Ouchie horsie - bad owner :(

[Tangle]

On Sunday, I brought Fifi in from the field, gave her a quick brush over and tacked her up. 15 minutes after I got on, other half saw something and suggested I get off and have a look. Can't believe I didn't notice while grooming her :o:(! Basically, the inside of her near hind looked like this:
http://www.equusphotography.co.uk/gallery/d/6732-1/04-09-05_1133.jpg
Plus side was it didn't seem incredibly tender.

Called the vet and took her off for a cold hose. The vet reckoned it wasn't too serious. Gave her some her oral anti-biotics and said don't worry too much. Typically, the physio was booked for the Monday, although they were generally pretty happy :).

However, had the vet back today as her hock is gradually getting more swollen. On the plus side, she isn't lame and it isn't hot, so the verdict was to get her back in work.

Glad it doesn't seem too serious (general verdict is she lifted her off hind to either kick a fly or give another horse a serious warning and got it a bit wrong :rolleyes: - either way it doesn't seemt to be a deep injury) but feeling so bad I didn't notice :(

[laura jeanne]

I hope Fifi is okay! Don't feel too bad though, you have had the vet out so you are taking good care of her.

[Showjumper]

Oops silly Fifi! Don't feel bad - at least you're treating it! :D

[Tangle]

Thanks for the support :)

I did feel better when the vet said it was fine to work her, but also thought that wasn't really the point :(.

The moral of the story (which I think I might have learnt very thoroughly) is that grooming isn't just about removing mud and giving the horse a nice massage....

[Tiber]

My pony has given herself really weird cuts on her hind legs before that could only have been self inflicted. They can be so stupid sometimes :rolleyes: !

Hope she's feeling better soon!

[Tim]

Glad it doesn't seem too serious (general verdict is she lifted her off hind to either kick a fly or give another horse a serious warning and got it a bit wrong (


The same sort of thing happened to Harry about 3 weeks ago, the vet said at the time not to worry about it...three days later it had turned into an infected leg requiring loads of anti bios to shift. Thankfully it has shifted now, but the cut hasn't healed fully yet and keeping the flies off it is a nightmare. Watch the leg closely, is my advice from experience with H.

[Tangle]

Thanks Tim - we are keeping a beady eye on it, hence calling the vet back yesterday. Again, she wasn't too worried, but gave us another 5 days worth of anti biotic powder to be on the safe side and some bute to ease the swelling.

Sorry to hear you've had problems with Harry. If you don't mind me asking, was H lame? Vet was pleased that F was sound, but YO is still a little worried because of the swelling - would be good to know of other's experiences...

How do horse's manage to be soooo clumsy :rolleyes:?

[Tim]

If you don't mind me asking, was H lame?

Not in the first instance, no, but when the infection returned the second time he was most definitely in pain on that leg and lame as a result. Eventually we ended up with xrays on the leg to check for a break/chip or foreign particle stuck in the cut, none were found thankfully. He will heal up, but cuts in that area of the horse take a while to go, especially after an infection has caused a lot of swelling. Definitely keep the wound powder in and the flies out and check the leg at every opportunity. That one cut on H has cost about £650 in vets fees/medications and xrays, thankfully he's insured, but I will not be impressed if he does it again...turnout boots for him from now on, (at least when the cut has healed). I am very very nervous about hoss legs and feet, they are just so fragile and need paramount care.

[lisae]

My 2-yr old Arab-Clyde cross has done the exact same thing to herself, and then last night she realized (before we did) that the electric was off on the fence and she climbed through or over (no witnesses) and proceeded to open up the original injury and sustain two more cuts on the inside and outside of the cannon bone of the same leg! The outside cut started to swell so I cleaned all the wounds and applied iodine and later, anti-biotic ointment. This morning the swelling was gone and everything scabbing nicely BUT all these threads on leg injuries has me nervous!

At the time of the incident, my 13-yr old son, to his credit, had the situation nicely under control as he had fenced off the other two ponies and was in the process of luring Gracie back in with a scoop of grain when I arrived home. ;)

[Tangle]

Thanks for the feedback - we're hoping the oral anti-B's have done the trick as we're onto day 6 and she's still sound. Will be keeping up with the cream & gallons of flyspray until it's well healed, though.

What kind of turn-out boots did you have in mind? The only ones I've seen are like the equichaps (http://www.tds-saddlers.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?PCLinkID=8015) and wouldn't have stopped her doing this - if you've seen something longer I'd be interested :)

Hope your filly's OK, Lisa. Sounds like your son's doing really well with them :D

[Tim]

What kind of turn-out boots did you have in mind? The only ones I've seen are like the equichaps (http://www.tds-saddlers.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?PCLinkID=8015) and wouldn't have stopped her doing this - if you've seen something longer I'd be interested :)



Typical turnout boots only go to the hock, anything longer makes it difficult to bend the leg. Looking at the angle of the cut on your horse, I'd say that was a kick from another horse, too high for self inflicted I reckon especially at that depth of cut. Whatever it was is of no consequence anyway, just got to try stopping it happening again, which is just about impossible.

[Tangle]

After we (finally :o) spotted it, we cold hosed her and then put her in her box to wait for the vet. While she was in there we watched her pick her right hind way up and make a "nearly" kick with it - exactly level and aligned with the cut :rolleyes:

Annoying bit is she's probably going to be shod behind soon (long story) so if she does try and do it again it's only going to be worse :eek:

[Tim]

Annoying bit is she's probably going to be shod behind soon (long story) so if she does try and do it again it's only going to be worse :eek:

If that was a kick off an unshod hoof, I'd get a suit of armour PDQ :D

[Tangle]

I'd get a suit of armour PDQ :D
Tried that :D Didn't work against hoofs too well though.....
http://www.equusphotography.co.uk/gallery/d/6740-1/16-07-05_1508.jpg

(less flippantly, it's actually pretty shallow. It does get down to muscle but definitely seems to be a scrape rather than a blow.)

[Tim]

When it has scabbed over and the proud flesh has filled the cut, you might like to try 'Veterinus Derma Gel'. Its a wound treatment like a hydrogel that forms a protective barrier over the cut and promotes hair regrowth in the same colour.

[Tangle]

Haven't heard of that one. YO suggested Camrosa. Vet says the cream she's on usually does a pretty good job. I'll go and have a look for it :)

[Tim]

http://www.derma-gel.com/pages/

try that. :D

[Tangle]

Will have a look (bit harsh on the eyes though :eek: )

Cheers :D