Best Way to Bandage Fetlock Wound?

[Ainsley688]

So, baby horse managed to hit herself with, well, herself…got a good gouge on the front of her LH fetlock. Of course, exactly where it bends. Got stitched up tonight, but I haven’t had to bandage such a high motion wound before, and was wondering the best way to go about it, before I waste my money on supplies that don’t work! Vet didn’t give me much to go on, so I’m turning to you guys! I would love to limit movement as much as possible, I want all of the stitches to stay in for the next 2 weeks! She has 6 (3 if you count one pass) large “mattress stitches” to hold things together without restricting, and 10-12ish small cosmetic ones.

So, gauze, vetwrap, extra long standing wrap? That’s all the vet mentioned, but I’m wondering if I should be doing more and/or firmer layers. She will be in jail with limited walking-hand grazing multiple times a day following a few days of down time. Fingers crossed that goes well, lol.

[warriorhorse]

Has she ever had hind legs wrapped before? Some horse’s go nutty, with kicking trying to get wrap off.

[DawningDreams]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_9YzPgoLKuY
Found this video that is for a bandage at the front of the fetlock like your horse’s is. Might be helpful?

[Ainsley688]

@warriorhorse

Has she ever had hind legs wrapped before? Some horse’s go nutty, with kicking trying to get wrap off.

She’s totallly fine, (she’s an OTTB) and I’ve used standing wraps on her day/night. So at least I know I can wrap her just fine!

[Ainsley688]

@DawningDreams

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_9YzPgoLKuY
Found this video that is for a bandage at the front of the fetlock like your horse’s is. Might be helpful?

I just watched this! Hoping I don’t have to use that many materials, but I’m pretty sure I have all or most of them at work. She’s got some looooooong hind legs! :nonchalance:

[Highflyer]

For a relatively minor wound and a horse that isn’t going to eat/ destroy your bandage, I’d probably just do whatever ointment/sterile gauze dressing your vet recommended with an extra long standing wrap over it (if possible get a quilt or cotton that reaches all the way to the coronet band.) I’m currently going through this with a yearling colt and his is more complicated but only because he will just pull it off if he can.

[outerbanks77]

@DawningDreams

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_9YzPgoLKuY
Found this video that is for a bandage at the front of the fetlock like your horse’s is. Might be helpful?

I dealt with a wound like that on the front fetlock not too long ago. It was stitched within an hour of the injury, but vet was worried about it due to the amount of motion. I wrapped with a nonstick pad, then the cotton gauze that sticks to itself, and then some vet wrap over the top, but not all the way up the cannon bone like in the video. For the first few days, I did a standing wrap over the whole thing to help with swelling, then just vet wrap and the gauze and pad after that.

FWIW, I used Manuka honey as a dressing on it, and it healed up really nicely. The scar is barely visible now, and the vet was really impressed. I did a fresh wrap every day for the first 2 weeks or so, and then every other day for another 2-3 weeks after that. Obviously honey is sticky and so wrapping is needed to keep dirt and shavings out.

[theresak]

If you just need to cover the wound/stitches, I’ve been “bandaging” front fetlock sores for over a year. I use a nonstick bandage pad, one time around of Elastikon, and some bandage tape over the Elastikon to keep the edge from un-sticking. If it’s dry, the wrap stays on for close to a week. I order my Elastikon from SmartPak or Amazon.

If the horse is really scuffing up the bandage from rolling, etc. you can put an upside down bell boot on or a standing wrap over it. I use Fetlock Shields on the fronts and I think they’d work on the hinds.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

The vet should show you how he/she wants it wrapped. That’s vexing they didn’t go over it with you. I had a surgical site there, but honestly don’t remember all the steps. Basically it was a non-stick wound bandage, wrap and then a standing wrap from hoof to under knee. Movement wasn’t an issue for the stitches or healing, but the foal was on stall rest with mom.

[Ainsley688]

Small town vet problems, and clinic vets can’t come easily. I was left to wrap it on my own, so am trying to figure out what works best as I go. I will be calling my other vet for advice tomorrow, and have been stressing about her moving in an exaggerated manor if I bandage too much…which has so far been the case. Stitches still look good, though more whole leg swelling today. I’m probably going to be on edge until things start to hold together, lol. Also having issues with not being able to get big enough non-stick gauze pads, the 4"x3" are not quite doing it, and are the biggest the drug stores here have.

Why couldn’t she have done this before SmartPak’s sale was over!? :nonchalance: