Blackthorn Injury

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Lorrie66

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Hi

Could anyone give me some advice on blackthorn injuries?
My mare had what is highly suspected as a blackthorn embedded in her back (possibly she rolled on it) a couple of months ago.

Her back inflamed and you could ‘see’ the poison and swelling running down her veins down to her belly. I called the vet asap & shortly after the vet prescribed antibiotics the entry point eventually erupted like a volcano and left a crater. This has healed fine, although there is a circular scar and the hair has yet to grow back fully.
It seems coincidental that since this injury she seems uncomfortable under saddle (the thorn was embedded in the saddle area where the panel sits.)
I have had her backed checked and all seems fine and I have just booked in my saddler today ( although I do doubt a saddle problem as the saddle is holistic and made to measure) , but my saddler mentioned that she has heard that pain from a Blackthorn can linger for some months especially if there was quite a bad infection.
Has anyone else heard of this or had experience? I have to say it does fit in time wise and she was not ridden for about 3 weeks after the eruption to give adequate time to heal. But during this period she would not let you go anywhere near her back! Now she does twitch when I touch or groom her in that area – but until now I had not thought it would be so long lasting...
thank you
 
That makes total sense to me, if you have ever had a deep wound it can take ages to become unsensitive. Two years on from having a lump removed I remain sore to the point I cannot wear a bra with bones down the side.

That black thorn infection would have undermined the tissue and nerve endings. Can they scan the area for you ?
 
Thank you AdorableAlice,
Seems you are most likely correct that she remains sensitive in that area.
I had the vet out today by chance for annual vaccs and asked the question, and was advised that they can linger from some time or horses can associate the area with pain & sensitivity for a while as it is soooo painful when it is first infected. Vet could not feel anything under the skin - but apparently bits of thorn can move around too.
She think it is likely the issues under saddle could be pain association but they can scan if it gets worse .....
thank you again
 
Could you numb it with something to help her get over the pain/fear of the pain? I used to use clove oil on my old horses neck when I was pulling his mane. Seemed to work well as long as I didn't get it on my fingers!
 
One of mine had a blackthorn injury to his chest. It erupted as an abscess, which we poulticed and drained and then it cleared up. Several months later a small abscess developed at the same site, the first I knew about it was when I touched it and a load of pus shot out. Obviously the tip of the thorn had remained after the first abscess. Keep an eye on it, something very small may well pop out.
 
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