Fetlock wound - still not healed after 6 weeks

[Reacher]

Apologies in advance for the pity party....In early January my horse scraped his fetlock. Vet treated with antibiotics and anti inflammatories. It wasn’t stitchable. Vet said best to not bandage. Clean twice a day and apply flamazol. Expected to be healed in 3-4 weeks.
Horse has stable with free access to a small yard and friend next door.

Initial wound:



By week 5 I emailed the vet the following photo and she advised cleaning every other day and changing to hydrogel. Advised not to turn out for another couple of weeks at least.


We are now at week 6.5 - feels like very little progress. The wound hasn’t contracted noticeably and only a very fine margin of epithelial cells.

He behaves in the yard but if I do anything that makes him think he might be getting turned out he has a hissy fit (rears / charged around).

I don’t know whether to get the vet back out as it has gone on for so long? or is it a case of just be patient?

How long before I can turn him out? The field is wet and muddy.
I don’t know who is more stressed - him or me!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Have you tried some manuka honey on it I find it's good for that kind of wound, how is his immune system sometimes if they are lacking in something it can affect healing.

 

[Reacher]

I asked the vet about Manuka honey early on and she preferred the flamazine - said manuka honey was good for debriding. It’s difficult to know what to do for the best.

He gets forage plus so I’d hope he wasn’t lacking anything...

Have you tried some manuka honey on it I find it's good for that kind of wound, how is his immune system sometimes if they are lacking in something it can affect healing.

 

[MereChristmas]

I can’t offer any advice but a friend had a TB which cut a fetlock in early winter. Although the cut was kept clean and all vet suggestions followed it would not heal. The horse didn’t seem bothered by it. The cut eventually healed through spring.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

One of mine, a tb, cut his fetlock. It was fairly deep and small. It took an absolute age to heal. It then left a lump which in turn took absolutely to go!!

 

[Auslander]

I'd be inclined to get the vet back, and maybe get some cultures taken, on the basis that a non healing wound is non-healing for a reason. Finding out exactly what nasties are preventing the healing will make it easier to treat successfully.

 

[Reacher]

I can’t offer any advice but a friend had a TB which cut a fetlock in early winter. Although the cut was kept clean and all vet suggestions followed it would not heal. The horse didn’t seem bothered by it. The cut eventually healed through spring.

I know the cold weather can slow the healing - though it hasn’t been particularly cold

 

[Reacher]

One of mine, a tb, cut his fetlock. It was fairly deep and small. It took an absolute age to heal. It then left a lump which in turn took absolutely to go!!

Oh no ☹

I'd be inclined to get the vet back, and maybe get some cultures taken, on the basis that a non healing wound is non-healing for a reason. Finding out exactly what nasties are preventing the healing will make it easier to treat successfully.

That is a good point - thankyou.
I’d kind of like to take it to a different vets (too far for them to come to me) which have more facilities but I’m not sure I could take him safely as he is so stir crazy

 

[Reacher]

I’m getting conflicting advice from a friend (who had been coming out every couple of weeks) who says turn him out - but surely contaminating the wound won’t help

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I’m getting conflicting advice from RI (who had been coming out every couple of weeks) who says turn him out - but surely contaminating the wound won’t help

Manuka honey is fantastic. I would be inclined to dress it well whilst the field is muddy and turn out.

 

[ycbm]

For that wound, I would never have kept him in. It's a scrape, not the kind, IMO, that is prevented from healing by movement. I know I'm a maverick but I think a healthy mind is also needed for healing and the risk of infection too slight to compensate for box rest.

Vets are between a rock and a hard place and nobody sues for box rest being bad for the horse but they do for infected wounds.

.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think I would turn out even if it's for a short period each day I'm sure the movement will help and if his stressed being in that won't help with the healing either.

 

[Quigleyandme]

My horse sustained that exact wound last June. Those pictures could be my horse. It took ages to heal but did so eventually without drama.

 

[SusieT]

I would not let that get dirty. I would consult the vet again - this should be what they are good at looking at and advising on. Horses are a pain in the behind in terms of healing wounds like this.

 

[Red-1]

I would have the vet out again, just in case there is something in the wound causing it to fester rather than heal. I would have a local and a good broddle around. I would cold hose too.

If it is OK, I would cover and turn out for some hours a day. I think that kind of wound does better covered, and a little pressure will help prevent proud flesh. Manuka honey is a good shout. If it swells at all, I would cold hose before and after turnout.

 

[sassandbells]

We had an almost identical wound a few years back on my TB. It took probably about 6 months for it to fully heal.

We did box rest for about a week, then kept it bandaged while turned out (with a waterproof covering, wasn’t condoned by the vets but she would not stay on box rest) and then when it had scabbed over enough we turned out without the bandage and just kept it as clean as possible.

 

[Reacher]

Thanks everyone for all the responses - I’ve been out for a walk around the block to try and decompress myself!

