Would you poultice?

[brighteyes]

Small, not quite healing, cut on pastern. Vet been to look and is a bit concerned it's not healed fully, but horse has history of slow healing, tiresome leg wounds so I'm used to horse's over-reaction. Vet took that fully on board. He's sore on it but I expect that. I suspect low-grade infection and vet prescribed AB's first then x-ray for bone chip if doesn't resolve. He didn't suggest poultice but def said nowhere near a joint so good from that POV.

Wound clean and flat but not quite dry. Having said that, I have hosed it lots.

Very very small nick further up the leg (minute in comparison) also not healed, so a bit of a benchmark for the worse one lower down.

Do I get cracking with Animalintex? If so, hot or cold?

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Hi E. I'd be cautious about poulticing and about vigorous cold hosing. If the skin is trying to heal itself by growing together, starting at the edges of the wound, vigorous hosing can destroy the fragile new growth. At best it will take a very long time to heal - at worst it may not heal properly and you might get proud flesh or have to have a skin graft at a later stage. If a low grade infection is present, can't your vet help you tackle it from the INside with antibx?

 

[millitiger]

I wouldn't poultice as would worry about proud flesh.

see if the antibiotics clear it up.

is the cut on the inside of the pastern? Millie has a cut on the inside of the pastern that wouldn't heal as she keep knocking it with her other foot- overreach boots worked a treat.

what are you putting on the wound? i have always found dermoline excellent at helping heal stubborn cuts.

 

[brighteyes]

Hi E. I'd be cautious about poulticing and about vigorous cold hosing. If the skin is trying to heal itself by growing together, starting at the edges of the wound, vigorous hosing can destroy the fragile new growth. At best it will take a very long time to heal - at worst it may not heal properly and you might get proud flesh or have to have a skin graft at a later stage. If a low grade infection is present, can't your vet help you tackle it from the INside with antibx?

So glad you replied - I need some dependable reason! I haven't poulticed. The most I have done is the initial wash out and iodine flush, covered it to stop the bleeding overnight and then more-or-less left it to nature. The cold hosing was to reduce the swelling, which it has, by means of a water curtain not direct jet and the tendons are now clearly defined on both sides.

The wound has closed flat and neatly but the skin hasn't come back over it and it looks quite raw/tender and about 2cm across and 1cm wide.

He had huge splints form (one on each leg) at about 11 and 13 and these have completely disappeared without any lameness or interference from me, so he is a real conundrum.

millitiger He has residual heat and swelling on the inside of his pastern, where the injury was sustained, so thanks for the good tip about the over-reach. I did wonder if he has clonked it! The only thing I put on the wound was one light application of Cut+Heal gel, to keep flies off while it was still a bit new looking.

I think it's the lameness and swelling worrying me most, but he did limp noticeably after an over-reach boot rubbed him (very mildly) once. Quite a wimp, so balancing that against a more sinister underlying reason - the bone chip.

Anti-B's? I am waiting for the vet prescription to arrive! I know it's the jam on their bread and butter but £70 for 11 Norodine sachets? ChemistDirect is just shy of £16 (yes, 1 6) including postage.

I don't feel too guilty as if the AB's don't work, they'll get their whack out of the x-rays he's down for having next. Followed by (worst-case scenario) an op to remove a bone chip... He's uninsured as well!

I still love him, I think. He's been a really good friend and horse - when he hasn't been self-harming.