr. O, do you think there's a chance for recovery? Have you ever seen such a thing? Zane, is a University setting an option for Punch's owner or does the current vet think he is better off at home? I saw this foot in my dreams last night... fervently sending healing thoughts with all my might(something I never thought I would be provoked to say) Stacy |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 12:20 pm: I am going to the barn now so I may have an update later.Stacy, Punch had a temp of 100.8 yesterday but it is steady or lower than that.I don't think going to a university is an option but I also don't know if that was recomended or not. The horse is comfortable and allows cleaning and changing the wrap without much anxiety. I know for a fact if he takes a bad downword turn or starts suffering needlessly the owner will put him down without hesitation. As long as Punch is holding his own they will give him a chance.I would like them to move more towards what the doctor recommended for treatment but I can only suggest. The owner has allot of different opinions being thrown at him. Thanks for the kind thoughts I'll pass them along. Dr.O any comments on the silver sulfadiazine,and Baytril he is using? What should be done about the granulation tissue? What if the bone is exposed? Have you seen or treated a foot like this? Any thoughts on recovery? I know that is a hard question I won't hold you to anything it's just nice to hear a pro among all the other opinions going around. He had a blacksmith tell him to put sugar and iodine on it. Dosn't bacteria grow on sugar? |
Member: Oscarvv |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 5:23 pm: Those photos are just....startling.My heart breaks for Punch and his owner. -Barbara |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 5:58 pm: Dr. I just read your article on wounds and understand what you meant by the granulation tissue. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 7:01 am: I have seen one horse that lost the horn on both of his front hooves and recovered, but most become so painful they are unable to rise, develop terrible sores and the owners (and I agree with the decision) choose euthanasia as the most humane solution.I think the choice of antimicrobials is OK Zane. Concerning the granulation tissue I would look upon it as a good defense against trauma to the deeper tissues and leave it until I was 100% sure it was impeding further recornification. Not iodine (it is tissue toxic) but betadine ointment mixed with sugar is a good antiseptic and been used as such and to promote drainage in people for severe burn victims. Farriers like it for hoof wounds and packing abscesses where is seems like rational therapy to me. Think about the sugar at home, does it grow bacteria? But the sulfadiazine has been used in identical situations. If the bone becomes exposed he is loosing the battle of preserving corium and the prognosis worsens bt I don't see how it might change the principles of therapy. I would look to see if I was doing all I could to prevent further trauma to the hoof. DrO |
Member: Frances |
Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 12:25 pm: DrO, could you please explain why betadine is a better antiseptic if mixed with sugar? How does the sugar improve the betadine's action?Many thanks, Lynn |
Member: Canter |
Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 8:14 pm: Zane,Amazing and gut wrenching photos. Poor Punch...I'm wishing him the absolute best. You mentioned that the owner was getting tons of conflicting advice. Have you printed out Dr. O's recommendations so that the owner can see that what you are passing on comes from a pro? Anyway, I hope the owner appreciates your interest and help. Fran |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 1, 2005 - 9:51 am: I believe the sugar's most important action would be as a osmotic agent that draws fluid from the wound helping to flush the wound from the inside out. However the medical literature also lists important properties as being: nontoxic, aids in debridement, promotes new vascular systems, and bacteriostatic. These properties may stem largely from the osmotic effects.DrO |
Member: Alden |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 1, 2005 - 6:23 pm: DrO,I've read that honey is being used on humans as a wound treatment. I wonder if it might be as good or better than sugar? Good day, Alden |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Sunday, Oct 2, 2005 - 4:22 pm: About the same I would guess but a good deal more expensive.DrO |
New Member: Mariss |
Posted on Sunday, Oct 2, 2005 - 5:06 pm: I understood that raw honey has its own anti-bacterial properties. My vet has suggested this for wounds before on its own. |
Member: Oscarvv |
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2005 - 8:15 am: Is there an update on Punch?I have been wondering how he is doing? -B |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2005 - 4:59 pm: Thanks Barbara, I have not seen the owner for a few days but Punch is still standing so that makes me happy. I'll be at the barn tomorrow and see what I can find out. |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Thursday, Oct 6, 2005 - 11:51 pm: I saw Punch and got a few pictures of the foot that I'll post tomorrow. He looks bright which is nice and the swelling has gone down some. My vet looked at it and took another culture. He said it looked better but was concerned about several openings that keep surfacing and draining. If the bone is infected I got the impression there was not much hope. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Friday, Oct 7, 2005 - 6:42 am: I don't agree with the bone assessment, more important is what is the organism and how sensitive is it to antimicrobial therapy. A radiograph will pretty accurately define a bony problem.DrO |
Member: Oscarvv |
