Update on skinned leg - horse now lame

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Christmas Crumpet

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As previously posted my new horse skinned his off hind last Wednesday. He had a small cut on the front of his hock (in the bit like our elbow - about an inch long and 2 cm deep) and a fairly nasty scrape down his cannon bone. He was a tiny bit lame when he first did it presumably because it was sore.

I've cleaned the cuts every day and put Dermobian on twice a day. He was on a course of antibiotics which have now finished. I rode him on Tuesday and he seemed fine. I rode him again last night and he seemed fine. Rode this morning and he definately didn't feel right behind. I felt where the cut was and it felt a bit lumpy underneath. The one on his cannon bone is healing really well. I turned him out and made him trot down the field and he's def. lame behind.

Could the cut have got infected despite all first aid(!) and would this make him lame? If so, I guess I should poultice it. I thought about a hot poultice to draw the pus out because there is a scab on the cut and he's not very good about having things pulled off him. If I do that then wrap a bandage over the top followed by gamgee and then a stable bandage in a figure of eight would that hopefully stay on?

Feel so frustrated because he's been here 9 days and already injured himself and I've had to seperate him and the pikie pony because they kept trying to kick each other. I feel very fed up!!

Any advice gratefully received. Thanks.
 
I think that plan sounds a good one. You're lucky to have some Dermobion, but it only heals the surface, and anything deeper would continue to fester. So a hot poultice would probably be a good strategy if the horse still isn't right. Tricky bandaging a hock, but your description sounds like what I would do.

A phone call to the vet might be a good idea though as it's on a joint.
 
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You're lucky to have some Dermobion, but it only heals the surface,

[/ QUOTE ]

Dermobion is steroid based and actually delays healing - that's why it's used if there's a danger of proud flesh forming. It's possible the vet suggested using this beacuse of the location of the cut, though I didn't actually it was still licenced in the UK?

2cm is quite a deep cut, I'm surprised the vet didnt dress the wound and suggest it was immobilised. I'm assuming the vet saw the horse when it origianlly happened as you state he had a course of antibiotics?

I would be giving the vet a call personally.
 
I had the same sort of thing when my horse fell on the road.
Have you tried doing a flexion test on the hock to see if it is the hock joint that is making him lame. If you flex just the hock and the lameness gets worse then at least you know its definitely the hock. You did say how the original injury was caused as there maybe a bit on compensation going on higher up if he is no worse under flexion.
Previous experience with a hock poultice. Immobilise the horse as if the horse is turned out you will have to do it tight so it stays up and that is too tight to keep the circulation and stop any hair going white. my horse also had to have 2 sets of AB's as was still swollen ans lame after the first 5 days.
The phone call to our vet is free so def worth bouncing a couple of ideas off them.
Good luck
 
After it happened I rang the vet who told me to keep it clean, cover it and give him a course of antibiotics which I already had at home. She then said if there are any major changes then ring her.

He was fine for a week until this morning when definately lame. I have got the vet coming out at 8.30 tomorrow morning but if, when I get home, its suddenly got very bad I'll give her a ring and she can come and see him then. Fingers crossed!!
 
My horse did this
poorlyleg.jpg

It was fine for three weeks then suddenly blew up and took 4 weeks of antibiotics to clear.I think his got an infection under the scab and I wasn't getting to it,hope yours mends soon
 
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