Injured horse

[TJAnonymous]

Just thought I'd give an update. Emmy seems a little perkier with all the attention. She was getting soaked/cold hosed once a day but I bought a gel ice pack that I can strap to her leg. That will allow me to ice her leg for 30 minutes to an hour instead of 10-15 minutes as the ice melts fast in this heat. We are also putting Furazone and DMSO on it under her standing wraps. Also getting 2 tabs of Bute twice a day. Her leg looks MUCH less swollen today although she still is limping really badly and can't put much weight on it. I gotta find something to keep the boredom down for her in the stall. She wants out so badly... Poor thing

 

[Weeg]

Just thought I'd give an update. Emmy seems a little perkier with all the attention. She was getting soaked/cold hosed once a day but I bought a gel ice pack that I can strap to her leg. That will allow me to ice her leg for 30 minutes to an hour instead of 10-15 minutes as the ice melts fast in this heat. We are also putting Furazone and DMSO on it under her standing wraps. Also getting 2 tabs of Bute twice a day. Her leg looks MUCH less swollen today although she still is limping really badly and can't put much weight on it. I gotta find something to keep the boredom down for her in the stall. She wants out so badly... Poor thing

If you tie a hay bag up high in the rafters so that she has to reach to get it, it will last forever and keeps them entertained. Thats what I did for my mare. It took her hours to empty it.

 

[Painted Calls]

Just thought I'd give an update. Emmy seems a little perkier with all the attention. She was getting soaked/cold hosed once a day but I bought a gel ice pack that I can strap to her leg. That will allow me to ice her leg for 30 minutes to an hour instead of 10-15 minutes as the ice melts fast in this heat. We are also putting Furazone and DMSO on it under her standing wraps. Also getting 2 tabs of Bute twice a day. Her leg looks MUCH less swollen today although she still is limping really badly and can't put much weight on it. I gotta find something to keep the boredom down for her in the stall. She wants out so badly... Poor thing

Poor sweet girl. I have an Emmy, too. Sounds like you've got a great care plan in place. Furazone and DMSO are amazing. Sending healing vibes her way!

 

[TJAnonymous]

The swelling has gone down a LOT and she is definitely moving quicker but still has a bad limp. Naturally it will take months to heal... In the meantime I'm trying to figure out how to help the boredom. I have a radio playing for her and I tied up a rubber treat ball that I can stick carrots into. I put apples in her water and then remembered that she doesn't like apples... She does lay down a lot which the vet encourages to get her off that leg. However now she is getting sores on both hocks and both elbows. I cleaned them, sprayed them with iodine and aluma spray. Her stall is cleaned twice a day and I put down a bag of shavings every day. Not sure how to keep her from getting bed sores? Her front legs are wrapped... Maybe I should wrap her back legs too? She doesn't have shoes on, btw.

 

[Painted Calls]

The swelling has gone down a LOT and she is definitely moving quicker but still has a bad limp. Naturally it will take months to heal... In the meantime I'm trying to figure out how to help the boredom. I have a radio playing for her and I tied up a rubber treat ball that I can stick carrots into. I put apples in her water and then remembered that she doesn't like apples... She does lay down a lot which the vet encourages to get her off that leg. However now she is getting sores on both hocks and both elbows. I cleaned them, sprayed them with iodine and aluma spray. Her stall is cleaned twice a day and I put down a bag of shavings every day. Not sure how to keep her from getting bed sores? Her front legs are wrapped... Maybe I should wrap her back legs too? She doesn't have shoes on, btw.

Might not hurt to make bedding deeper and wrap those areas with something good and padded.

A horse that doesn't like apples?! Maybe hang a Likit and a treat ball in her stall?

 

[TJAnonymous]

Might not hurt to make bedding deeper and wrap those areas with something good and padded.

A horse that doesn't like apples?! Make hang a Likit and a treat ball in her stall?

I know....she's weird. She will eat apple-flavored treats but not actual apples.

My daughter suggested we use the pillows from our big-boned thoroughbred (he's warmblood sized) and some standing wraps on her back legs. They are big enough to cover her hocks so it might help. And I have no idea how she is getting them under her armpits. My daughter thinks maybe she is clipping them with her back feet when she tries to get up but that seems odd to me. I can maybe try some bell boots and see if that helps?

 

[Painted Calls]

I know....she's weird. She will eat apple-flavored treats but not actual apples.

My daughter suggested we use the pillows from our big-boned thoroughbred (he's warmblood sized) and some standing wraps on her back legs. They are big enough to cover her hocks so it might help. And I have no idea how she is getting them under her armpits. My daughter thinks maybe she is clipping them with her back feet when she tries to get up but that seems odd to me. I can maybe try some bell boots and see if that helps?

Bell boots are worth a shot. You might just have to experiment to see what works best.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Have you explored a snakebite being a cause? My mule got bit a few years ago and her leg swelled really bad and she didn't want to walk on it

 

[TJAnonymous]

Have you explored a snakebite being a cause? My mule got bit a few years ago and her leg swelled really bad and she didn't want to walk on it

I've had horses bitten by cottonmouths. This swelling is much different. This vet is certain it is a bowed tendon especially since she has had suspensory injuries in the past.

 

[Percheron chick]

Bed her stall deeper to combat the sores. Straw works better to pad the ground. Do you have stall mats underneath it all? Bell boots will help the arm pit sores. They get them when they are prone for prolonged periods. When they sit up and tuck the forelegs underneath the body, the hoof hits right there at the elbow where there is nothing but bone and skin. There is such a thing as a shoe boil boot but you could fashion something with a towel wrapped around the fetlock and some duct tape.
For boredom, I would pick up a few lesser quality grass hay bales. Double hay net it so she really has to work on it. The first 2 weeks is the hardest on her while she acclimates her confinement. Be strong. Don't let her guilt you into letting her out.