Not giving up hope...Please help!

[TawnyLaRae803]

My two year old gelding wrapped his leg in barbed-wire and pulled until he was free. He has an extrememly nasty cut from his hock almost down to his fetlock. You can see the bone from one side to the other and a big chunk of skin hanging off of it. The vet came and said he didn't tear any tendons, however he did tear the ligaments, making his way of walking and stepping down on that leg a little harder/different, but he does walk! He may not ever be able to ride, but that is the last thing on my mind. He told me to clean it twice a day and that's the best we can do for now. My colt fought and fought when we tried to help him and the vet said if he continues to do so it is like a death wish. I will not put this horse down until I know he will be suffering for the majority/rest of his life. Today he let me work with him much better than yesterday. Swelling also went down. I cleaned it out, put peroxide on it, and applied FURA-ZONE salve to help prevent infection and wrapped it. My plan for this gelding was to turn him into a barrel horse. I doubt if this will ever happen and to be honest I don't care if it does...I just want him to get better - he is more than just a horse to me, he's family. I have posted a picture down below...

I need to know:

What to use to help treat/prevent infection...
We have to be able to push the skin upward (the way he tore it, the skin is pushed down inside the pocket/like wound) and place the skin back on the bone in order for them to start growing together again, is wrapping the best thing for this?
Should we keep him inside at all times or walk him every so often?


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If this does not work...try this URL:

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[TXTibbs]

that is one nasty cut....it will heal prolly but he won't be the same horse by no means.....good luck with that.

[Oldtimer]

We had a 2 year old filly- Candy's Sugar Taffy (that my daughter thought would make a great barrel horse, too) get her leg caught over a wire fence and cut it much the same, altho it was only cut in front- I was going to shoot her- but my uncle wanted to doctor her-- He put nitrofuracin salve on it two or three times a day- and scraped the proud flesh off-- wrapped at first, but then just left it open later and kept applying the nitrofuracin to keep it soft--Took almost 2 years before the wound completely healed shut- big scar....We never could use her, but she was able to raise some real nice colts- one of which I'm riding now- Miss Peppy Cowpoke....

Whatever- You are in for a long haul.....

[Faster horses]

That cut is too horrible to be believed.

And who told you to put peroxide on it? Peroxide damages tissues, especially in that big an area. Did the vet tell you to do that?
I can't believe you talked to a HORSE VET. A HORSE VET (not a cow vet) would have that horse in his clinic being taken care of properly.

Why on earth are YOU ASKING US? Didn't the vet give you some recommendation?

This is way too serious for us to tell you from many miles away. You need someone staying on top of it if you expect that horse to recover. You are asking for proud flesh, BIG TIME and who knows what else. It is no undertaking for an amatuer.

Wooo, that is a bad, bad deal.

[USgal-In-Manitoba]

I have been in the same situation for about the last 5 months. My yearling got tangled in with some barb wire. Found her right after she did it and the wound wasn't that bad looking. I phoned for a vet to come out and everybody was booked. They said to leave it open but l later found out that it would be better to keep it wrapped to prevent the proud flesh and infection. Vet wanted to put her down right away because the back tendons were severed (front leg). Her leg has improved although it will never be 100%. She will always be lame but I can keep her and breed her when the time is right. Considering that you have already contacted your vet, here are some of the things that I have found worked the best.

1. I would keep him confined in a smaller paddok or inside a stall and keep the exercise to a minimum and let him go at his own pace. Control his movement and inforce space limitations.

2. Wash with cold water twice daily. You can use a light antibacteria liquid soap wash like "Endure scrub" - can buy at most vet clinics. Washing with cold water will help prevent infection and take down the swelling. I usually start at the very top of the leg.

3.Nitro Furacin ointment - My Vet Specifically said DO NOT subsitute with any other topical cream/ointment. Use this genersouly in the open or infected areas. This will also help keep the wound from hardening. The other product I found works great is "wonder dust" wound powder. This contains activated charcoal, helps prevent proud flesh and acts as a "stop bleed". Also, keeps the wound from smelling. Very Important- buy a box of latex (if your horse is not allergic) gloves and use a new pair each time your apply any topical cream/ointments etc.

4. Make sure to wrap after each wash. I suggest you use a lite cushioned padding wrap made by 3M called "Gamgee" it is meant for protection and support for fetlocks, hocks and tendons discharging wounds and helps keep tendons and the muscles well insulated. This is also specifically made to prevent the healing wound from sticking or scabs from pulling off when unwrapping. Works great! This is 18" wide (up & down x 7-1/2' long). This will cover the entire wound area and provide padding. If you can not get this exact product your local vet should have something similar. Wrap the wound with this padding and use a flexible bandage such as "3M" or "Co-Flex" brand vet wrap over the top. For more support start your wrap from the inside of the leg to the outside. You should probably go thru about 2 rolls of this bandage per cleaning. For extra support I have also used a tensor/ACE bandage and then used the vet wrap over top.

