stubborn case of cellulitis

FabioandFreddy

FabioandFreddy

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Fab currently has cellulitis. First sign of it was 2 1/2 weeks ago and had vet out who gave him penicillin injection and said to box rest him and bute and left us with another 5 lots of injections for him. Also cold hosed 3 times daily to reduce swelling. Vet came back out when course of antibiotics was done and although leg wasn't completely back to normal, was vastly improved. Put on further course of sachet antibiotics which he finished Monday. Seemed a lot better and happily went on the lunge to get him moving again. Been turned out onto a hard standing area with shelter so he wasn't in any mud.
Yesterday his leg was up again, just round the fetlock and quite warm. He also wasn't moving much and clearly was sore again. Vets been back out and has put back on the antibiotic injections and also gave him a shot of dex. Pretty sure is cellulitis and not lymphangitis as she said symptoms all point to that rather than whats typical of lymphangitis. He's on 30ml penicillin for the next few days then down to 20 to try and really knock it on the head. Vet will then reassess as to whether he needs more antibiotics.
Main question is, would the steroids make him a bit subdued? He does seem it today, although happily ate his breakfast for his bute whilst having his leg hosed so not off his food. He's been stood dozing a lot of the day in thd shelter, although the winds pretty grim here so can't really blame him. Don't really know a great deal about steroids other than they can increase the risk of laminitis. But read on an american site that some people use dex to quite a horse down for shows, so could have the subdued effect I'm guessing? Also, have any of you dezlt with cellulitis thats been stubborn to treat? If so how long did it take to go completely? I'm quite worried about him truth be told :( I'm currently out of action with a broken finger though so sat in bored and looking up stuff online which probably isn't helping!
Sorry for the essay, all I have on offer is tramadol and ibuprofen!
 
Tramadol and ibuprofen sound perfect, I'm still recovering from shoulder surgery!

Sorry, cant be much help but just to say my horse was very depressed when on prednisilone so it could well be the steroids.
Only had 2 experience of cellulitis, both cleared up within about a week with ABs only.
Hope your horse recovers soon :)
 
This isn't right. Cellulitis and Lymphangitis can be resolved in a day or two with the right drugs. The first time I had one with it I had lingering problems like you're experiencing, I wasn't happy, changed vet and he blasted it and it was gone in 24 hours.

You need an antibiotic called Baytril, plus IV bute and in some cases steroids and diuretics. But Baytril is the most important one.

Don't delay, this needs sorting out, it's very painful for your horse.
 
The penicillin did appear to be working, leg went down considerably the first 24 hours when initially treating. Will ask vet about baytril though if that seems to work better. Thanks
 
When my horse had it the Vet had him on a 10 day course of 2x50ml doses per day of an antibiotic intended to be used in pigs and chicken's drinking water (I had to syringe it in as he wouldn't eat it and it gave him a sore mouth so had to mix it with yoghurt). He was also on bute along with as much movement as possible to help the leg to drain. I was advised not to bandage the leg as the swelling could cause too much pressure to be build and be detrimental. That cleared it up nicely.

I monitor his temperature routinely now and his legs get washed when he comes in from the field to keep on top of any nicks.
 
When my mare had cellulitis she was taken to horsepital scanned, given IV antibiotics and SPA twice daily for 5 days, a support sock for about 6 weeks after coming home with oral antibiotics for about a month, and gradually built up from there.

Fair to say it was the most scary thing I have been through with her, she was my rock after losing my partner and this was about 6 months after.
 
The only thing that worked when Kal had this problem a year and a half or so ago was Cobactan - it's an injectable antibiotic - costs a small fortune, but squashed his cellulitis pretty much overnight.

Up until then, we'd had two rounds of oral antibiotics, bute (as an antiflammatory), box rest, bandaging, in-hand walking . . . you name it, we tried it (vet wouldn't give steroids because of the risk of lami). We battled with intermittent cellulitis for three months . . . but the Cobactan knocked it totally on the head.

P
 
Thanks for the replies. His leg has gone down considerably now and just a bit of swelling concentrated at the back of the fetlock where it was oozing serum. He's back to his normal self too and obviously feeling a lot better. He's tonight had his last 30ml dose of pen and strep injected and got another 5 days of 20ml to do. Need to call the vet mid week to let them know how he's going so will mention the other antibiotics and see if its worth putting on them to triple make sure we've got it sorted. Won't have him on the norodil sachets though as they clearly didn't work. Just want him right again so whatever the expense it doesn't matter!
 
