Pastern Injury - Any Bright Ideas?

[Chavhorse]

Below is a pic of Vardi's pastern injury.

Now admitted it is much better than it was origionally it was 8cam x 8cm and 4cm deep. But.....it just does not seem to want to close up.

It is very slightly warm to the touch and at the moment we are washing daily with betadine scrub then applying Green Clay to keep the fly's out.

He is slightly lame on it (nothing like two weeks ago when he was hopping onto the toe then placing it down and straight onto the toe again. He has been off the pain meds for a week now and finished a course of antibiotics on Monday.

Does anyone have any bright ideas on what we could use to get it closed up once and for all or am I just turning into an impatient mare.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Holy batmobiles! Haven't the vets advised it's stitched or vetwrapped or something? I can't see how a gaping wound like that is ever going to heal without help because the very weight of the torn skin is pulling the lower edge of the wound down. If the antibx have finished and the wound is still so open, it's only a matter if time until an infection sets in. Vet!

 

[Chavhorse]

Vet is fully involved.

Thanks for your response though.

 

[Cazzah]

My friend's horse had something similar and vet advised that they couldn't stitch as it was too deep and would just rip apart. Her mare was heavily bandaged (with a wedge under her heel to support the healing) and on box rest for 3 months. Had a pretty significant course of antibiotics at the beginning and about half a dozen visits from the vet to remove proud flesh etc. Agree with Box of Frogs that leaving it open and out in the field isn't going to help the healing imo. From experience it is unlikely to heal quickly but will heal given time and treatment.

Could you not ask for a second opinion from the vet as it seems a fairly hefty injury to be left to basically sort itself out?