Hock

[showqa]

My horse sustained an injury to her inner hock three weeks ago. The vet came out and thoroughly cleaned it, gave her anti-biotics but said of course that due to the site (it's on the bone) there really was no way of stitching. He came out three times that week to look at it and was happy with the progress.

She's a TB so very fine skinned and as such there's no flesh in the area to aid the wound to knit. So it's re-opened a couple of times and I've used wound powder on it when it has. She's been out of work and yarded (gently mobilising), no field.

Today, the leg has swollen and I'm concerned that we have proud flesh and infection. I've called the vet and she says there's no point in coming out today as there's not much that can be done today (I'm wondering whether she's just reluctant to tackle the roads frankly). So my horse is on bute until tomorrow.

My question is - exactly how is proud flesh dealt with? Will the wound have to be re-opened and if so what are the implications of this?

Also, bit worried about lymphangitis. She's eating and seems her normal self, no temp, but the swelling does seem to have gone down the front of her cannon too and she is carrying the leg a bit rather than using it normally.

Do you think that the vet should have come out - have they fobbed me off?

Thanks all.

 

[cptrayes]

Proud flesh is often "burnt off" back to skin level with copper sulphate or ferric sulphate, as a solution or in a cream. That allows the skin to close over. It shouldn't cause too much trouble.

But the swelling is an issue in a wound that old and I think your vet should have come out. Antibiotics 24 hours too late might be too late. If there is infection in it, it should be addressed today and your vet should have visited if you reported significant levels of swelling. I would call them again and tell them the swelling is worsening, whether it is or not.

 

[broodmare]

I'd have thought your vet would have come out if you were really worried and thought it'd got worse....

 

[showqa]

Well, I spoke with her again on the phone and again stressed my concerns about lymphangitis. She said that swelling above the wound in the direction of the stifle is indicative of lymphangitis and that she isn't concerned about the swelling that I've described. She reckons that I can "get it under control" myself with double dosing bute, twice a day (although also suggested I walked her on the lane - madness - then I'll have broken legs to worry about as well!!!). The swelling has gone down a bit and there's no heat anywhere in the leg. She's just eaten her tea with gusto. If there's no change tomorrow morning then I'll insist that they come here. We are a distance from them and the roads are dreadful, but still.