Posting for a buddy in the sticks who had a horse get bitten on the fetlock by a Brown Recluse spider. Can’t do a search. Can someone with some expertise tell me what you know? Thank you!
From The Horse:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35806/getting-to-the-bottom-of-a-bite
Unlike the black widow, the brown recluse and its relatives cause a severe localized necrotizing reaction, but not a generalized systemic illness. Brown recluse bite sites are initially warm and painful. Over the subsequent three to seven days they can develop into deep, debilitating open wounds with significant tissue loss and secondary infection. Treatment is aimed at controlling infection, reducing the inflammatory response, and maintaining a healthy wound environment. The healing process can be prolonged, and permanent tissue loss can occur.
OP, does your friend actually know that it is a spider bite? Hard to see how a spider could bite through the fur, particularly a winter coat. If he didn’t actually see the spider at the time of the bite, I would be much more likely to suspect that he is seeing some sort of suppurating wound, maybe a foreign object driven in, or the beginnings of cellulitis. In any case, it sounds like the basic wound care would be the same. Antiobiotics, flushing and cleaning the wound, debriding if needed.
My mare’s Winter legs are not much different from her Summer legs, so yes, it would be easy for a spider to bite this time of year for some horses. As well, if a horse laid down on a spider, there’s a lot more incentive for the spider to get through even some of the fuzzier legs.
Call you vet and see if there is any antivenom or other neutralizing agent. Necrotic wounds leave scars and can cause other damage.
G.
Poster 2Jakes works for Venom1 in Florida and might have valuable input.
MRSA is often mistaken for BR spider bites. On the fetlock I would suspect a bed sore.
Here is COTH personal message contact for 2Jakes http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/me…110318-2jakes=
If you send a private message 2jakes will get an Email alert.
In the mean time I agree the vet should be contacted.
Thank you all for your input.
I don’t have all the details… this is quite third-hand. The buddy of mine and the horse are in the Sticks of New Mexico (though the horse was bitten in Scottsdale, AZ). The horse is to be seen by a vet today or tomorrow. But the question was posed before that appointment could be set up and my buddy has little faith in the sophistication of the vets where she is. (Heck, the girl can’t get internet access on her little ranchita).
I suggested poulticing with Icthammol, for it’s serious edema-drawing property, combined with its sterilizing nature. (I hope I have that right). Does that sound right to you as a first aid, home-brew place to start?
If I get updated after this horse has been seen by a DVM, I’ll let you guys know what I learn about it.
I would not but ich on it. Wrong kind of swelling. Its not that kind of edema.
When my mare was about 18 months old she got some kind of necrotizing bite on the fetlock. First the fetlock swelled but not like a bite, more like she banged it. Then she developed a half dollar sized discoloration that eventually turned black and sunk in. The sunk in part was dead and eventually came out creating a huge hole. Those holes have to granulate with scar tissue and will scar. The size depends upon how much the scar contracts. All you can do is give antibiotics and keep the would wrapped and clean until it heals. Be careful not to use any ointments or cleansers that damage healing tissue. The mare has a permanent waxy scar and I think it still hurts her if you press on or near it. I’m always having to remind the farriers to watch out for it. Its a nasty painful wound when its dying and healing… My vet who diagnosed it actually cried when HE saw it, he felt do bad for the filly. I can’t remember if we gave painkillers but we must have given anti-inflammatory meds of some type
Antibiotics are the only way to address the bite. The vet will also give wound dressing advice, specific to how to handle this kind of had to heal necrotizing tissue.
