Osteomyelitis

[WindyWitch]

has anyone had or have a horse suffering from osteomyelitis and if so what did you find worked for treating it. No lameness at all just left with the puffy fetlock on the hind leg. Have tried various different antibiotics to no avail. Many thanks

 

[Holly Hocks]

My last horse got osteomyelitis in his radius after fracturing it. He was treated with Baytril which is cripplingly expensive but fortunately was insured. Is it definitely osteomyelitis and not cellulitis? My horse was extremely lame and I had osteomyelitis when I was 10 years old in my foot and it is the most painful condition I have ever had.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Googling some articles, it does sound horrendous, but they do note [and I have heard a vet student say this that antibiotics wont work at the extremities, ie lower limbs.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Googling some articles, it does sound horrendous, but they do note [and I have heard a vet student say this that antibiotics wont work at the extremities, ie lower limbs.

I do agree with you there - when my boy had it, the vet said that she wasn't sure if the Baytril would work or not. She was surprised when it did. If it were me, I still think I'd want to give it a try.

 

[AengusOg]

I stood on a nail when I was about twenty years old (about 37 years ago, right enough), and got a massive infection in my foot. After a week of doctors and bed rest I was on my way to the doc again when I met a retired horsey vet in the street. He was furious that the doc had not recognised the seriousness of my condition, and advised my to get to hospital immediately as the infection was tracking up my leg. It was agony.

I was admitted to hospital and operated on that afternoon. They removed a piece of bone from my foot and it took eight weeks in hospital and a further month of home visits to finally rid me of the osteomylitis infection. I was injected three times daily throughout with double doses of an antibiotic called 'colomycin'.

 

[vanrim]

I often wish the vets would treat me instead of the doctor - they seem more efficient!

I stood on a nail when I was about twenty years old (about 37 years ago, right enough), and got a massive infection in my foot. After a week of doctors and bed rest I was on my way to the doc again when I met a retired horsey vet in the street. He was furious that the doc had not recognised the seriousness of my condition, and advised my to get to hospital immediately as the infection was tracking up my leg. It was agony.

I was admitted to hospital and operated on that afternoon. They removed a piece of bone from my foot and it took eight weeks in hospital and a further month of home visits to finally rid me of the osteomylitis infection. I was injected three times daily throughout with double doses of an antibiotic called 'colomycin'.