Unfortunate setback, she did have a few abscesses. One blew out on top, another is draining upwards, and the third is in her flank area low down and inside. To top it off, she has a cold too. Poor girl. But the open area is closing more every day! I wish I had been able to flush out those open pockets better than I was, maybe she wouldn’t have had so many abscessed areas.
Vet gave us some antibiotics to use, and she is back on bute.
I don’t think you should be beating yourself up about how amazing this horrible wound is doing.
It looks terrific.
Most wounds have a time when they go backwards. It is still doing great.
I think it would have been a miracle if you hadn’t had an abscess or several on that wound. You’re doing great things!
You’ve still done the best job I’ve ever seen on a huge wound. Amazing difference with every update!
Still looks fab. All the gunk in that top pocket was going to have to come out somehow.
I agree with everyone else…it still looks great and you’re doing an awesome job. I remember when my gelding all but degloved his right hind from just below the hock to halfway the cannon bone. The vet school cleaned it, fixed the severed extensor tendon, and sewed it all up nice and pretty with a little drain. Then warned us that because it had been exposed for so long (he did this in the middle of the night and was found the next morning), it would very likely all fall apart and look completely awful and require extensive care and skin grafts, etc. Which all came true. In fact they had to go in once if fell apart and removed a sequestrum that had formed on the cannon bone (I still have it somewhere), and then later had to go back in and remove some necrotic tendon. It healed eventually but there was always major scar and the leg had issues. He was sound, but compromised, I’d say.
All that to say…you’re doing an AMAZING job.
First off I need to say THANK YOU to everyone for their advice, stories, and support because you all have made this whole situation so much easier to get through.
After a lot of flushing and a nice combination of antibiotics, we have almost ZERO drainage and the open area has closed so much more since last week. I have gone from twice daily hydrotherapy scrubbing off the scabs and gunk to once daily and I think I will be stopping altogether this weekend. I did have to flush the abscessed areas twice daily for the past 5 days, and I used both plain water and saline to do that (whatever was on hand). I think that helped more than the antibiotics.
Here’s the last look as of an hour ago, and no one is more surprised than me. I never thought she would look so good so quickly. I might update once or twice more but really I think this wound is just about done with being dramatic so unless there is something really interesting going on this will be the last update until she is 100% healed.
And now a shameless photo dump because I think she’s adorable. Even when she tries to roast me with a side eye.
Also forgive her feet but if you guys want to see an example of a stress line, here you go! Her feet are a whole 'nother story. She is already due for another trim after just a couple weeks since her first trim.
Her face is SO sweet! No wonder she’s been a trooper in all this 
Nice event line there!
Hmpf!
But…
These updates are amazing and … please don’t stop.
I have been following along this whole thread without commenting, but I gasped “WOW!” at the most recent picture. This is really incredible. I so appreciate you sharing and hope there are wonderful things ahead for this sweet filly.
This has been very educational. It was gory in the beginning, and I was worried that this would not have a happy ending. But because you’ve been extremely vigilant and attentive, this filly has healed marvelously. Added bonus? You’ve handled her so much that I’m going to bet you two will have a special relationship from here on.
My first reaction to the opening photo of this thread was 
, she’ll have to be put down.
I’m very impressed with your diligence and with her healing prowess. Well done both of you!
Wow. That looks amazing. And she is so cute. You’ve both done a great job!
I have been lurking on this thread since the beginning. I too thought it was pretty hopeless. I hope you keep on with the updates, maybe not as often, but I think the many people following this was to see the final “product”.
Great benefit = she learned to trust you 
Wow. What a remarkable recovery!!! You’ve done a phenomenal job. Just, wow. Please keep updating, if you have the time and energy to do so. It is really uplifting to see a happy outcome.
I don’t know how I missed this thread until now, but you have done a fantastic job with your nursing care.
Glad to see it’s healing so well. The initial injury was pretty extensive.
And, while the surgical part of me wanted to close it, the ambulatory part of me knew it would, as you said, likely not have lasted for the trip home.
I agree - please continue with the updates! I thankfully have never (knocking wood furiously) had to deal with this kind of thing, but if I do, I will feel so much better about it after seeing this thread. The recovery has been nothing short of amazing.
Phenomenal care - it is amazing to see how quickly that wound progressed thanks to your diligence and care. You don’t get to blame yourself at all for those few abscess either - that’s just the wound doing what it is supposed to, and because of its location etc, not being able to drain out the muck as it breaks down damaged tissue and debris. Because of your diligence, you prevented far more possible infection, and caught what was there quickly. Once again, I am so very impressed with what you have accomplished here!
That is quite an update! Looks amazing!
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
