WARNING ..GRAPHIC PICS !!! I might have to put him down...any ideas ?!

[Pandora]

You need a new vet. A good vet is worth his weight in gold. He will save you money in the long run, even if it costs you more now in fees or driving.

If the drainage is significant, you can use maxipads. They are large and cheap. Just change the bandages often... you don't want any of that nastiness staying pressed against such an open wound for an extended time. And get a 2nd opinion from a knowledgeable vet!

A standard orthopaedic brace probably won't help. It won't conform to the leg closely enough to hold the bandages in place, you may have slippage. If you did try this I would suggest customizing a really stretchy flexible one (ie the cheapies). You do NOT want a style that is designed for patella support. It has bracing that would chafe. Maybe sewing velcro strapping on the outside and bandage pockets on the inside. But you would need a few and they would have to be rotated and washed daily.

 

[ozark hen]

I kid you not in this advice...years ago we had a filly fussing with the neighbor's horses and she kicked into the barbed wire fence and got her legs wrapped up in the fencing and of course fought it until we found her. Very bad damage to flesh on her legs. We had no money for a vet and went to a large MFA and told the manager what had happened. He showed us pics of his horse who came down on a fence post and impaled part of it's chest on it. His horse had a gaping hole in his chest. An old timer told him to put a large slab of salt pork over it and secure it there. We tried it , along with shots of antibiotics, etc. that he recommended. The flesh on his horse's chest and our filly's legs filled in the gap! I can only assume it was the salt? I have no idea but it worked for his horse and ours. Now this is just our experience and the manager of MFA's experience. we were desparate or we wouldn't have even considered it. Dh kept it covered with clean gauze.

 

[BroncoHollow]

Horses are remarkable in healing, I certainly wouldn't give up on that injury... find another vet and push the penicillin.

Also going to add - an old-time remedy... honey. Another good product for proud flesh is Shriners. Stiching would be impossible at the hock, too much movement to hold, they'll rip out in no time.

 

[allison finch]

Quote:
Not clean it?? That's nuts! I had a horse with an equally bad cut on its hock. As long as the joint capsule is intact, he should heal. You need to clean it by carefully scrubbing with betadine wash and then rinsing it. Then you put furazone or nolvasan on it and re- bandage it. You must have daily injectable antibiotics. The healing will be very slow, but it can happen.

You vet sounds like a real downer. His advise is poor. Maybe time for a new one.

My horse healed sound and serviceable. Good luck! It will be a long haul, but worth it.

 

[emvickrey]

Quote:
Somebody tole me to use honey to remove gauze that is stuck to my chickens neck. I have so far managed to get almost all of it off but still some to go but I didn't use honey. I don't have any. I rubbed neosporin on it and let it set a few minutes then ast for a few hours picking it out thread by thread. There is no infection, she is doing real good but I just need to get that out. Speaking of, I need to get to that right now.

This site is so addictive.

 

[KinderKorner]

My first horse got a cut like this on his leg not long after I got him from a fence. It was not as wide, but mine was a lot lot deeper.

I thought it would never heal, it took literately months.

The stupid vet came out, and was like oh yeah don't worry about it.

Uh grr...

Anyway. Don't give up. We washed it out around every two days, loaded it with anti-biotic cream and bandaged it. He was also on anti-biotic pills for a while.

It's been so long it's hard to remember. But I believe after about a week or so of bandaging. We would clean, bandage for two days, then let it air out for a day. It helps it get some fresh air, and just dry out a bit. But it was always coated with some clear cream to keep the flies off. Some say flies are good for it. It can be argued either way, and each one has their ups and downs. It's your choice. Also cleaning in warm salt water is great.

It took a lot of time. Legs on the hrose don't get as much blood pulsing as strong as say the chest area, so it takes longer. Mine's cut was down near the hoof so yours may not take as long as mine. But it finally healed up, and the horse is good as new.

Best of luck. I will keep you in my prayers.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Absolutely disagree. Flys will lay maggots, and though maggot therapy can be a good thing, her horse sounds to be slightly unstable (Doesn't tolerate water, was fighting over a fence, won't take a shot in any capacity) and if she can't handle him to get those things done, she may have trouble handling a maggot filled wound properly.

Agreed.

OK, I know absolutely nothing about horses, but I know something about maggots. You NEVER want maggots that came from a fly's eggs being laid in a wound to stay there. You never want to let it get to that stage; you need to keep flies out of any wound.

Maggots are still used in the medical profession (last I heard) on occasion, it is true, as are leeches -- but they do not come from a stray fly landing in the wound, they are raised in a lab and germ free, essentially sterile. And it takes some knowhow to use them correctly.

 

[stuckinthecity]

Poor guy... well that deff. looks awful in the 1st 2 pictures but I am praying that you dont have to put him down,

 

[lockedhearts]

I just skimmed the last couple pages, but also keep in mind that if he is not putting weight on that leg, support wraps on the other 3 legs is a good idea so you don't end up with secondary issues such as strains. At the very least the other back leg should be wrapped with a no bow and polo for support.

 

[lorieMN]

try the hose running very slowly..he may decide it feels good and stand for it..if he wont stand for a hose use a five gallon bucket and pour the water slowly over the wound with a cup or bowl of some sort..once he knows you are trying to help him he may be a lot more cooperative.