Sport cut his fetlock about 3 weeks ago. It didn't appear too bad, so I treated it with disinfectant and Cut heel. Treated again and appeared to be scabbed over nicely. Brought him up 5 days ago and his whole fetlock looks like rough, pigskin. I looked, and it appears he has another deep 'split', crossways. I picked his foot up and the 'split' opened up. It is about 3/4 inch deep! Across it's 2 inches. He is secreting clear liquid from the wound. It is white looking inside, no blood. It appears very tough around the area. Not much swelling, other than just above the back of the hoof , the spongey like area. I have begun washing with an iodine soap, rinsing with water, then treating with Cut heel. He's not visibly limping, though he favors the foot a great deal when trotting in the corral. I'm keeping him in "jail" in the corral, so he won't injure himelf again or stress the foot. My question: Would it be a good or bad idea to use an Epsom Salt soak? Reason I ask is cause this is a fast cure for absesses and usually works well for him. I thought it would draw out any infection, as there appears to be some. I haven't phoned the vet at this point. I began treating him with powder antibiotic (Uniprim) yesterday . What would you suggest? (Sport is a 9 yr old gelding, 1200 lbs)
Sorry to hear about Sport. I know how I feel when my boys get hurt. I use a product called Schreiners. It is a great all natural remedy that I used when my Paso Fino tried to jump the fence and got tangled up in barb wire at the place where I board. I hate barb wire. Check out the website http://www.schreiners.com/ It is really great stuff that helped the wounds heal and close quickly when used twice a day. It will always be a staple in my tackroom.
Thank you for the information. I will definitely go to the website and order a bit of the medication. Sport has finished his round of antibiotic. There is no visible amount of swelling, yet the wound is still open...sort of gaping. It looks white inside and still oozing a little, but not dark yellow, like it did for one day. There may still be a tiny bit of swelling near his hoof line. I hesitate to let him out of the round pen, as he will go directly to the muddy pond, which is full of germs! I'm going to continue to clean it daily, using the water hose to cleanse it thoroughly. He seems to like it. May try iodine/peroxide mix. This worked well when he went over a fence.
I hate barb wire, too! Good luck with your Paso Fino!
I would highly suggest getting your vet involved! Without seeing the wound, I can't give a proper diagnosis, but this sounds like some stiches could help. Also, the vet will have some strong suggestions on treatment. It sounds like you may have the start of a little proud flesh (maybe). Whatever you decide, good luck. It's a bad spot to be injured if you're a horse! Happy trails!
Any foot problems at our barn we pack with what we call sugardine(betadine mixed with sugar make a thick paste pack foot, cover with wrap and duct tape. Do this after you soak with epsom salt. Also at our barn we always keep SMZ's (Sulfur antiobiotics) on hand. Wouldn't be a bad idea to call the vet, as foot problems, and/or wounds can become quite serious if not treated. For now keep him confined to a small paddock. If he's foot sore you can put a diaper over the foot before you wrap for cushioning. You should do this in the morning and at night until it gets better.If it doesn't CALL THE VET, and you may also have the the farrier look at it, if there's any cracks or splits in the hoof the farrier can fill it with an epoxy type material in some cases. I also agree with the fact he may need stitches, as the wound split open, also proud fresh needs to be treated by the vet. This type of injury takes a lot of care... Be prepared! COLD HOSE & COLD HOSE SOME MORE! Good Luck!
My husband's appy took a huge gash to the head last month and someone told him about Underwoods horse medicine--a Cherokee remedy that you sponge on and then sprinkle baking powder on to seal. I wouldn't recommend it at this point as it sounds as though you need to get a vet involved, but I would recommend keeping some of the Underwoods on hand for fresh wounds. They have a web site underwoodhorsemedicine.com where they show before and after pictures. It worked on our appy very well. He had a four inch long gash that was deep and a month later it is completely healed, no proud flesh at all.
A bitless bridle is not a hackmore, they operate on different principles. The hackmore is still control tool that uses pain whereas an official "Bitless Bridle" involves no pain or restriction to the horse. I trail ride a "flightly" arab mare, who immediately settled down when we switched to the bitless. The ad says you have never galloped a horse until you've done so with the bitless and it is true,--so free and relaxed! We keep talking about switching our QH too, but since his bridle is in such good shape, cost has kept us back.
