Bone infection in hind leg?!

[Cuddly Connemara]

My friend has a very large boy about 17.3 hh and in his 20's. His left hind leg is awfully swollen right up to the hock with cellulitis and he was found shaking in his stable and very cold - he can't even manage to rest it without being in a lot of pain . The vet came but as ever doesn't have a clue what it might be , gave him some painkiller and left although he was still in a lot of pain. Any ideas to what it could be ? He also has a small cut on his hock? Any advice much appreciated.

 

[touchstone]

Is he not on antibiotics? If he has cellulitis then I'd want it clearing up, it sounds as if the cut has infected his leg poor lad. I'd get the vet back out if it doesn't improve.

My friend did have an eldely horse that went lame to the point he couldn't put a hindleg on the floor at all and was obviously very painful, after investigations at the vets they couldn't find anything and wanted to refer him, as he was so elderly (30's) she didn't and made the decision to pts, they did seem to think it may have been related to his cushings disease if that helps.

 

[Birker2020]

Sounds like its infected and needs flushing out under a general anaethetic and a drain inserting to get the gunk out. Bone infections are life threatening.

Not that I would wish either scenario for my horse, but given the choice I'd rather a huge gash with a flap of skin hanging down than a small cut or puncture wound with anaerobic bacteria allowed to flourish in it. The small deep wounds are the worst.

Gosh i do wonder about these vets sometimes, how they even become licensed in the first place!!
I feel very sorry for your friends horse, I can just imagine how painful it must be for him, what a rotten shame.

 

[Fiona]

Has the horse had antibiotics OP??

My TB was very prone to cellulitis as a young horse, and regularly had elephant limbs from a tiny scrape. A five day course of ABs in her feed always solved the problem though.

Fiona