Posted on Friday, Oct 7, 2005 - 7:15 pm: Thanks for the update Zane.I am glad his attitude is good. I hope Punch will pull through this ordeal. -B |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 8, 2005 - 1:28 pm: not the best shots but you can see where the wound continues to open and drain around the coronet} } |
Member: Suzeb |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 8, 2005 - 5:38 pm: Hello Zane,My heart really goes out to Punch, his owner and you for trying to help this poor guy. Has anyone considered the involvement of a farrier to offer something for some mechanical support? I realise that getting the infection under control is of utmost importance, but I can't help feeling what it must be like for Punch to be standing around like this . With your permission, I could post the photos on www.horseshoes.com or you could do this yourself and see what, if anything could be done. I really think that this is a case for a large type animal hospital with good doctors and farriers. I wish Punch the very best. Susan B. |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 8, 2005 - 8:16 pm: Sure you can repost the images Susan. Thanks for your concern. An excellent farrier has seen it as well as two doctors who are accepted by their peers as the best in our area of Maryland. My vet has referred me to the DuPont facility in Leesburg Va. When he felt it was the right thing to do. It is also probably not an option financially for this owner.A farrier can't do much. Even the best corrective shoers need something to tack a shoe on to. The dressing is changed twice a day and is heavily padded to prevent injury to the bottom. The owner is living in a room in the barn and only leaves a few hours a day to train horses. Punch is getting very good care and still seems as comfortable as can be expected. He gets around the barn three legged and steals hay while his stall is cleaned He is still curious attentive. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Sunday, Oct 9, 2005 - 10:46 am: Remarkable improvement zane in the appearance of the infection above the coronet, the organization of the corium, and granulation tissue and the amount of recornification occurring. I am uncertain what you mean in the post about the ongoing eruptions, they appear to be healing to me and I agree with your last assessment, this appears to be very good progress in a difficult situation.DrO |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Sunday, Oct 9, 2005 - 12:08 pm: Thanks for the comments Dr.O. If you look center of the image between the hair and where it becomes dark and is no longer smooth you see a pink lump. Immediately left of the lump is a betadine stained wound. Look right of the lump almost to the edge of the image you will see a pink spot. These areas seemed to still drain like an abscess. My vet did recommend another radiograph but I don't know when or if this has been done. |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Monday, Oct 10, 2005 - 12:55 pm: Hey Susan did you post on that site? I looked but didn't see anything. I was just curious if you had gotten any feed back. I hope to see Punch today and I'll update this thread. |
Member: Suzeb |
Posted on Monday, Oct 10, 2005 - 1:22 pm: Zane,I have lifted a few of your pictures and put them in a folder for resizing. There is a file size restriction of 39kb per picture and also there is a pixel size restriction . My photo editing software is a bit "clunky", so I am figuring out how to do this without losing the quality of your photos. Bear with me while I play a little with the pics . I hope Punch is doing better. It will be a miracle if he comes out of this. Susan B. |
Member: Lilou |
Posted on Monday, Oct 10, 2005 - 2:54 pm: My thoughts are with Punch always! Such a remarkable fighter... Good for him! |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Monday, Oct 10, 2005 - 11:01 pm: Thanks all. I saw him today and he seemed well eating hay in his stall. His muscle has atrophied above the leg he is not using and he has lost some weight. Nature has a way with things in that he doesn't need any extra weight putting strain on his other leg and hoof. |
Member: Lilou |
Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2005 - 3:30 pm: Hello Zane! Any news on Punch? How is the hoof healing? |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 15, 2005 - 10:44 pm: thanks for asking Helen. He is comfortable. The culture reportedly came back showing 3 forms of bacterial infection compared to 4 a few weeks ago but I have not set eyes on the paper to see what it says. The swelling in his leg is down but not normal and it continues to drain from the coronet. |
Member: Stacie |
Posted on Friday, Oct 21, 2005 - 4:18 pm: Zane,I have been watching and reading this thread every day and have not posted till now, we have not heard from you in almost a week. I am wondering how Punch is doing. I hope that with your long time not posting that things are going better, I hope for both of you. Please let us know how Punch is. I think about him every day and pray for him to get better. Take care - Stacie |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Friday, Oct 21, 2005 - 9:29 pm: Thanks Stacy, I will keep the board updated. Punch seems the same but I have not set eyes on the foot since I took the last set of pics. The owner says it is still draining and the drainage seems more yellow. He was also on a new set of antibiotics. But that was 2 days ago. I'll see him this weekend. |
Member: Oscarvv |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 - 3:30 pm: Zane,Thanks for the updates. Punch is quite a horse for tolerating his situation so well. -B |
Member: Corinne |
Posted on Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 - 8:57 pm: My prayers are still with Punch....let us know how your visit went this weekend. I know you are a guy and all, but give him nose kisses from me.v/r Corinne |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 - 11:56 pm: Real men give nose kisses. He is still doing his hang out and eat hay thing. I still have not seen the foot in awhile.I am told the hoof continues to heal though he still has drainage from the spots shown in the photos. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 - 10:57 am: Perhaps these need to be explored more thoroughly if they remain purulent. Perhaps injection of contrast media and radiographed and / or a dye then surgical exploration to see they lead to?DrO |
