Cellulitis... does anyone have any advice?

[_jetset_]

Grace had very bad mud rash this winter and as a result ended up with cellulitis in her off hind. The vet looked at it, confirmed the lameness it was causing, prescribed antibiotics and said it will take some time to become normal again. However, that was three months ago now, and her leg is still swelling.

Initially I was told to bandage it over night, but then was told to leave the bandages off in future (by the vet). However, it is stil swelling quite a bit over night while she is in, although it does go down after work and she is not lame on it. However, it does look puffy and I am concerned that it is still swelling every night.

Someone has suggested now using magnetic boots on it to help improve the circulation while she is stood in. Going out 24/7 is not an option as I am on a livery yard which does not have this option (nor do any in the area that have winter turnout). She is worked pretty much every day and is in medium work (working at Novice level dressage and aiming to affiliate BD this summer ).

Thanks for any help or advice you can offer.

Rebecca x

 

[Irishcobs]

My old mare's legs used to fill up over night when stabled. It was lymphgitis(sp) though so not sure if it is the same but magnetic boots really helped her.

 

[_jetset_]

Which ones did you use?

 

[_daisy_]

what about trying bioflow boots? or veredus magnetik stable boots? both are very good but expensive

 

[_jetset_]

Trying to find more out about the boots but I can't seem to find much out from the internet.

 

[_daisy_]

bioflow:
http://www.magnet-healing.co.uk/horse-injury-health.html

veredus
http://www.saddlery.biz/pp/Horse_Boots_and__Horse_Bandages/Hind_Boots/Veredus_Magnetik_Stable_Boot,_Hind.html
http://www.equestriancollections.com/itemmatrix.asp?groupcode=ER00993&tp=

i really like my bioflow boots (used them last night actually) they are a bit more practical than the veredus boots as you can use them whenever eg hacking, schooling, at rest in the field or stable, whereas the veredus ones can only be used in the stable. Unfortunatley I only have 1 boot now as my dads dog ate when when I fetched them home to clean up! your more than welcome to borrow it!

 

[_jetset_]

Do the Bioflow make their legs sweat?

The Veredus ones looks more fiddley with the bandages underneath.

 

[_daisy_]

a bit but not much. Chantin had them on last night and over night. took them off late morning and they had a little damp patch. Never had them sweaty when Ebi had them on in the stable.
The veredus ones arent too faffy at all as the pad underneath velcros to the boots itself so its quite easy to fit

 

[_jetset_]

Ah right... which would you say was better?

There's also the Equilibria ones: http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=1689&a=srch

 

[_daisy_]

ive seen those but they seem quite baggy. I was told that magnets had to be as close a fit to the blood supply as poss - thats why if we wear the bracelet ones they have to be quite tight to our wrists.

Personally if I had the money I would go for the Veredus stable boots £70 per pair ish?, but for more of a general purpose and practical boot id buy the bioflow boots £50ish.

 

[LauraBR]

I use the Bioflows and really rate them.

 

[Shantor1]

Hi Rebecca
My 35 yo cob gelding had it over the winter. My vet prescribed 5 days injection of pennicillin which I had to do myself - vet showed me how to do it in his neck. Plus he prescribed sachets of Danilon which is new generation of bute to ease the inflammation. Unfortunately, the only way I can get stuff down my gelding is to dissolve it in warm water and carefully syringe into his mouth.

To cut a long story short, he had cellulitis on his off-fore white leg which became very sensitive and painful. I had to keep him in because the fields were too wet and muddy but I applied Calendula and Hypericum ointments plus gave him Hepar Sulphur homeopathic tablets from a qualified vet. The Hepar sulpur is given because the skin needs sulphur to heal, and this remedy is ideal for skin that is painful and sensitive to the touch. Calendula is marigold and is reknowned for healing properties.

Use clean hands to apply ointments etc but as my gelding found it very painful to be touched I would only apply it once every 2 days. He was very lame but after 6 weeks he healed and the layers of dead skin and hair flaked and sloughed off. By this time he would let me touch his leg so I used hibiscrub and gently washed layers of thick dead crusted skin away to reveal nice pink healthy skin underneath.

If you're ground is dry then its best to keep turning your horse out because their circulation needs to be stimulated to help heal. I would walk my gelding up and down our tarmac driveway to stimulate it but didnt go in the arena as we have sand and it would've got into the sore lesions.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Tracy

 

[Ferdinase514]

Fiini had terrible cellulitis in his foreleg 2 years ago, his knee is always slightly swollen in the morning, even now. It doesn't cause him any problems work wise so I just leave it be