Wound management help

[Saf]

My mare suffered a kick on Monday off fore inside half way up from knee, cut is about 1 inch and it has left a pocket going upwards, vet came withing 1hr of kick she is on 25ml antib's twice day till sunday, had one bute injection, was 4/10 lame on the day better since
Day 3 leg blew up spoke to vet put on bute x2 twice a day and keep flushing the pocket.

Now my question is.......leg is huge goes down slightly with walking and pocket does not seem to be getting smaller, how much longer do I flush for?

Thanks for any help ideas

 

[flojo]

Important thing here is too flush (gently) with tepid (blood heat) water not cold as cold will damage the growth of new cells. It's a tricky one, as you want to ensure the wound stays clean but too much flushing will damage any newly formed cells on the wound bed. I'd only flush if the wound looked contaminated. Luckily (although i'm sure you don't feel very lucky!) the pocket going upwards will allow it to drain rather that hold onto any 'grot' produced.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

My mare suffered a kick on Monday off fore inside half way up from knee, cut is about 1 inch and it has left a pocket going upwards, vet came withing 1hr of kick she is on 25ml antib's twice day till sunday, had one bute injection, was 4/10 lame on the day better since
Day 3 leg blew up spoke to vet put on bute x2 twice a day and keep flushing the pocket.

Now my question is.......leg is huge goes down slightly with walking and pocket does not seem to be getting smaller, how much longer do I flush for?

Thanks for any help ideas

Ask your vet about Arnica too, give it time to start healing. You have to go through the swelling stage while it repairs, keep it clean and support the legs. Ask the vet if you need to keep a scab off it so it heals from the inside, as you don't want pus to form and cause more problems. I like jelonet on the open injury keeps it moist and clean and easy to change. My mare skinned her knee down to the blood vessels her upper front leg ended up 3 times normal size like an elephants leg.

 

[Saf]

Thanks I know its best to have pocket upwards, one good thing, it does take about 20mls though? What happens if it does not all squeeze back out? Also assuming the leg filling will travel downwards
Thanks

 

[Saf]

Ask your vet about Arnica too, give it time to start healing. You have to go through the swelling stage while it repairs, keep it clean and support the legs. Ask the vet if you need to keep a scab off it so it heals from the inside, as you don't want pus to form and cause more problems. I like jelonet on the open injury keeps it moist and clean and easy to change. My mare skinned her knee down to the blood vessels her upper front leg ended up 3 times normal size like an elephants leg.

I am giving arnica tablets twice daily

 

[flojo]

A couple of 20mls syringes full should be fine. Keeping the wound scab free is important if you want to avoid scarring. I'd be careful if using Jelonet though as cells can quickly grow through the net and are then damaged when removing the dressing - we've stopped using this dressing in hospital due to this. Wound gels maybe helpful, they help move contaminants from the wound, provide a moist environment for new cell growth and cushion nerve endings so reduce pain.

 

[Saf]

A couple of 20mls syringes full should be fine. Keeping the wound scab free is important if you want to avoid scarring. I'd be careful if using Jelonet though as cells can quickly grow through the net and are then damaged when removing the dressing - we've stopped using this dressing in hospital due to this. Wound gels maybe helpful, they help move contaminants from the wound, provide a moist environment for new cell growth and cushion nerve endings so reduce pain.

Thanka so much off to see her now see if leg any bigger /better.