Cellulitus??what is it??

[cidermillcottage1]

My horse has a big swelling in between her front legs. The vet came out about a week ago and suggested it was some kind of infection...maybe a blackthorn or possibly a kick. He prescribed bute and antibiotics as it was really sore/horsey was lame. The swelling disappeared until the treatment finished but has now reappeared and feels different to before..its gone hard and lumpy whereas previously it felt fluidy...she is now on much stronger antibiotics to try and clear it....anyone experienced anything like this before??

Anyway back to original title...I have just had the bill and on the description vet has suggested it may be cellulitus (although we didn't discuss this at the time)...can anyone tell me what this is??

thankyou!

 

[Nudibranch]

Cellulitis is an infection of the deep skin tissues, it can vary from being fairly simple and treatable to very, very nasty. I had it last year following a riding accident in Egypt and spent the best part of a week in hospital with my leg in a cast and on a drip, it took a long time to find antibotics which could clear it up. My medic friends back home didn't tell me they were treating someone in intensive care with it at the same time! It is VERY painful btw.
Fingers crossed your horse will recover quickly but just be warned...

Also apparently once you've had it once you can get it again more easily, I don't know why though. Fingers crossed for you.

 

[keeperscottage]

I had cellulitus myself a couple of years ago. Started off feeling as though I had the flu (that was the start of the infection) and within two days I was in the most unbelievable agony.....terrible pain in my back (couldn't stand up straight), pain in the top of one leg (hobbling!) but worst of all, my right hand swelled up to the point where my fingers resembled huge, bright red sausages and the back of my hand was badly swollen, hot, red and shiny! I never go to the doctor, but I was in such agony, I had to. She thought it may be due to a minor cat scratch or similar. Initially, antibiotics didn't work and she then wanted me to be admitted to hospital (yes, it really was that bad) but I said a very definite NO and she gave me stronger antibiotics and pain killers! In all, I was off work for two weeks but even when I returned (this was in my former life when I worked in an office!!!!) I was pretty well incapable of doing anything! The pain in my leg lasted for months and if I forgot myself and pushed a door open with my right hand, that was enough to make me yelp and mucking out could actually produce an involuntary scream! What worries me is what sootyandmog wrote in her post - it can return! It really was excrutiating and I'll never forget my visit to Tescos with my daughter the night before my first visit to my GP.....I was pushing a shpping trolley, bent over (back), limping (leg) and pushing the trolley with one hand with the other hand sort of waving in the air (well, not quite); as I was limping slowly along, I shouted to my daughter to wait for me........but she just pointed out that she was too embarrassed to be seen with me and just walked faster!

 

[Nudibranch]

Ooh, don't worry too much kc... I don't think that it returning is a given, though apparently there is some truth in it. I'm just a lot more careful when I get small cuts and scratches nowdays!
(p.s. I changed my name, I am sootyandmog really!)

There is a support group for lymphangitis and cellulitis, my mum works for the person who runs it, bizarrely enough. Though I never really found out much more about it I'm afraid.