FabioandFreddy said:
Thanks for the replies. His leg has gone down considerably now and just a bit of swelling concentrated at the back of the fetlock where it was oozing serum.!
Click to expand...

Glad to hear he's improving. Oozing indicates Lymphangitis rather than cellulitis, movement is vital, ideally 24/7 turnout......but difficult in this weather!
 
I thought that too but read can happen with both. He's out 24/7 on our hard standing area with shelter so can move about without getting the legs dirty!
 
FabioandFreddy said:
Fab currently has cellulitis. First sign of it was 2 1/2 weeks ago and had vet out who gave him penicillin injection and said to box rest him and bute and left us with another 5 lots of injections for him. Also cold hosed 3 times daily to reduce swelling. Vet came back out when course of antibiotics was done and although leg wasn't completely back to normal, was vastly improved. Put on further course of sachet antibiotics which he finished Monday. Seemed a lot better and happily went on the lunge to get him moving again. Been turned out onto a hard standing area with shelter so he wasn't in any mud.
Yesterday his leg was up again, just round the fetlock and quite warm. He also wasn't moving much and clearly was sore again. Vets been back out and has put back on the antibiotic injections and also gave him a shot of dex. Pretty sure is cellulitis and not lymphangitis as she said symptoms all point to that rather than whats typical of lymphangitis. He's on 30ml penicillin for the next few days then down to 20 to try and really knock it on the head. Vet will then reassess as to whether he needs more antibiotics.
Main question is, would the steroids make him a bit subdued? He does seem it today, although happily ate his breakfast for his bute whilst having his leg hosed so not off his food. He's been stood dozing a lot of the day in thd shelter, although the winds pretty grim here so can't really blame him. Don't really know a great deal about steroids other than they can increase the risk of laminitis. But read on an american site that some people use dex to quite a horse down for shows, so could have the subdued effect I'm guessing? Also, have any of you dezlt with cellulitis thats been stubborn to treat? If so how long did it take to go completely? I'm quite worried about him truth be told :( I'm currently out of action with a broken finger though so sat in bored and looking up stuff online which probably isn't helping!
Sorry for the essay, all I have on offer is tramadol and ibuprofen!
Click to expand...

My mare had this bad, all legs inflamed and sore. One of the things vets said was Keratex powder which really helped it clear up so thats what I would use as well as antibiotics. http://www.vetmedsdirect.co.uk/keratex-mud-shield-powder-450g/
 
One of the horses on my yard has got septic cellulitis from mud fever :( he's been awfully poorly with it. He's finally on the road to recovery tho!! Most of the horses on my yard have got mud fever this year including mine who's never had it before. I had the vet to do his jabs today and he checked his legs and said that he had a small case of cellulitis and gave me a weeks worth of antibiotics and bute. Glad I got it early tho! I'm really feeling for you as it must be awful! Hope he gets better soon!!!
 
FabioandFreddy said:
He's out 24/7 on our hard standing area with shelter so can move about without getting the legs dirty!
Click to expand...

Yes, but is he actually moving around or just standing still for the majority of the time? Movement was key with my old boy last year and had to hand walk or put on the horsewalker three times a day, despite the fact that he was out 24x7......grass was too good so didn't need to move sufficiently!

Anyway, just a thought.....
 
My OH has been walking him out too as he does tend to just stand where the hay is!

Called vet with progress update and although has improved significantly, she's coming back out with baytril on friday to try and finally knock it on the head. Can see why they sometimes try other means first though when its £290 for the baytril! Eek! Price irrelevant really as if thats what it takes then that's what it takes. Although may ring the insurance and see if I can do it all as a claim as has now mounted up a bit but not sure if they will as we haven't let them know from the onset. Will call and find out in the morning.
 
I agree with movement is key. When my boy had cellulitus in a hind leg due to an infected wound, i was told to walk him for two hours a day as well as having his usual turnout!

Also, for months after this leg would fill whenever he was stabled for more than 3 hours or so - until the day i took him to the beach... Sea water is amazing!! his leg has never filled since!!! (although obviously i know now is not the right time for a beach ride!!!!)
 
I had a mare whose leg would blow at a scratch, go like an elephant leg in hours, vet treated it with Flamazine used for burns victims and left me with some (not sure I didn't source some on eBay) and that would always do the trick. Not cheap but it really worked for her.
 
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