What are you using for soap and or fly protection and/or reducing the tendency of the horse to itch/chew the area? I don’t have a major single wound, but I am struggling with a horse that has ripped open his chest and flanks due to a bug reaction. I can’t stop him from licking or biting at open wounds.
B-and-B, I wonder if you can stop the itch rather than protect the wound–maybe look at Dex or an antihistamine?
(I have a hive-covered horse at the moment, I sympathize!)
I’ve stopped the itch, or more to the point, I have stopped the itch caused by the initial reaction (yay for lots, and lots of Zyrtec!). I think it is the healing scabs that are annoying him now. I’m trying to aim for clean, soft, but not greasy skin these days. And that skin on @redcowpony’s patient is frankly gorgeous.
2 Likes
Yeah, zyrtec didn’t make a dent for us. Hydroxyzine it is, which feels like a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
1 Like
I am not using any soap directly in the wound just flushing it with a hose real good. The burned skin under it from all the drainage I’ll scrub with Mane N’ Tail with a bit of betadine or iodine mixed in and coat with Desitin after. The Desitin seems to help somewhat with the itching but I have to admit I don’t have much experience with preventing itching in a situation like that.
Edit to say I remember having a horse with a sweet itch problem that I would bath with aloedine and use a lot of conditioner on the area afterwards and I drenched her with liquid Benadryl. I believe I also used a cortisone cream on her worst spots. That’s my limited experience.
We used a muzzle on a horse to stop him biting the wound on his leg. It is made of metal.
1 Like
In the past I’ve used vaseline too, but it does melt away! Desitin or other zinc diaper rash creams are much thicker and last all day in this ridiculous heat wave. It also prevents sunburn!
4 Likes
I like Corona for any area I want moisturized, but also protected from seepage. Just a very thin schmear, even rubbing the dollop between my fingers a bit first to get it more easily spread more thinly.
2 Likes
Week four update! We have more closure of the edges! She now only has two small openings, one at the bottom center and the one on the far left, from where there is still a lot of seepage from the dead fascia towards her flanks that is still breaking down. I am trying to keep that opening clear and prevent it from closing to keep an abscess from forming. There is no smell, and I do not feel like it is infected just moving the dead tissue out, so I am letting it drain and trying to push any tissue I can out each time I clean her.
Unfortunately, I think she’s developed an abscess in her front right foot, as she is now very sore on that foot but has no heat/swelling anywhere on the pastern/leg. Poor kid isn’t catching many breaks here. But she is cute and sweet! I’ve been calling her Dolly.
36 Likes
The new pic is amazing! Well done
2 Likes
Look into the KineticVet line of products, I’m pretty sure they have some topicals that contain cortisone to help with that, so at least it could be used outside of and below the wound so as to not melt into the wound, though I don’t know that would be a bad thing necessarily, you could talk to them and ask, or talk to your vet about the ingredients’ suitability for being in this wound.
1 Like
Awwwww! Face.
3 Likes
If those ears get any longer, she’s going to need to register with the FAA. love her, and the wound is looking superb.
2 Likes
Oh, I love that name!
You are doing a fabulous job and while I wouldn’t wish this scenario on anyone, you’re really disseminating lots of useful information. And inspiration.
3 Likes
Well, after all that has been happening to her, of course she has been all ears and that is why they grew first, the rest to catch up later.
Dolly is a sweet name, fitting a sweet, cooperative filly nicely.
The awful wound is staying so very clean and neat, you are doing a wonderful job! 
9 Likes
Hello, Dolly!
She’s adorable, and the wound looks amazing. So pink and healthy and clean!
2 Likes
Little late on the update, but she is doing fabulous! Last picture is a little gross but I finally worked out the big chunk of fascia and muscle that was loose under her flank, it was nearly 4 inches long. Very gross. But since then she has hardly any discharge, maybe 20% of what it was. Still has a little fluid and tissue retained in the pocket towards the bottom and I am consulting with the vet to determine if that will be able to break down and disperse or if it needs lanced. The edges of the wound have closed everywhere except a quarter inch spot at the bottom and a half inch spot near the flank. Because of the progress she’s making I’ve only been flushing the wound once daily.
Unfortunately, now she has really loose manure. I think this is an unrelated issue to the injury, however. No fever, great attitude, eating, curious, and sassy. It’s another question for the vet I suppose. Yes
She stood perfectly to get all 4 feet trimmed, and is much more comfortable. There are several old abscess blowouts on both front feet that need to grow out so she has been started on Farriers Formula to help her grow those feet out faster, and I’ll be touching her feet up regularly.
15 Likes
I’ve seen some ugly injuries but I’ve never seen one that has remained that clean and healthy throughout the healing process. I’m amazed. How are you doing it? Hydrotherapy? And what kind of bedding are you using? I’ve always had trouble keeping bedding or dirt from basically getting “glued” by draining fluids to an open wound.
I see the pocket - I expect you’re right, that it will need to be drained, but I’m still hugely impressed by the way she’s healing.
ETA: And I’m so glad to hear that she’s being so cooperative and is coming along in her basic training!
8 Likes
How are you doing it? Hydrotherapy? And what kind of bedding are you using? I’ve always had trouble keeping bedding or dirt from basically getting “glued” by draining fluids to an open wound.
I did hydrotherapy twice daily until yesterday, but will still be doing that once daily or as needed. I did use PF Salve once or twice when some of the tissues looked a little like it wanted to be proud but I don’t expect it to go nuts on me at this point.
She is not on any bedding, the soil where the barn is is fairly sandy and the bedding would just be a nesting ground for flies anyways. I clean stalls twice daily. I have had a few days where dirt and hair and hay have been caught int he wound but since I hydro every day it just comes off with the scabs! Now that the wound has dried up a bit I don’t even find any dirt/hair in it.
Mostly I think this is because she’s still tender there, so she won’t lay on it quite yet. She is getting some sores on her opposite hip from not laying on the injured side though.
5 Likes
That wound looks so, so good, and I appreciate that you keep coming back with updates. Really well done on your part!
5 Likes
