Cellulitis - turnout vs box rest

[Custard Cream]

Mare presented with acute lameness last Tuesday morning at breakfast time as I was about to turn out, in her near hind. She'd had a touch of mud fever which had almost disappeared. However, leg was tree trunk fat from fetlock to hock, red hot and hopping lame.

Vet called, cellulitis, abs and anti-inflam inj along with danilon sachets, box rest, for a week. I've been inj 20ml depocillin once a day, one danilon sachet and 35ml gant spread over 2 inj a day. After 2 days she was much more comfortable on the leg, weight bearing and sound in walk when out in hand for a nibble of grass.

Her drugs have finished tonight and her leg is still fat. Not as bad as it initially was and from a distance it looks normal, but up close, no normal structures can be seen in the cannon bone region. She's not keen on me squeezing down the leg either.

Vet initially said no turnout until the abs have finished. I'm thinking the increased movement can only help....

So, would you turn out tomorrow? I'll be ringing the vet for their advice, but wondered what everyone else would do.

 

[Venevidivici]

We've had two different horses get cellulitis. 2 different vets (from different practices) attended (the 2 patients had different owners) and one vet advised box rest with twice daily in hand walks and other advised turnout. The one on turnout recovered extremely quickly and leg virtually back down to normal size within 5days. Horse on box rest (tho on a similar but slightly more aggressive medication programme to turnout horse) took about 2-3wks. Once turned out,it improved very quickly. Boxrest owner (who owned the first case/patient) was not impressed with her vet when 2nd case/patient improved much quicker!Hope that helps.

 

[mynutmeg]

Mare presented with acute lameness last Tuesday morning at breakfast time as I was about to turn out, in her near hind. She'd had a touch of mud fever which had almost disappeared. However, leg was tree trunk fat from fetlock to hock, red hot and hopping lame.

Vet called, cellulitis, abs and anti-inflam inj along with danilon sachets, box rest, for a week. I've been inj 20ml depocillin once a day, one danilon sachet and 35ml gant spread over 2 inj a day. After 2 days she was much more comfortable on the leg, weight bearing and sound in walk when out in hand for a nibble of grass.

Her drugs have finished tonight and her leg is still fat. Not as bad as it initially was and from a distance it looks normal, but up close, no normal structures can be seen in the cannon bone region. She's not keen on me squeezing down the leg either.

Vet initially said no turnout until the abs have finished. I'm thinking the increased movement can only help....

So, would you turn out tomorrow? I'll be ringing the vet for their advice, but wondered what everyone else would do.

When they are as lame as yours was for the first few days I would be keeping them in but once they are comfortable then get them out - preferably in a dry area if possible, definately not standing deep mud. They often stock or fill up with cellulitis so getting them moving will usually help this. Try to make sure she's not out with overly energetic companions who will chase her but otherwise the sooner you can get her out the better

 

[Custard Cream]

Thanks for your replies.

I've turned her out this morning. We have a hard frost here, she was quite happy munching at the haylage bale with her friends. Fingers crossed its down a bit more when I get her in this afternoon.