Any sequestrum experience?

[lyndsayberesford]

Horse kicked himself in hind leg 2 weeks ago. Lame as a dog when I trotted him up so had him on antibiotics (quite a deep wound) and bute for 10 days which the vet advised when she came out on emergency appointment on the Friday night. Had his leg x-rayed on the Monday following the injury (so 4 days later) and nothing showed on the bone at all.

Leg swelling went down considerably so presumed the infection was on its way out and decided that after trotting him up that he looked sound. Vet had said if sound then walk him out and take off the bute, which I did.

Today thought I would just get the vet opinion on his soundness as I want to continue to work him if possible and if he is sound. Walked and trotted up for the vet and she still thinks he is lame. Coming out in the morning with x-ray as thinks he could have a sequestrum to the cannon bone.

If true then he will have to undergo an operation to remove the damaged bit of bone anyone experienced this injury or operation? He is insured but only for 3k per injury. Vet bill already at £300 excluding today's and tomorrow's visit! How much are we talking? And if he needs the op how long for recovery???

I know vets ask is it insured? And my answer was yes but if the x-ray isn't 100% clear do I get a 2nd opinion then? Don't want him going under general anaesthetic for them not to find anything.

Never had a horse needing to be operated on before and fingers crossed this one doesn't too

Healing vibes needed for my boy please!!!

 

[mjcssjw2]

ask the vet for a quote for the surgery, however I would think you should have enough cover. The problem is unless the remove the offending bit it won't heal up.
Think someone put some pictures in the vet pic thread of a sequestrum in there horses hock, think it went on quite a while, so if you are onto yours early hopefully the recovery will be quicker

 

[lyndsayberesford]

Anymore experiences?

 

[kazg07]

My youngster was kicked as two year old on hind leg . After two weeks of anti biotic various injections and the wound not healing he had x rays and ultra sounds. He had chipped bone and vet thought he would need surgery . However after sending x rays away for further advice he thankfully did not need this. Had several more weeks of anti flam and biotics . Now just has a small lump where the injury was . My boy was not really lame though .

 

[JC1]

One of mine got kicked in the field - only small but quite a deep wound to the canon bone. We tried antibiotics but they didn't work. He had 2 lots over the course of about 3 weeks. He then went to be xrayed and it showed a sequestrum. At no point was he lame - we just couldn't get the swelling down. They even had to get me a chifney at the vets to trot him up in as he dragged me off across the yard!
He had the surgery - I think that I was quoted about £800 +vat for the surgery and a couple of days in the horsepital. The piece of bone he had damaged was about the size of my little fingernail.
He then had to have it dressed every couple of days when he came home. I could have done this myself but as it went through the insurance the vet came out. He had a month of box rest then got sedated and turned out in a tiny field. I think he was going to have another month of that then be brought back into work. Unfortunately he went on a self harming mission and tried to pull the back of his foot off over night in the stable! Que another 6 weeks box rest, laser treatment and another huge insurance claim!
Eventually when he stopped injuring himself he came back into work after about 8 months in total and is completely sound, he hunted last season and is just getting ready for hound exercise now.

 

[Patterdale]

Be so careful with it.

My horse of a lifetime had sequestrum after being injured in the field. It was operated on twice but they still missed a bit.
After 8 months hospitalisation and box rest the wound burst open again, and after x rays the part they had missed had spread. He was pts.

Don't take chances!!

I hope he's ok

 

[Birker2020]

If true then he will have to undergo an operation to remove the damaged bit of bone anyone experienced this injury or operation? He is insured but only for 3k per injury. Vet bill already at £300 excluding today's and tomorrow's visit! How much are we talking? And if he needs the op how long for recovery???

I know vets ask is it insured? And my answer was yes but if the x-ray isn't 100% clear do I get a 2nd opinion then? Don't want him going under general anaesthetic for them not to find anything.

Never had a horse needing to be operated on before and fingers crossed this one doesn't too

Healing vibes needed for my boy please!!!

My friends 3 year old had this operation, and it was done under local anaethetic to his knee whilst standing at the veterinary hospital if I remember correctly. He had the bone chip taken out.

My horse was kicked on his stifle. Vet said to keep in for a few days and then turn out. Wasn't xrayed. Vet said to ride after first day out. Rode and lame in walk, very lame in trot. Was much more lame than I expected for kick which vet said was only a bruise. Insisted vet come out and xray which they did. Found a large chip. Horse had to stop in for 6 weeks and had to paint with DMSO. Vet said very lucky horse didn't pratt around in the field the day he went out as it could have led to a castrostrophic fracture. Lovely. And this was only admitted AFTER i pressed him for an answer as to why he'd not xrayed in the first place.