Pictures How long off work?

[wattamus]

So Madam decided to move the water trough in the field (with her leg!) and has obviously done a bit of damage.
It's just above the knee and for the most part isn't deep apart from the bit at the bottom.
I spoke to vet and she said to monitor and I've there's any lameness or discharge then to have an appointment.
Cold hosed last night and applied some sudocreme as that's all I had to hand and wanted to keep flies and particulates out. Cold hosed this morning and then applied wound powder.
The cut at the bottom seems to have nipped together but it is more swollen and warm and she is slightly short (but not hopping lame)
Obviously will not ride until sound and any issues I'll ring the vet but assuming all goes well and she doesn't get an infection, how soon (after she's sound) would it be until you rode again? I'm sort of thinking wait until the open cut at the bottom has properly closed up, but welcome your opinions.
Photos are from last night, pre and post hosing and it is a bit larger today like I said.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

You might get infection in that. I wouldn't want the deep wound closing before it is healed at the bottom.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I would ditch the wound powder and get some wound gel or honey based product to put on instead. Wound powder is really drying and inhibits healing. With a deeper wound I don't want it scabbing over until the lower layers have healed.

As far as work goes I would happily work once the horse is comfortable and no longer stepping short. But I'd keep it to fairly gentle work until I had good healing to the flat pink skin stage.

If there's heat and swelling I'd keep a very close eye and be tempted to give it another good wash out with dilute hibiscrub before applying the gel. I limit washing the wound too much though because that, too, inhibits healing but you need to balance that against preventing infection. If heat and swelling are joined by gunk or if the lameness gets worse at all I'd call the vet for a look and possibly antibiotics.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Agreed.

 

[wattamus]

Brill, did wonder about the wound powder drying it out, I always thought it was best to keep them "moist" (forgive the word!) Should listen to myself a bit more!
Yes keeping a good eye on it and if I'm not sure I'll try get vet out tomorrow just incase as I can see it becoming infected over the weekend when the vets don't work!! (Sods law rules my life!)
Thanks for advice R.E riding, just didn't want to be doing too soon and opening it up again but due to the fact she's morbidly obese, I don't want her off work for too long and risk lami etc.

 

[only_me]

The bottom of the cut looks like it could do with a stitch but probably a bit late now.
I’d hose from above twice day and put manuka honey on it (which doesn’t attract flies I’ve found) and monitor it.

I wouldn’t work until it’s started to close over as you don’t want to stretch wound further.

 

[Summit]

Defo wound gel....new tissue cannot form if it’s all dried out with wound powder (no idea why it’s still available).

Heat and swelling is normal and there to protect the leg. I’d be happy to treat and monitor myself

 

[huskydamage]

Mine had a wound about a month ago, shes not lame now and vet was happy with it but I'm not riding yet. I have started leading her out on short walks. I accept the swelling around the wound will be there a while as hers was infected puncture but there is still a slight swelling in other areas of the leg and i wouldn't want to ride until that's gone.

 

[ycbm]

That wouldn't worry me at all, and I would be riding as soon as the horse was sound. I'd make sure the top of the hole didn't heal over until it had come up from the bottom.

.

 

[eggs]

Some years ago one of mine got a nasty cut on his leg. Vet was out and treated it but as he was sound he recommended that I hack him out daily to get some movement as he didn't want him turned out in the field for the first couple of weeks.

 

[Abi90]

Mine injured herself last week, several shallow scrapes and a longer deeper cut and her leg swelled up. Vet said not to ride for a couple of days but to start light work as soon as she was sound as movement moves and prevents swelling. She’s pretty much back to normal now but the cuts were not as deep as that