Help needed with wound that isn't healing

S

showqa

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 February 2008
Messages
827
Visit site
This is a continuation of something I posted last week. Basically, came back off hols to find that the mare had cut her cannon bone. Horse sitters said that they'd cleaned it and then just lathered in equi salve - in my opinion she should have had an antibiotic shot as it was quite deep. By the time I came home it was already 4 days old, and it was a bit puffy - looked infected. She wasn't lame though. So, got her a 5 day course of anti-biotics (she had the last one of those Friday night). Put aqeous gel on it and covered it for a few days.

Yesterday, took it off and the wound still hasn't prgressed as much as I'd have hoped. It seems to have a scab on it that is looking a bit like proud flesh - or is it just a normal scab? How would I tell?

Left it uncovered (it really needs some air I though), just putting equisalve on it because of the flies. Today, it still doesn't seem as healed as it should and it's oozing straw like fluid. No swelling, no heat, no lameness - thankfy - but where do I go from here? What will the vet be able to do if I call them tomorrow? Is it just a matter of time or are we looking at the start of proud flesh forming? Sooooo flaming fed up!!!!!!!!!!!
 
call the vet tomorrow, untill then hose it down to thoroughly clean it, don't aim the hose directly at it, but above and let the water wash down it.
 
Wash with saline, poultice for a couple of days to clean up. Then slather it with 'Active Manuka Honey' it will then heal fast, if kept covered will tend to heal with minimal scaring.
 
Sounds like there may be a bit of something in it which is stopping the healing process.
I would bathe it well in a very warm saline solution in the hope that it would draw anything out; if you're still unhappy with how it looks I'd maybe use a poultice on it overnight, wash off in the morning, dry it off then apply something like Intrasite, honey or Green Oils but leave it open to the air.
 
showqa said:
Today, it still doesn't seem as healed as it should and it's oozing straw like fluid. No swelling, no heat, no lameness - thankfy - but where do I go from here?
Click to expand...

You say the cut is on the cannon, but is it anywhere near a joint? Fetlock or knee? Just that straw like fluid to me means synovial joint fluid and in that case I would want a vet to look at it NOW. You don't want infection getting into a joint.
 
No, it's well above the fetlock. And she's absolutely fine in every way - except it isn't healing as well as I would have thought by now.
 
Keep it wrapped up with a support bandage to prevent proud flesh. Has the original wound completely filled in yet - ie is there still a hole? If so intrasite for manuka honey are good to promote healing. If the wound is now flush with the skin or extends out further than the skin then that is proud flesh. DO NOT put anything on it that might promote call growth if this is the case. A small amount of flamazine to keep it moist when bandaging it is ideal at this point.

Proud flesh - there are a few ways to reduce/get rid of this depending on how much there is. For mild PF, betnovate cream should help reduce it. If you are confident with its use - then copper sulpahte can be useful to "eat" the tissue back - but it requires very careful management. The other alternative is getting the vet out to cut it back - usually the most successful method.

I would think from what you describe that it might not be necessary to get the vet in at this point. Replace the bandages - these should be heavy support bandages with plenty of cotton wool, k-band and gamgee. Give it a bit more time. How long has it been at this point?
 
Well, I've only left it open to the air from last night and it's today that it's like this. The hole as it were has been filled in - and most of it is flush, except for a slight bump at the top of the wound which to me looks slightly proud (when you look down the side of the limb). Although it doesn't look cauliflower like (been trying to do some internet research).

Thing is, it's so difficult for me to tell exactly what's happening as the equisalve is pink and makes a mess of the area. But, I don't feel that I should be too aggressive in cleaning it for fear of disturbing the wound IF it is healing ok.
 
Hi guys

Just to let you know that I had the vet look at it today.She says there is no proud flesh yet, but do need to be careful with it and advised to saline wash it again and slather with manuka, keeping it covered for three more days.

Thanks all for your help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top