Kick to outside of lower leg. Am I overreacting??

janinek1981

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I know its a long one but your advice is GREATLY appreciated.

My thoroughbred received a kick half way between her knee and her fetlock on the outside of her forleg two weeks ago. There was a cut.. not particularly deep i wouldnt say, which is a little further back than half way (I would say more on splint bone area than cannon bone area). It was swolen straight away and she was lame in walk, I tried but failed to keep it clean and it got infected so the vet was called three days later and she had a shot and was given a 7 day course of antibiotics. On the 7th day I called the vet to say that the majority of the soft swelling had gone but that it was back to looking like the day i found her (straight down from outside of knee to the cut area) and that she was still lame (no improvement). He gave me another 10 day course of ABs as there is still gunk coming out and im washing it daily with hibiscub. We're on day 16 I think since the trauma and shes still, what I class to be very lame in walk.
She was turned out the whole time on vets advice.

My questions for anyone still awake are:

Should I be thinking about xrays? Ive never had to deal with lameness before, my old boy was a toughie.

Has anyone had a lame horse for this long after a kick and it just be from tissue injury and inflammation?

What is the best cream/potion if any, to put on the cut? Ive been hibiscrubbing it and then purple spray but its best to heal from inside out right? So maybe something hydrating?? The cut has healed over a few times but ive had to soak off the scab as there is still pus coming out. Am i being neurotic to consider that there is a bone in there that may have broken which is constantly producing more pus or can pus come out for weeks after an infection?

PS..Am asking all this because my vet has given wishy washy answers throughout, forgotten which horse mine was through one conversation (!) and the nurse had to call me at work to ask what id been presribed. Feel very worried and like im guessing what to do!!
Thanks for reading xx
 
I would be concerned if the horse is still visibly lame in walk and would be thinking along the lines of possible fracture to the splint bone (although i have no direct experience of this).
I think i would be pushing for x-rays or scans to find out what's going on (beyond the infection). Can you speak to the senior vet at the practice, or ask for a referal to an equine specialist?
 
Thanks happytalk.. The vet who came out IS the senior vet worryingly, hence why I feel very unsure about staying with the practice. We dont have many choices in Cornwall though! I think im going to push for xrays, everyone is called me OTT though which is whats putting me off... xrays arent the cheapest! But obviously the most important thing is that she is treated accordingly x
 
Did the vet examine her again or just give you antibiotics? I would be wanting a full examination and xrays (unless my vet could explain a good reason why not) and I would keep her in till they are done.

Hope she is ok.
 
Honestly?? The vet didnt really examine her the first time!! 50 quid examination fee is a JOKE! No the second time he didnt come out, I spoke to him over the phone.
Thanks for your advice x
 
Definitely demand xrays then. Keep in. Carry on with antibiotics. Tell vet it is an emergency and you want it done today. Even if you swap vets any old vet should do for today - they should all be able to do xrays!

If it is a missed fracture I would be having a serious conversation with the vet practice about negligence. Sadly it does sound like a fracture but only an xray will tell you. Lesson learned :( lame after a kick on a lower leg with swelling - vet on the day.
 
After a kick like you described and the swelling and lameness present, id have to say id have had vet out that day.
All your posts basically say youve no faith in your vet, So why not change practice ? Im no vet, but I personally think the horse shouldve been x rayed before now, and dont think its just a case of throwing more antibis at it, ask for a swab to be taken to see whats needed to treat the infection, i would also be insisting on an x ray, and the vet would need to have a good reason why he felt it still wasnt needed at this stage.
Can you ask for a referral to vet hospital
 
Might be a bone chip and would need removing and wound flushed. It won't heal unless you get it properly cleaned and any chips removed. I would insist on x-rays - your the customer and then take it from there.
 
Thank you all for your advice. Splint bone fracture... And a massive lesson learned. Will go with my instincts next time instead of listening to people telling me I'm overreacting. Unfornately for me, my vets practice seems to be the practice of choice in Cornwall! I don't doubt the depth of knowledge, I just feel as if the easy option is often plumped for and I literally have to drag answers out of my vet rather than getting all the information at the time (it usually involves numerous phone calls afterwards). Maybe this is standard with all vets but doesn't feel like it should be. Anyway, I now have a plan of action, all beit further down the line than I'd have liked, and hopefully all will be well in the end. Thanks so much guys
 
Sorry to hear this. I'd be fuming with the vet. A lower limb kick with pus & lameness after a course if AB's is pure negligence not to suggest X-rays to the owner. And to advise turnout on top ... Speechless.
 
Sorry to hear that fracture is confirmed but at least appropriate treatment can now be instigated. I would be having serious words with vet practice as not only have they caused the horse unnecessary pain and suffering, they have also wasted your money through their lack of duty of care. A strongly worded letter may get you some money reimbursed, which doesn't help your horse but may help another in the future. Wishing your girl a speedy recovery.
 
Thank you all for your advice. Splint bone fracture... And a massive lesson learned. Will go with my instincts next time instead of listening to people telling me I'm overreacting. Unfornately for me, my vets practice seems to be the practice of choice in Cornwall! I don't doubt the depth of knowledge, I just feel as if the easy option is often plumped for and I literally have to drag answers out of my vet rather than getting all the information at the time (it usually involves numerous phone calls afterwards). Maybe this is standard with all vets but doesn't feel like it should be. Anyway, I now have a plan of action, all beit further down the line than I'd have liked, and hopefully all will be well in the end. Thanks so much guys

I don't know what treatment they are recommending but mine had surgery to remove hers and made a full recovery I would however have got the vet on day one with that from the description of the wound you gave and would be very unhappy with the standard of care from the vet that you have described .
 
I think you need to send a letter of complaint in, the vet was ready to just chuck more antibis at this, if you hadnt insisted on x rays, i hope theres not an osteomyelitis set in now, i also hope they took a swab from the wound.
Vets charge to much, and the horses are worth to much to the owners to be cavalier about an injury like this.
 
Just seen your post - sorry to hear it was a fracture but so glad you got to the bottom of things. I really hope they are now taking a more proactive approach and treating this to the very best of their ability. I would definitely complain and at least get something off my bill. Keep us updated on her progress.
 
I would not be happy, but I would now want my horse to be treated at a vet hospital if the infection is still raging, it does not sound as though you are happy or that your vets are happy, I hope she is insured.!
PS I am not a great one for regular use of Hibiscrub, I have some bags of sterile saline for use in an emergency, they may be used to flush out Hibiscrub and restore ph to normal.
A salt water solution can be made up for regular usage, one litre boiling water to 9gms salts [2 teaspoons], cool before use.
 
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