I'm happy to say that Sport's wound is much better. I have been washing with water pressure from the hose, cleansing thoroughly. He seems to like it. I've been using the iodine/peroxide solution to kill germs, then covering with bag balm to protect it. It seems that since I've been using the bag balm, it's gotten better. Plus, I have some Schreiner's Ointment on order to arrive today. He finished his round of antibiotics. He has no real sign of infection and is getting around normally, even running around! The farrier is coming this week to trim all their hooves. I haven't had to call the vet at this point, I believe it's going to heal nicely. After this length of time, isn't it a bad idea to get stitches? I thougt you had to stitch them immediately? Regardless, I'm making sure that my horse is comfortable and happy. He's also very spoiled. Thank everyone for the advice!!!
my honey had a trailer accident in june she was cut to the bone, did every thing the vet said, but her leg was still in trouble, freind of a freind said to soak her leg every day in dawn with bleach dish washing soap. it did amazing things, killed infection, help heal the leg the hoof still looks chewed up a bit but bell boots protect her on the trails and we came in 2end in barrels/ poles/ 4corner stakes last saturday.so don't give up on your sport but rember as he heals walk him so artritis and calcium deposits won't get in the joints angel
It would still be a good idea to call the vet. It sounds like your rough area might be the first stages of proud flesh, which, when left untreated, can be quite unsightly, and sometimes even interfere with motion.
I'm happy to say it is now 5 months later and Sport's fetlock shows no sign of ever being injured. No bump that I can tell. The hair is a bit uneven where the injury was but he is back to normal, for sure. He's getting ready for spring now. I think the water irrigation combined with the iodine/peroxide cleanse daily was a good for killing the outside germs. In addition, adding the Shreiners Spray and covering with bag balm was when the injury began the rapid healing process. Thanks for all the advice folks!!
I sure hope you have called a vet. I am one and I would get one out there right away, if you have not. From your description, it could be into a tendon sheath and the clear fluid could be synovial fluid from the tendon sheath or a joint. They may not even be that lame, if it is open and draining. Soaking and cut heal, etc, could make things worse. Also tetanus status?? But I assume you did have a vet come, hopefully. All best, Z
Hello! This is a remedy I got from a very elderly lady,I had a filly that had awful cuts and gouges all over her,a very mean horse mauled her,I gave her antibiotics,used all sorts of salves & products,nothing healed her.She was in very bad shape. I was told to put Bacon Grease on the wounds, you know,within 3 days she was so much better! She had a 3' hole in her hip, I filled it with the grease & it works magic!! Try it! Its cheap! It doesn't burn them, their system has much more salt in it than ours. Baking Soda & Kerosene heal cut hocks too. I've learned much from the wise old owls! It really does pay to listen to your elders! Cuts way back on the vet bills!!
Do NOT use epsom salt. Using harsh medications (iodine, peroxide, alcohol) can definately and most likely will cause "proud flesh". on a fresh wound, clean with betadine scrub, which is a milder proper wound cleaning soap. perioxide on a would to clear debris is sort of ok on the first look but not afterwards. it will cause the tissue to granulate and pull good tissue outside of the wound. (proud flesh). Call your vet or health care person (natural Doctors preferred). This I know: you can wripe/clean with warm water or mild saline solution a wound and PACK IT COMPLETELY with (i know you will think this is crazy) SUGAR or honey and wrap it with steril gauze to cover then a wrapping of vet wrap (not too tight but snug enough to securely hold everything together. very light compression) This will need to be changed every day. Factamundo: bacteria can't and wont grow in the presence of sugar or honey! I have been with several 'high dollar' vets that work on million dollar horses who use sugar on the fetlock area for DEEP wounds! OTC medicines are a lot of money and usually have harsh things in them that actually irratate and complicate problems. Check it out! google it or what ever but sugar works and will keep a hard to heal place like the fetlock from getting a bacterial infection...which will become a nightmare even more. the clear fluid could be from a nicked tendon...not good. Definately check with a healthcare professional and find out the extent of the injury. Stop putting harsh things on this and let nature help. sugar and a gause bandage with vet wrap or other wrap to hold in place will keep it from getting proud or infected until you can learn more about the injury. No more iodine...even vets will tell you not to put stuff on fresh wounds but to just wash (mild baby soap or just water) and keep it covered.) I hope your boy gets ok! good luck.
My vet recommended sugardine for a similar injury. Kept the wound loosely covered with wrap and duct for 1-2 weeks. Cleaned multiple times each day w saline + peroxide + reapplied sugardine. Kept the horse in a small corral + stall. Once it started to scab, vet told me to frequently soften the area w saline flush and pull away the scab to minimize proud flesh. Took 3+ months to heal. After it was healed, would sporadically bleed if he clipped it. But he ended up w no proud flesh and the scar is minimal. Very good outcome for a significant 3" wound in a bad area.
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