Horses and Barb wire just don't mix!

[USgal-In-Manitoba]

Good Mornin' everyone,

I need everyone to write a response with there opinion and past experiences. Here is the situation:

My yearling got caught up in barb wire about 1-1/2 week ago. Had a vet out and the prognosis wasn't good. It was wrapped all the way around the left front leg between the foot and the knee joint. Leg was very swollen to begin with and has gone down considerably. Wound is very nasty now and somewhat infected. We've been cold water washing twice a day and using an ointment named Nitro-Furacin on the infected areas and following up with Pen G daily. Tendons are damaged on the back of the leg just above the foot. Horse is still eating as much as she did before the accident. I know it's gotta be painful but she has been really good to work with and easy to handle. There are some things I need more information on. Any input on what to use and what to watch out for would be helpful. This is a very nasty wound and covers at least 3" of the leg up and down and all the way around.

Things I need to know more about:
Proud flesh - what is this, what causes it and is there a cure or medication?
Pain medications - which one is the best, what form does it come in (powder/pill/injection), and how much do I give?
Torn ligiments/tendon - does anyone know at what point of damage these will not repair at?
Can anyone refer me to a website where I can find a skelatal map of a horse and all of the "technical" terms?

Any other tips and inputs would be appreciated!

Thanks bunches,

Usgal~

[Northern Rancher]

US Gal how close are you to Beausejour Manitoba. The chuckwagon guys use transmission oil on cuts like that keeps things nice and soft. I have a friend that is a very good horse vet that practices at Beausejour-he'll give you the answers you need.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

I wont ever be without this stuff. "Underwoods Horse medicine" it's the absolute best stuff I've ever used on a wound. It's not readily available at any ag supply store but if you call this man he will send it ups and it'll arrive the next day. Talk to Buddy on the phone he'll explain how to use it. My horse got into somethin that we never figured out and cut his left pectoral muscle all the way in two. had a gash on his chest 8 inches wide and 6 inches the other way. Healed completely in no time. The stuff looks really nasty but you dont do the water flush with it.

Underwood Horse Medicine
Buddy Underwood
Rt 2 Box 59
Wynnewood Oklahoma 73908
405-665-2682
http://www.underwoodhorsemedicine.com/
Click on testimonials..my horse was almost as bad as case number 4.

[PPRM]

Shriners or Muleman Magic

PPRM

[alderidgecasey]

id highly reccomend any kind of racehorse topical treatments, there the strongest and ones the work best, as for proud flesh i was told it shows up when you instantly put cold water ona wound, the best thing is to treat the leg with what you have, and wrap it up and change the bandage daily, keep treating with the furizone and keep changing bandages every morning, the leg should get better in time, a good wash of iodone works wonders if your thinking it may get infected.

[Northern Rancher]

Cold water baths work pretty good-rea;lly soothing and take the swelling down-they don't cause proud flesh as far as I know. Had a horse lay a shoulder open on a gate hinge and that is pretty much all we did for her-hardly has a blemish now.

[Oldtimer]

I've found that nitrofuracin to be good stuff- I've used it a lot-...Also a product called Wonder Dust (don't even know if they sell it anymore)- but I have used that on horses to prevent proud flesh- contains activated charcoal....

We had a 2 year old filly cut herself to the bone just above ankle all the way to the hock- even cut into the tendons- I was going to shoot here, but an old uncle said he would doctor her--Put nitrofuracin on it a couple times a day for over a year before it healed...We used her for a brood mare and she could do plumb fine- except for the scar, you'd never have known she was cut after it healed... Old horse people used to swear by using the old wagon black axle grease for prevention of proud flesh....

[HorseDoc]

It sounds like the first thing that you need to do is contact the veterinarian that examined and treated your horse. Although internet advice can be helpful, it cannot replace the advice of the examining veterinarian. He has seen the horse, we have not.

There are a million different topical treatment that are sold as miracle healing products. Some are worse than others. If you think that the wound is infected, and tendons are involved, I would not put anything (other than what the vet left you- nitrofuracin) on the wound before consulting your veterinarian. (esp. axle grease, transmission fluid, etc.)

Proud flesh = exuberant granulation tissue. Basically, the granulation bed gets carried away and continues above the skin margin. Various treatments depend on specific case, and extent of proud flesh.

Pain meds = most commonly Phenylbutazone, Flunixine Meglumine (Bute, Banamine). These are only available via veterinary prescription. Once again contact your veterinarian to see if he believes that this case warrents.

Torn tendons/ ligaments = This can be a serious issue. Healing depends on many things- amount of damage, type of injury, etc.

Website = unsure of any website that shows detailed anatomy, however www.myhorsematters.com is an excellent equine reference site for horse owners.

Horses are amazing animals and can from recover from some terrible looking accidents. It is very important to keep your veterinarian informed, and continue with treatments as prescribed.

As you can see from my reply, there is no one way to treat all wounds. One must take into account the individual case, and treat accordingly.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

[Faster horses]

Those damaged tendons complicate everything. I agree with horse vet, there is no 'one size fits all' here, especially with tendons involved. The future of your horse depends on you.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

http://images.google.com/images?q=picture+of+horse+anatomy&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=ii&oi=imagest

Here are multiple pictures of horse anatomy. Hope this helps with your questions.

[greg]

Creoline if in fly country,and liked previous advice about transmission oil,I know it sounds weard,but have learned alot from them old guys that have been there ,done it? And doesn't cost vet bill?

[mickey]

I'm old but I had an oltimer tell me to use Borax (soap) and pickling lime. I've used it for years. I don't know about the tendons but on any gashes it causes the wound to heel from the inside out. No proud flesh.