Im going to email the vet the most recent photo on Monday and see what she says.

Oh god I hope it doesn’t take 6 months

I did send photos to a 2nd vet who also thought it was better not bandaged - but I expect it’s a 6 of one and half a dozen of the other situation.

I’m not particularly good at bandaging if he is to be turned out.

 

[Snow Falcon]

Horse last year came down on the back of the bulb of his heel badly taking several layers off. It was cleaned and banadaged as was there was nothing to stitch. I used manuka honey on a dressing then when cell growth appeared I got some silver spray for it. Did take a while to heal though.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Have you tried some manuka honey on it I find it's good for that kind of wound, how is his immune system sometimes if they are lacking in something it can affect healing.

I go with this! The old tissue needs to come off not just crust up. Manuka honey is amazing for wounds like this, I had a massive wound from a caught leg in a fence. Bought manuka from amazon and honestly within 4 days it was tons better , its got really strong healing properties ❤

 

[Highmileagecob]

He needs more movement to get the blood flowing and boost the healing process. As long as he isn't lame on it, I would turn him out and let him play. Wash the mud off when he comes in, see if a week of this makes a difference. If it's still looking the same maybe ask your vet if debriding the would would make any difference (scraping the surface to remove gunk).

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thanks everyone for all the responses - I’ve been out for a walk around the block to try and decompress myself!

Im going to email the vet the most recent photo on Monday and see what she says.

Oh god I hope it doesn’t take 6 months ☹

I did send photos to a 2nd vet who also thought it was better not bandaged - but I expect it’s a 6 of one and half a dozen of the other situation.

I’m not particularly good at bandaging if he is to be turned out.

Is it really muddy turnout is there not a little drier paddock he could go in for a while, if not I would hose it wait for it to dry then put manuka on it.

 

[Barton Bounty]

This is 6/5/22 then 9/5/22 and 12/5/22 with manuka honey! Not the same injury but very impressed with how it healed. I only bandaged until it got a skin over it.

 

[Reacher]

Is it really muddy turnout is there not a little drier paddock he could go in for a while, if not I would hose it wait for it to dry then put manuka on it.

It’s a slope, gate is at the bottom where it is wettest. It’s quite dry at the top . (It was quite nice in a dry spell for 2 weeks before it rained again!) It’s not actually that muddy, just not ideal for keeping a wound clean .

Crikey that’s a good scrape @Barton Bounty !

I guess I won’t lose much if I try a week of turnout & manuka honey, given we aren’t making progress at the moment.

thanks again for all the responses .

He needs more movement to get the blood flowing and boost the healing process. As long as he isn't lame on it, I would turn him out and let him play. Wash the mud off when he comes in, see if a week of this makes a difference. If it's still looking the same maybe ask your vet if debriding the would would make any difference (scraping the surface to remove gunk).

 

[Barton Bounty]

It’s a slope, gate is at the bottom where it is wettest. It’s quite dry at the top . (It was quite nice in a dry spell for 2 weeks before it rained again!) It’s not actually that muddy, just not ideal for keeping a wound clean .

Crikey that’s a good scrape @Barton Bounty !

I guess I won’t lose much if I try a week of turnout & manuka honey, given we aren’t making progress at the moment.

thanks again for all the responses .

Activon manuka on amazon

 

[TPO]

It's more outlay but maybe have a look at Silver Whinneys (socks) and try them? The owner, Kim, was a massive help when I sent her pictures of Vinnies leg and there are lots of encouraging pictures on thr website.



I also bought Woof Wear Mud Gaiters to go over th4 socks. With or without the socks those mud boots would help keep thr wound clean.

So frustrating I hope he starts to improve soon x

 

[Reacher]

Activon manuka on amazon

Thanks - Actually I’ve got some in stock!

It's more outlay but maybe have a look at Silver Whinneys (socks) and try them? The owner, Kim, was a massive help when I sent her pictures of Vinnies leg and there are lots of encouraging pictures on thr website.



I also bought Woof Wear Mud Gaiters to go over th4 socks. With or without the socks those mud boots would help keep thr wound clean.

So frustrating I hope he starts to improve soon x

I’ve not heard of those socks - thanks, I’ll look them up, mud gaiters are a good idea too. Yes it’s really frustrating , I know you’ve been through it yourself unfortunately x

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Between it being cold and where it is its going to take a while to heal regardless. It's not open or weeping. It doesn't need a bandage it needs air at it.

Punt him out, bring him in and clean it with warm salt water everyday and put manuka honey on it. That's all you can do til time takes its toll.

 

[Sossigpoker]

What kind of bedding do you use? If you use straw, it could be scratching at the area and essentially rubbing it open?

 

[nagblagger]

Is there any 'proud flesh' that might need trimming back that's stopping it healing over?

 

[Lyle]

Is he perhaps opening it up/rubbing it when he lies down?