X-Ray pictures : Wither wound update

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MDB

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This is a lateral X-Ray which shows the wound extends down just behind the second spinous process on the left. Not sure which corresponding vertebra this is. The tip of the second spinous process and each spinous process either side are inflamed but the vet thinks this is mainly the cartilage and not the bone.

He wants to continue with current management which is daily cleaning of the wound and the antibiotics enrofloxacin for two more weeks and re x-Ray to evaluate if there is any progress or not. The wound is unfortunately still oozing a bit. Not think yellow gunk and not profusely, but more of a slightly pasty coloured liquid.

My poor horsey has had enough. I think the next time the vet comes he will need to use one of those tranquilliser darts they use on elephants in the wild.

Thoughts anybody?????
 
I am sorry I am at work so I can not see your picture, what I can do is read your words and between the lines too, you sound a bit at your wits end with this and frankly I can see why! If you have had enough there is no shame in calling it a day if you think your animal is suffering or that your own well being is being put at risk. If you are strong enough to carry on has the vet given you any idea of how long or of the end prognosis
 
I'd be a bit hacked off with that mangement plan tbh. This has been ongoing for months now, and hasn't been successful. I'd be pushing for surgical intervention now
 
Sukistokes2 said:
I am sorry I am at work so I can not see your picture, what I can do is read your words and between the lines too, you sound a bit at your wits end with this and frankly I can see why! If you have had enough there is no shame in calling it a day if you think your animal is suffering or that your own well being is being put at risk. If you are strong enough to carry on has the vet given you any idea of how long or of the end prognosis
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Thanks for your reply Sukistokes. The thing is, she is fine in herself. I don't doubt she is in pain. But she is eating and drinking and doesn't seem depressed other that the fact that she is totally fed up with her withers being messed with. Which is obviously a good think, but in a way makes it harder.... I really don't want to have to make a decision to continue or not based on money. The X-ray seems to indicate the bone isn't infected but the cartilage probably is... So again, very hard to make a prognosis. It may heal, but we don't know how long. Or, it may progress to the bone.

The thing I am struggling with is that there is no definitive idea of whether this will get better or not. If someone was to say to me that we will need to continue for six months and it will cost 'x' amount it is easier to make a decision. I obviously want to do everything I can to save her, but I don't want to continue like this for another four months having spent thousands and exhausted all my emotional energy and and then lose her. And ofcourse I understand that my vet cannot tell me what I want to hear or give me an answer to my queries because he doesn't know.

Difficult times. I guess just take each week at a time. It is really tough though. Especially when I am starting to find it difficult cleaning the wound because she protests so much, and I am now having feelings of guilt that am I am not doing a good enough job cleaning it... And if only I got that bit of scab off, or if only I flushed it with betadine better. *sigh* Gonna stop rambling now!

Was hoping somebody here may have experience of wither wounds, or fistulous withers.
 
Auslander said:
I'd be a bit hacked off with that mangement plan tbh. This has been ongoing for months now, and hasn't been successful. I'd be pushing for surgical intervention now
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The reason the vet doesn't want to go down the surgical route is because he says the success rate is only 50% and there are inherent risks with surgery itself. And moreover, the enormous cavity which extended to the other side of the withers is gone and it seems to be more localised. Which obviously sounds positive, but we have been here before two months ago when it looked like it healed and then recurred. I guess I just feel confused. I kind of wish he had suggested surgery at the beginning to excise all the rotten tissue. But now we are four months into veterinary treatment and I have spent so much money in those four months that I do not know if I can now afford surgery at this stage when I possibly could have four months ago. :(
 
I hope some one on here does have some experience that can help. I totally see where you are coming from and it is a pretty horrid situation. I still think that at some point you will need to consider your own mental well being, after of course giving her every opportunity. It is the not knowing. Having had chronically ill animals I do understand a bit, but this is a really difficult one. As Auslander suggested maybe see if there is a surgical option?! If not I can not see anyone blaming you for ending her and your suffering. However, I hope that this is just a blip in the road.....big hugs to you.

sorry posted the same time as you ...scrub that idea
 
I'm so sorry this is still on-going. I really feel for you and your lovely mare.
Withers are very painful when sore, so I don't blame poor mare for making a fuss. Sadly I can't see how you can treat without knowing it will hurt her.
My gut instinct would go along the lines of, as its not in the bone, carry on as instructed. If it heals fab, if it returns, call it a day. If it doesn't heal - give it 6 weeks, call it a day.
Saying that, my gut instinct isn't yours or anyone else's, and no-one would criticise you for any decision making. Surgery at the start of it? - who would have known? It didn't look like it needed it then, so don't beat yourself up about it.
Sadly money does make the world go round, and sadly it doesn't grow on trees. If it comes down to money, again, no-one would criticise you. I for one can't afford the treatment (I can only presume) you would have spent on it. I would have had to have a limit, and drawn the line.

My only experience of fistulus withers didn't get this far, and only started due to ill fitting rugs, and was cured with being rugless and plastering dermoline on the area. - and then wound powder to help dry it up. (2 horses, neither mine, but I did help with their recovery).

Above all, I really do wish you all the best. Thinking of you and your lovely mare.
 
Last edited:
MDB said:
image.jpg1_zpsxgfokfin.jpg


This is a lateral X-Ray which shows the wound extends down just behind the second spinous process on the left. Not sure which corresponding vertebra this is. The tip of the second spinous process and each spinous process either side are inflamed but the vet thinks this is mainly the cartilage and not the bone.

He wants to continue with current management which is daily cleaning of the wound and the antibiotics enrofloxacin for two more weeks and re x-Ray to evaluate if there is any progress or not. The wound is unfortunately still oozing a bit. Not think yellow gunk and not profusely, but more of a slightly pasty coloured liquid.

My poor horsey has had enough. I think the next time the vet comes he will need to use one of those tranquilliser darts they use on elephants in the wild.

Thoughts anybody?????
Click to expand...

What an absolutely horrible situation :(

I would say at this point, if it were me, I would spend the next two weeks as advised and re x-ray before deciding either way. Otherwise you might end up second guessing yourself over not doing so, iyswim? But if there were no sign of improvement in the next x-ray, or if the mare deteriorated in the interim, then that would be my line with regards to continuing.

Very best wishes from here whatever you decide, OP.
 
Thank you everyone. It feels like we are in limbo. The rotten thing is that the wound can look good on the outside but actually not be great inside. So I just never know how it is going. Still hoping some other people may have experience of something similar.
 
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