Update on Honey

[debradley]

Hi there I'm feeling really down tonight - I'd don't like this roller coaster ride and I want to get off!! Cause I thought we weren't doing too bad.

Vet out tonight for check-up and to remove the rest of the stitches and staples so Honey was thoroughly peed off with that. But unfortunately vet is not happy with Honey's back leg - it's just not healing, there's no sign of any new tissue and infact appears to be degenerating further. There isn't any sign of infection it's just the wound is getting bigger and bigger. They are also concerned that she has now taken to actually biting it and making it bleed, which is gross when I go down in the morning and all her face and leg is covered in blood. Because of its size and it's location it can't be covered and they don't know of anything that wouldn't actually adhere to it which would make things worse. Vet is going to give a specialist clinic a ring tomorrow to see what they advise and then they'll let me know. Yet again I bet its not cheap. They've given her more bute and topped the pain killer up and she is also now on sedation to try to chill her out a bit to see if that will stop her biting it; she just doesn't want anyone handling it anymore but it has to be done - by me of course. I don't really know how much more I want to put her through this, I'm beginning to feel very cruel.

Soz for the moan but could do with cheering up.

 

[reynold]

there was something on the tv prog that comes from potters bar on the beeb about a horse with this sort of wound but on it's shin

they did a skin graft and it worked well - but expensive obviously

don't know what specialist clinic your vet is consulting but if they don't come up with anything perhaps ask for a referral to RVCollege

not good news but from what you've said I think she might need to goto somewhere like RVC for specialist treatment now

 

[buddly]

poor you. you are both really going through it...
unfortunatly i don't know anything to really do to help the only thing i would suggest if she doesn't stop bitting it is that maybe u cross tie her while u are not there i know that sounds harsh but it may help a bit. i don't like the thought of them being cross tied but when my boy had an op i had no choice really didn't think he or i would like it but he took it really well.
i hope you get some good news soon xx

 

[cariadssogreat]

I had a horse with a badly gashed hind leg, and the skin grafts were successful - however there is a chance of rejection. Norm also chewed his leg a little - but I was able to keep it covered with a pressage bandage. I would certainly be cross tying at the moment - seems harsh in the short term - but would undoubetly have benefits in the long run. Good luck - sending positive vibes- I had not good news too today - about my mare that was hit by a car 3 weeks ago.

 

[BethH]

oh you poor thing and poor Honey, please keep your chin up, you are doing so well dealing with this. Is it worth asking Svend if he has heard of any treatments, they have loads of specialists at Willersley and one of his partners may just have an idea?????

Ryan had a nasty cut on his fetlock from getting sliced by another horses shoe, I couldn't get it to heal and it was open for about 2 weeks and looking horrid, I put the calendular oil on and it worked a treat - is the wound still infected or not as the calendular oil I mentioned previously is specifically to help knit wounds and promote new tissue growth - once the wound is clean. You could look at comfrey too, also I know a number of people on here have mentioned honey, sounds like an alternative cure could be worth a go to see if it can trigger some healing???? Wonder if she has been through so much it has knocked her a bit and she is a bit run down and so healing slower.

Am keeping all my fingers crossed, just remember that you've had some really bad days before and the ones after always look brighter, you have my tel if you need to chat, but have everything crossed for you that tomorrow is a better day.

 

[archoak]

Was going to say the same thing, RVC are my vets and I think it was Mike Archer (Star would know) who did the skin graft on telly. Might be worth giving them a ring and asking their opinion, no is 01707 666297. I've been reading your posts and feel gutted for you - you feel so helpless seeing your horse suffering, hope it can be sorted out

 

[rubyred]

Have you come across something I think is called a cradle. It consists of wooden poles like short broom handles strung together. These are tied round the neck with the poles all running from shoulder to head so that the head and neck can move up and down but not bend round to chew if that makes sense. Not the nicest but effective. Don't know where you could get one though perheps someone on here has one lurking in the back of their tackroom!

 

[archoak]

Like this http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/Pro...3307#sku.49206?

second line down last picture, or you could try the bib which says its to stop rug chewing and rug biting.

 

[checkmate1]

Ohh poor you and honey. I was going to suggest the cradle aswell, i think its supposed to be for horses who rug tear, and wearing it there would be no way to reach her back leg, but she would still be able to walk around happily in stable. Shires sell one aswell. chin up

 

[sueandtoto]

Oh no, poor Honey and you

try and keep positive for her ,modern medicine is amazing now days, Im sure the vets will do all they possibly can , good luck when the vet phones x

 

[archoak]

Meant to edit to say the bib is specifically to stop wound biting

 

[dozzie]

Hiya

Sorry to hear this. Poor Honey. Hope the vets can help tomorrow. Thinking of you both.

XXXXXXXX
DM

 

[custard]

Oh Lord sorry to hear this, was going to suggest the cradle as well. All the wound needs is a few days head start surely?

 

[Tia]

Sorry to read this Deb, but I'm sure you expected this to be a bit of a wild rollercoaster unfortunately. No-one knows how these things will turn out however what I will say is that I have seen some pretty ghastly injuries in my time and even though there are probably more depressing days to deal with, they more than often come right in the end. Not much help to you right now but you need to keep your spirits up and keep hope alive.

