To poultice or not to poultice? Also in vet.

Nickles1973

Nickles1973

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 April 2009
Messages
540
Visit site
Ok so yesterday my regularly self-harming TB comes in from the field with a small but rusty nail sticking out of his heel. Certainly more of it was on the outside than inside. I'd guess about 1/4 inch max was inside. Initially the puncture hole was quite visible and so I stood his whole foot into a mix of hibiscrub and water, then poured neat hibiscrub over it and gave the whole area a good clean. Then foot back into water, dried his foot and sprayed area with antibiotic blue spray (from previous vet visit) Last night I brought him in and although his heel looked a little swollen and it was sore (Wouldn't yours be) there was little sign of the puncture anymore. This morning yard owner and I both looked at it and trotted him up. He's completely sound although still sore if I prod about and obviously a little swollen. Yard owner (very experienced 50+ years old know-it-all) thinks just let it alone and see if anything develops, I'm obviously a little more concerned and am wondering if poulticing it would be a good idea? Any thoughts and advice from you lovely people would be appreciated. Ta.
 
I'd be inclined to poultice. It won't do any harm and if there is any muck inside or any infection developing then it will bring it out.
 
I would be so careful with this. The problem with puncture wounds is that it only needs the tiniest bit of dirt to get sealed in for the wound to get infected and either abcess or just keep flaring up. Our mare had a cut on her heel bulb that was treated by the vet, 2 years later after numerous flare ups, and it never really healing, she had surgery to remove part of the heel bulb. If you don't want to get the vet out you should make sure that the wound is flushed out completely, fill it with hydrogel and cover it. It will get dirt in it as the horse is moving around and needs to be protected. He may not be lame yet but he probably will get more and more sore if the wound gets infected. I wouldnt want anyone to go through what we did with all the worry.
 
I would poultice and thereafter dress thoroughly, because as someone else has said, the smallest bit of yuk coud cause you a major problem.
 
I don't think poulticing will do any harm and hopefully do some good. Just hope puncture wound hasn't sealed so you can't get any suspected dirt out. Hope he makes a quick recovery!
 
I would poultice it my old TB was a self harmer too and he always had a poultice for something or the other that he had done. he got an old rusty nail stuck in his frog once i got loads of **** out on that poultice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top