Haematoma? Advice please!

[Shilasdair]

Hi folks
One of my youngsters developed a large fluidy swelling between her front legs about a week ago. I thought it was an allergy to a horsefly bite (she's a sensitive flower). Now, although much of the fluidy swelling has gone, she still has a harder feeling swelling left (about the size of two half oranges, if you see what I mean). The skin is undamaged and she doesn't seem bothered, isn't lame, and is behaving normally.
What should I do to help it to heal - would a vet help?
S

 

[Tamski]

Never hurts to phone the vet for advice?

 

[Shilasdair]

Yes, except the last time I phoned it took them three weeks to respond....cos they can't charge for advice. It's either a visit or nothing with my vets!
S

 

[Zaf]

I doubt if they can give free advice for something they havent seen - worth calling a vet imo if its big, if it isnt it may reabsorb but leave a lump

 

[samp]

I would be calling another vet for adivce then

 

[dianchi]

There is a great product in tackshope by gold label, swelling reducer-or named something simularly predicatble.
My vet recommended it for something simular and the swelling went within 3 days.
Hosing and walking also will help

 

[Zaf]

sounds like you dont have a very good relationship with your vets?
Luckily ours are fantastic.

I'm pretty sure these days (thanks to the EU) that for certain things a veterinary surgeon/practice they arent allowed to prescribe if they havent seen the animal.

I have to admit in our business we dont tend to hand out free advice to people that arent already customers (no we arent vets, I always said I should have married a vet, a farrier or a millionaire!), apart from any other considerations we could be held liable if there was a problem doing that without seeing the problem first hand.

 

[Shilasdair]

The vets themselves are lovely, no complaints. The stable staff are lovely too....but first you have to get past the receptionists who are....not lovely!
Last time I was phoning to ask how long my horse should have field rest after colic surgery....so no visit was remotely necessary (they did the surgery, and visitied her before she went out). Took me 3 weeks to speak to a vet...
S

 

[Morrigan_Lady]

If its a haematoma all the vet will do is drain it, if I was you I would just cold hose it and keep the horse moving. It will got down by itself.
Arch got kicked in the field last year in his chest and had a mahoosive one, I cold hosed it and carried on as normal and it went down in its own time.
If it doenst hurt the horse and the horse isnt lame, I would save yourself the vet fee.

 

[Shilasdair]

Thanks Moonwalker - that's very encouraging. How long did it take your horse's haematoma to go down...and what sort of stages did it go through?
S

 

[Morrigan_Lady]

I think it took over a week. It was propa huge! I was really worried about it, but he wasnt in any pain, so I cold hosed it every day for about 10-20 moniutes, kept him turned out and rode him every day and it just gradually went.
Just keep an eye on it and Im sure it will be fine. MW x

 

[Shilasdair]

My girl has already had hers for over a week....

Maybe I should take her walkies as she has a tendency to be a bit inert in her field...that might clear it up quicker.
I'm worried though - and have booked a vet for Friday (as they are booked up for non urgent stuff til then)
Thanks though

S

 

[wiglet]

My girl had a Haematoma from a kick injury. It was painful for her to start with so I called the vet who drained it. The vet warned me that it could refill again... and it did. This time it didn't seem to cause discomfort so I left it and over 2-3 weeks it slowly went down. However, I could still see the shadow of it for a good 6 months.

 

[Shilasdair]

Thanks Wiglet. I suppose it'll just take time for all the blood etc to dissipate.
S

 

[Zaf]

definitely not good, might be worth a tactful word with the vet about the receptionist

 

[Zaf]

[ QUOTE ]
definitely not good, might be worth a tactful word with the vet about the receptionist

[/ QUOTE ]

damn, the last post meant to have a quote in it! It was ref the attitude of the receptionist!


From what I remember about the horse I had with a huge haematoma on his stifle the vets were reluctant to drain it at first and hoped it would reduce by itself - I was advised to keep him turned out and exercised gently, unfortunately it didnt go down and it was drained, I'm not squeamish but the amount of blood was horrendous and clearing up the partly congealed stuff afterwards horrible

 

[Shilasdair]

Thanks, Zaf, you can imagine the receptionists, I'm sure.
I'm tempted to change vets, but they are probably the best vets and surgery in the area (really I need to change receptionists rather than vets

)
S

 

[Angua2]

My boy got a huge heamatoma inbetween his front legs after a run in with a wheel barrow. I had to get it lanced, and then reopened and a drain put in so I could rinse it with dilute disinfactant until it healed