 

[debradley]

Applechaf and rubyred thankyou that might just be my answer, will hunt one down tomorrow. If I went for the bib do you think she'd be able to munch on her hay overnight? If not I'll go for the cradle and she'll just have to eat from a haynet for a while; she usually has to eat from the floor. I'm sure I'll be more myself tomorrow; just really fed up of seeing her like this and wasn't expecting this news tonight cause I thought we were doing well. On the positive side the one that the vets thought would give me more problems is actually showing good improvement so I'm sure as long as we can get this one started we'll be fine. I asked the vet about manuka honey but Honey's a demon for a sweet tooth and she doesn't want to encourage her to attend to it or any of the others anymore; so will delay that one for the moment.

You lot are stars - Thanks

 

[Blizzard]

Poor Honey, Ive used the wooden neck cradles with great results in the past, on horses that had tendon ops.

 

[1964]

hi deb really sorry to hear about honey, but you know you have done so well to get to where you are now.
the cradle seems like a good idea just to give a little time even if its just for a few days to give her the start she needs to leave it to heal,
i wish you all the best and honey keep up that good work you are doing you have both gone through so much with the ks and now this all good vibes sent to you both xx

 

[seabiscuit]

Really, really sorry to hear about Honey,Echo what Beth said about ringing Willesley, every single little bit of advice that you can possibly get from everyone will definately help her cause. Fingers still crossed for her, glad that the other wounds are better, remember with these kind of things it is 10 steps forwards and 9 steps backwards!

 

[AmyMay]

Have they talked about referring her to hospital for some more specialist treatment.......

Could be the way to go?

 

[kibob]

Really sorry, hugs for you and Honey. Try and stay positive - difficult I know, but these things can often get worse before better.

 

[debradley]

Ok vets have been in touch today with a plan of action and I have now obtained a neck cradle (which she isn't impressed with but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind). Anyway plan of action is:

2 vets out every two days for next to weeks to heavily sedate her and to do as much debridement as she can cope with in each session, to see if that will make a difference; and for me to maintain her on the inbetween days. They're hoping that by having 2 vets doing the debridement they will be able to get more done in the time frame they have to work with.

If after two weeks they decide that the battle isn't being won then she's off to hospital and a decision on the next step will be made from there.

I know the next two weeks will be very tough on her, but I'm hoping that it works and I do think it's what needs to be done as her injuries are more than I can cope with on my own now.

Please could everyone keep their fingers crossed. Thanks

 

[_Libby_]

Been following your posts.

Glad the vets have a new plan for her, and fingers crossed it works. i bet you are a nervous wreck with it all. Poor soul.
Thinking of you and your horse. Sending her lots of healing vibes x

 

[S_N]

So glad tha thte vets now have new plan for her and you. Just wanted to send you big hugs and to tell you that I think she's very lucky to have you and that you are very brave!!! I have everything crossed for you both!!

 

[sueandtoto]

My whole family now have everything well and truely crossed!, it's going to be a rough ride for you both and I really admire how you have coped so far so Im sure you will win this battle, best of luck to you x <<hugs>>

 

[Honeypots]

AW....Fingers firmly crossed that this new plan works for Honey... (((((((((((Healing Vibes)))))))))))

 

[faerie666]

Has your vet looked into ACell treatment, I think that may be worth a try. It's mainly used as an injection for tendon injuries, but it also comes in sheet form to help large open wounds heal.
Here's a link to a very informative article:
http://www.acell.com/news/TCOTHACellArticle.pdf

 

[Tempi]

Glad you have a new plan sorted with your vets, i really hope it goes ok. Fingers crossed for you and Honey xx

 

[debradley]

Thanks for that link to the A-cell thingy I'm going to print it off to give to vet, if what they're doing now doesn't work - but it does say it's expensive so would need insurances agreement, and also how much it would cost.

Honey had her procedure tonight - surgical debridement. She coped very well and is settled in her stable recovering with her leg bandaged top to bottom with pressure bandages as she turned out to be quite a bleeder. I just have to pop down a couple of times tonight to make sure that it isn't swelling and if it does then I need to remove the bandaging. They managed to do most of her back leg tonight and although it looked horrendous with lots of blood etc the wound in general looks a lot better. Vets are coming back out on Tuesday to do some more and poss tackle the front leg, but they are really pleased with how she did tonight.

 

[cluedo]

Hi Debra

Have your vets thought about laser therapy? I had a horse that practically degloved his front leg below the knee to the fetlock. We healed that with laser and aloe vera and there was a very minimal scar. This horse, like yours was not healing and the leg was absolutely disgusting and rotten. Vets were debriding as well and then my physio saw it and said LASER!!! We did it and the recovery was incredible.

 

[debradley]

Hi yes I've got my physio on standby ready for the laser therapy. We just need the go ahead from the vet who doesn't want it started before all the debridement is over and my physio agrees at the moment, but will start that as soon as physio and vet say go, she's had it b4 on her back so know the results it gives.
Thanks
De