5. You can use Pen G injection or Penicelin (sp?) to help with the infection. You can buy this over the counter at most farm supply stores. Call your local vet and they will tell you how much to use and give you more directions.

6. You know your horse and his regular characteristics. If he is in pain I would ask your vet for some buteamine and only give it to your horse when he really needs it. It may take some of the edge off of the pain.

7. We tend to forget about the healthy leg. During this time of injury the healthy leg is taking bunt of the injury. Most of the weight is being put on the good leg. I would suggest some type of support for the good leg. Neoprene wrap, support or splint boot.

If your horse continues to eat and drink normally I wouldn't worry. If you are worried that the leg is dead and that there may not be any blood circulation you can do a simple prick test at the bottom back of the hurt leg. You can use a small sewing needle and do the prick test at the back of the hoof. If there is blood then more than likely there is circulation. The leg temprature is supposed to be warm. If there is no blood after the prick test and the leg is cold I would talk to the vet.

I hope this information helps you. My horses leg is slowly healing and new skin and hair are starting to develop. The most important thing is to keep the leg washed and preventing proud flesh. Proud flesh is like a thick scar tissue that will form very quickly. It will keep the wound from pulling back together, closing and healing. Make sure you keep in contact with your vet.

Good Luck!!!

[PPRM]

I had a colt I found with a Bad Cut on his Rear Leg Thanksgiving morning. mSmaller cutting horse style colt, 7 months ld with about a 12 inch cut on the front side of his left rear leg. Cut started about 3 inches above his Hock Joint.....

I called the Vet, He stitched it and the colt has healed well...It looked bad, but we did a lot of what US Girl is saying except we stitched....

I think the point is, you need to get a good vet out fast in these cases...

Good Luck,


PPRM

[TawnyLaRae803]

Everything I have told you I've done is what the vet told me to do. He is one of the best vets around here - and yes, he also told me to use peroxide. He is coming back a week from today to check on things. He did say if the horse not cooperating and letting us try to help him, he will help w/ putting him down. And the reason I am asking advice from you people is because maybe there is someone out there who has been where I am at & have succeeded in curing their horse. Sometimes vets don't know everything. I need to hear it from more people that he is going to be alright or whether he should be put down. Also, I am not made of money...I CAN'T have vets coming out here all the time, which sounds bad, but is another reason why I am coming here for advice. I want more than anything for him to be okay...I've posted a picture of my baby below.

Thank you all!

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c19/TawnyLaRae803/pocowilliegunsmoke.jpg

[Denny]

If it were mine I would most likely do the humane thing and put it down.I could'nt let it live with that.I know that's hard but it's something that need's to be done but thats just me...good luck which ever way you go.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Tawny check your private message box, I sent you a message yesterday and it shows you haven't gotten it yet.

[MsSage]

I am sorry about your baby. You have my thoughts and prayers. Sometimes all you need is someome to vent to and have encouragment and support if GOD forbid the worst happens.
You know your horse better than anyone trust your heart.
Never feel bad about money being an issue. Yes animals are part of the family BUT if I have to choose between my children and an animal there is NO choice. Yes all stretch our budget very thin to help our furry family members. I know a few very knowledgeable horse people I will contact them this afternoon when I get home.
Keep the faith !~!~!~!

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

This is some stuff a friend of mine told me about the day after my horse had cut his pectoral muscle completely in half. Layed his chest wide open, all the vet did was give him a tetinus shot, washed it off with a water hose and sent us home......with a 90.00 emergency visit after hours at the vets office.

http://www.underwoodhorsemedicine.com/

here's some photos of before and after from his website, at the end of them I'll post pictures of my horse when it was injured.












Most of these were in the neighbor hood of 3 months from the time the before pictures were taken till the after pictures were taken.

Ok here's my horse when he was hurt, and I used the Underwoods Horse Medicine on him, As Directed.
Jasper 1-27-04


Jasper 2-22-04


Jasper 3-13-04


Jasper in April 2004

[Faster horses]

Souonds like US Gal had some very good advice for you. It will certainly take a lot of work and you will have to be committed.

Please know that some of it is up to the horse and if he gets hard to doctor, your hands are tied to some degree. I feel bad for you and the horse, although that didn't come through in my message late last night. I get very distressed when I see these type of injuries and have heard so many times that wrong advice was given. In some of those cases the horse paid with his life.

Sometimes we have to realize we have done all we can and there is no more we can do.

Good luck and I hope it turns out well.