overreach injury

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klb

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Hi, our loan pony received an overreach injury last saturday. Just wanted to know what peoples experiences are of the healing process. The vet came out to see him last saturday and cut the skin flap off and dressed it. it is a u shape cut, so it starts at the coronary band, around the bulb and then comes up just short of the coronary band again, so its about two inches wide and about 1/2 to an inch deep. The vet came to look at it again yesterday and said it was healing but was still quite unstable, he said he has given it a fair old whack. He said that it would be 4 months plus before it would probably be stable enough for my daughter to be able to compete on him again but that he would need to be brought back up to fitness first so more like 6 to 8 months. We are in such a difficult position because of him being on loan to us. Has anyone ever experienced this level of injury and found that the healing process was quicker. I know its probably, how long is a piece of string question, as each individual is different. Many thanks
 
That sounds like a worst case scenario prediction by your vet, it is not that deep even if it is wide, if it is healing well and stays clean I would expect it to heal far quicker, if it was going to take as long as the vet is suggesting I would expect it to require more aggressive treatment than it seems to be getting at the moment, once the wound has knitted together it will take a fair while to grow out and may still leave a thickened area and scarring to the hoof but I would hope you could start light exercise within a month or two, daily walking out on a dry flat surface, once allowed, will keep his fitness level up more than you may expect.
That said they all heal at different rates but this type of injury is not uncommon and when treated quickly usually cause no real problems other than needing to take extra care it does not happen again.
 
thank you very much for your reply, I'm going to see how it goes in the next week and speak to the owner again as to a plan of action
 
My friends horse managed to over reach on Christmas day and it was a real mess. She kept him in, kept it clean and followed vets instructions to the letter. He was out for about 6-8 weeks and is now back in the work he was in before the accident.
From the sounds of it yours is fairly similar so don't lose heart
 
thank you, because our pony is very stressy in he's stable after the week the vet told me to turn him out and wash it thoroughly when he comes in. He said to just leave the injury open, I've been unsure about the whole advise. I have had a light bulb moment though and don't think he did it overreaching, as i say he is very stressy in he's stable especially when horses come in and out. I got to the yard one morning and he had managed to smash he's water bucket to pieces, only the bottom was left which had all sharp edges sticking up. There was no blood in the stable but he is on straw and is really messy, not normally an inch of clean straw from wee's and poo's. I did check him over but i think where the skin flap was over it at the time i didn't notice it. Do you mind me asking what the vet told your friend and did she refraim from any excersise in that 6-8 weeks, the vet has said my daughter can walk him and if he shows no sign of lameness she could trot him on a flat, dry, straight piece of track.
 
For heel lacerations the best course for prompt healing is complete immobilisation using in the form of a foot cast. The more he walks the longer it will take to heal due to the constant movement from the horse placing weight when walking especially such a big laceration, dirt and constant washing will also slow the healing process down. Is he being treated by an equine specific practice? If not id ask for referral, the sooner all movement is stopped the quicker it will heal.
 
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