Should I poultice leg?

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MrsBobbles

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I brought my youngster up yesterday as he had a swollen forelimb which I had found a thorn stuck in - not a long way in, just had a piece of thorn twig hanging so I pulled it off. Leg is swollen all around canon from site of thorn (just below knee of outside to rear of leg) down to, but not including fetlock joint. Cold hosed for over 20 minutes and then stabled overnight. I can't see if any thorn left in due to leg hair, plus think would be too hard to see if clipped leg. However, I am thinking of poulticing with Animalintex to see if this draws out the infection/remainder if any of thorn. Would poultice work over hair of leg or would it be better to clip the area? There is heat and swelling and lameness, although happy to weight bear and eating fine. I thought I'd poultice today and overnight and if no better tomorrow then call the vet. He's fully up to date with tetanus vac btw.

Any thoughts/advice please?
 
I'd have got the vet immediately as it could be that the thorn has penetrated the tendon sheath. One of the youngsters at my yard was found one morning with a very swollen leg. Very close inspection revealed 2 small puncture wounds round the fetlock area. Vets called. Blackthorn puncture suspected. Horse whisked off for surgery. GA to have the tendon sheath flushed. No improvement so it was done a 2nd time. Sadly no improvement after that either so little lad was pts. Not suggesting your horse is in the same category but just to illustrate how quickly an apparently innocuous injury can deteriorate to something life threatening. Fingers crossed for him x
 
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