Argh - wound not healing - help!

[Jingleballs]

Almost 6 weeks ago my horse clipped a back leg on a XC fence and got a cut right about the coronary band. As a result of this, the coronary band has become detatched at the top of the hoof – it almost books to be peeling away at the top.

The vet has been treating him with a mix of bute and antibiotic’s – he’s now on a second type of antibiotic making it now about 4 weeks of continued antibiotic treatment.

The cut itself seems to be healing well but the coronet band doesn’t seem to have improved much at all. The vet has explained that it will take time for this to heal so isn’t concerned but with all the mud around I’m now worried that there may be a new infection brewing as last night I noticed that the area around the cut and coronet band had become hot again – something that has not happened since the first week of recovery.

In addition to this, the leg in question is now swelling very badly when he’s kept stabled overnight (they are all kept in at night for winter now). It’s swelling to such an extent that it’s difficult to get an over reach boot on the foot in the morning (something vet has recommended to help keep the area clean). Vet has advised a much turn out and exercise as possible as horse is 100% sound.

The problem now is the mud – we’ve had so much rain that most of the fields have flooded and the gateways are like bogs. There are some unused fields that I’m going to ask if I can section of to turn him out there but within a few days those would be churned up too just due to the amount of rain and standing water.

I’ve left a message with the vet again to get their advice but I just don’t know what to do – if I keep him in, the wound will heal quicker but his leg will swell. If I turn him out, the swelling will disperse but the mud and water will get into the wound.

We don’t have a hardstand area (although Y/O is talking about trying to build a makeshift one) and we can’t turnout in the arena so I’m at a bit of a lose what to do for the best!

Does anyone have any other suggestions of what I could try? I’m contemplating keeping him in this weekend when I can at least go up a few times a day to lunge him/walk him out to help the swelling in the hope that by Monday things have improved a bit!

 

[be positive]

Could you cover the whole foot rather than the overreach boot as that will be constantly moving and I would think holding the mud against the hoof wall, Evelyn has a really good method using an inner tube, she has posted it several times recently if you can do a search for it.

 

[brown tack]

How about doing an extended poutice type boot, with lots of duct tape. I'd do it really high then make a slit at the back so the felock can move and it wouldn't effect the swelling, as it would be 'fitted' to the foot/leg it shouldn't come off.

Had a similar issue with a cut to the coronet band and I never had any issues of mud getting in and it stayed on fab. I put on a human mans sock first though to stop the foot going though the bottom.

Could you turn out of a few hours in the morning bring in, then walk out in the evening?

I'll see if can any pictures

 

[Jingleballs]

Thanks for you advise - I'm going to try and fashion something out of a over reach boot, a plastic bag and some duct tape to see if that helps.

Having spoken to the vet and because of where the cut is and the fact that it's still flaring up 6 weeks on he want's to xray and scan it to ensure there are no hidden issues so got that booked in for Tuesday and fingers crossed nothing comes up!