Member: Oscarvv |
Posted on Friday, Nov 4, 2005 - 5:11 pm: Thinking of Punch and hoping he is continuing to recover.-B |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Friday, Nov 11, 2005 - 4:19 pm: Thanks Barbara. I have not crossed paths with the owner in a week but I see punch in his stall and he seems well enough. He has allot of muscle loss but that may be good as he doesn't need any extra weight on his good legs. I did hear something through the grape vine that concerns me. Apparently several pieces of what appeared to be bone surfaced through the areas that have been draining. I have not confirmed this from the owner but would be curious if Dr.O has any comment on that possibility. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Sunday, Nov 13, 2005 - 12:06 pm: Hello Zane, all I can do is repeat from my first post, "Besides culture (bacteria and fungal) and biopsy I would suggest radiographs to see if there is bone or joint involvement and possibly looking for a foreign body."DrO |
Member: Tangoh |
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 7, 2005 - 4:54 pm: Hey Zane, was wondering...is here any update on Punch? I'm almost afraid to ask....hopefully he's still improving???? |
Member: Lilou |
Posted on Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 - 1:25 pm: Hello! Any news on Punch? I hope the "no news is good news" applies here! All the best! Happy holidays! |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Friday, Dec 30, 2005 - 9:29 pm: Okay I'm back. My computer died and I had to replace it blah blah blah. Thank god for back up hard drives.I unfortunatly come with the sad news that they had to put Punch down. The owner took him to the New Bolten Center and they found some sort of infection in the bone decided to put him down. I got the impression the prognosses wasn't great and treatment was intesive but only got the details through the grape vine. The interesting thing is how much hoof had grown back. Last time I saw it about 1 inch of hoof came down from the corrnet. The sole was pink and healthy. The infection was to much though. Thanks for everyones advice and support. |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Friday, Dec 30, 2005 - 9:30 pm: ouch missed the spell check on that one |
Member: Hwood |
Posted on Friday, Dec 30, 2005 - 10:12 pm: So sorry to hear of Punch's passing, Zane, yet relieved to know that he is no longer in pain. Thank you for trying to help him and his owner find the best way to deal with his hoof problem. |
Member: Lilou |
Posted on Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 - 5:22 am: I am so sorry... so sorry! Poor, brave Punch, your suffering is over! My warmest wishes for a healthy year for everyone and for all living beings! |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 - 9:02 am: Thanks for the update zane I occasionally had wondered how Punch's story was going. The photos above are a remarkable testament to the regenerative powers of the hoof and the will of some horses to go on. One question remains for me: was the infection they found a primary process that caused all this or secondary to the exposure from loss of the hoof capsule.DrO |
Member: 36541 |
Posted on Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 - 9:28 am: Thanks for letting us know Zane. Punch was often on my mind, especially when I would see my human patients with osteomyelitis. Some cases just never leave you, as I'm sure everyone at your barn now knows. Best of luck to you and Punch's owner in the New Year, Stacy Upshaw |
Member: Lilo |
Posted on Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 - 9:50 am: So sorry to hear about Punch. He sure was a fighter, but, if the prognosis is so poor one has to make the tough decision.Thanks for letting us know. Lilo |
Member: Twhgait |
Posted on Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 - 11:15 am: Sad news about Punch, but he and his owner gave it their all and I'm glad they had that extra time together. Punch, I'm sure, is running and playing and pain-free and will watch over his owner to make sure he's alright. |
Member: Oscarvv |
Posted on Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 - 11:45 am: Punch was quite a horse. I am sorry he couldn't be saved but glad that he is now pain free.My condolences to the owner and all who tried to help brave Punch. -B |
Member: Paul303 |
Posted on Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 - 10:44 pm: Your update is much appreciated, Zane, as you can tell. Punch tugged a lot of heart strings. |
Member: Angel77 |
Posted on Sunday, Jan 1, 2006 - 7:05 am: Dear Zane,What an amazing horse with a great heart. My condolences for both you and Punch. I am so sorry he did not make it. Just know you did everything you could for him. God Bless Punch! WTG |
Member: Zane |
Posted on Thursday, Jan 5, 2006 - 12:32 am: Thank you everyone. Dr.O I don't know the answer to your question. The term I heard was the infection formed a sinus and I believe this to be the holes that continued to drain. These holes opened up prior to the hoof coming off. The hoof that came off did have a hole in it from a possible puncture that sealed over. I believe the damage may have already been done by the time the hoof came off. Any final thoughts?Thanks for your help. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Friday, Jan 6, 2006 - 8:43 am: To many unanswered questions I am afraid to make any definitive judgements, zane. It is a very unusual case and at the bottom I expect we would find a foreign body or a very difficult to treat bacterial / fungal organism.DrO |