Would amnion help the open wound? I have no idea how it would work with the bandaging and splints but I heard it was great!
I am wondering if some kind of gel pad down the back of his leg would help relieve the pressure points, like a gel pad under a saddle does?
[QUOTE=CrowneDragon;7101248]
I am wondering if some kind of gel pad down the back of his leg would help relieve the pressure points, like a gel pad under a saddle does?[/QUOTE]
I would be afraid that the gel would heat and move away from the pressure, leaving the open wound with just heavy plastic next to it. IMHO, that is what it does under a saddle, and doesnāt protect the area needing cushion.
Gen,
You might want to look into using a DuoDerm extra thin dressing. It is a hydrocolloid dressing, allowing air in. It is thin enough that it will not affect the splint in any way, and protective from rubbing. They also make a silver impregnated form, but it is a bit thicker and I dont know it it would fit under the splint.
[QUOTE=CrowneDragon;7101248]
I am wondering if some kind of gel pad down the back of his leg would help relieve the pressure points, like a gel pad under a saddle does?[/QUOTE]
Maybe using gel pads for peopleālike the inserts into shoes.
[QUOTE=FalseImpression;7101229]
Would amnion help the open wound? I have no idea how it would work with the bandaging and splints but I heard it was great![/QUOTE]
Iāve used amnion quite successfully for an open wound. If you can find some it might be worth a try.
Aaspen is right. This wound is not too bad. First fix the contractures and then work on the wounds - theyāll heal very fast once the splints are off. Just keep the wound free from infection. My colt had areas just like this on the front of his fetlocks. The front of one whole fetlock was nothing but pink granulation tissue (like yours). Once the wraps were off it healed in the blink of an eye. I was astonished. The deep wound was way more problematic. I very nearly resorted to silver gauzes for that. After 2 months of otherwise lovely limbs I was running out of patience with this wound! Eventually I took a deep breath and left the final light bandage off. He opened the wound a little at first but it scabbed up and dried out quite quickly. In hindsight I should have done it sooner but I was worried about mud getting into it.
Thanks for update Gen. The dynasplints look great!
I ended up using sheep skin wraps under the braces and they did seem to help.
[QUOTE=Appsolute;7101016]
Spot test before putting on any wounds.
What about Tegaderm for the open wound? It will cover it with a clear, protective membrane, while allowing the wound to breathe and ooze. It will also keep anything like padding from sticking
.[/QUOTE]
Although (as an ex-Long Term Care nurse who has seen plenty of pressure sores) the wound doesnāt look infected, it is very, very large. I had my Problem Child in a cast and she developed several sores, but none so large as that.
Too much padding can cause problems, so do NOT go that route. I agree on areas that are NOT open some from of powder can be helpful (prevents the friction).
Tegaderm is very thin, but there is a product called Duoderm that is thickerā¦itās almost like a foam. So it covers the wound and also prevents pressure.
You might try that. But I would work with your vet and Dynasplint on this issueā¦Iām sure this isnāt the first pressure sore DS has had to deal with!
Good luckā¦seems like maybe some progress. Keep him on those OCD pellets.
Gen, I use tea tree oil for everything. I dilute with olive oil (usually 25% olive oil, 75% tea tree, but Iād start at least 50/50 dilution on a wound like this).
I want to try the DuoDerm extra thin on me! I should find someā¦
When I had my foal with contracted tendons -less severe than yours - I was advised to keep her on a hard surface, so the weight of the horse pushed the heel down, and not to keep her on deep bedding.
Iāve lost the reason given for using Pentosan, but my doggie vet has Cartophan which is the doggie version and it might be available since your little one would not need that much.
Obviously, you are in touch with your senior vets, not just us that play one on a bb?
Keep up the good work. Best of luck.
First off, heās really quite nice and I donāt say that about all of the foals posted here. Loved the video and clearly he is trying so hard. So glad you went with the dynasplints. Youāre doing a great job (and I know it is so much work and stress), but he sure looks better in the more recent pics. Thanks so much for what you are doing for him ā¦ hope you can get some rest soon and that heās out and about in short order. Big hugs.
[QUOTE=Home Again Farm;7101067]
When I had a filly who had exposed the back of her hindleg from just below the hock to just above the pastern, we were give silver sulfadiazine cream for the wound. It has antibiotic properties and is often used on burn victims. Your vet can call in a prescription to your pharmacy.
Continued jingles from FL![/QUOTE]
THIS ! Again, this product is used extensively in the human population for pressure sores, burns, etc. MUCH better than tea tree oil, pharmacy grade or not. Again, in this case, follow your vet and the Dynasplint guyās adviceā¦'cause Iām see alot of bad (although obviously well-intended) advice hereā¦
Silvadene cream is excellent-we used it for our burn patients. It is very expensive for just a small tube of it. There is a new line of horse ointment on the market with Ag on the label. Ag is the symbol for silver on the periodic table. I imagine this product may have some of the same benefits as silvadene without the hefty price tag. I havenāt used it, but read a little about it. I use silvadene on all my horses wounds, but have a pretty nice supply of the cream left over from patients whose either expired, or forgot to take it home with them. Once we used it on one person, we had to throw it out if they forgot it. My co-workers knew I would happily take any extra home to use in the barn!
But, again, considering what you are dealing with, those wounds are okay! The dynasplints themselves will ease some of the stress over them. I imagine they started from the end of the PVC splint? While I canāt imagine they would get better with the dynasplints covering the same area, I canāt believe they would get much worse. You are doing an awesome job, and like seeing the updates on your Facebook page. I bet sometime next week you are going to take that splint off and itās going to be oriented correctly. Not perfect, but at least not knuckled over anymore. Then itās going to be leaps and bounds of improvement !
[QUOTE=Kyzteke;7102449]
THIS ! Again, this product is used extensively in the human population for pressure sores, burns, etc. MUCH better than tea tree oil, pharmacy grade or not. Again, in this case, follow your vet and the Dynasplint guyās adviceā¦'cause Iām see alot of bad (although obviously well-intended) advice hereā¦[/QUOTE]
Kyzteke - it has worked for me and obviously others as wellā¦ so canāt be that bad in terms of advice. However it is certainly Genās call on whether or not she wants to try it.
Here is a video from this morning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEVOvaJugyg
He sure is feeling good.
I do have amnion. I harvest some every year. I will ask the vets what they think about using it.
I love Silvadene. The Davis vet suggested using one of the wound powders for a little while. I have one that has silver in it.
The left leg is normal looking to me now. He was naked for about an hour this afternoon and there was no sign of buckling or knuckling over on the left. The right leg looks like the left one did 2 weeks ago. Definite improvement.
Excellent! :yes:
Fantastic!! Yes, Silvadene is expensive, but you are only supposed to use a small amt. each time. Itās not supposed to slathered on like peanut butter.
If the vet or DS folks say theyād rather use tea tree oil, great!! What Iām saying is follow THEIR advice, rather that just random advice from a BB.
Personally Iāve tried tea tree oil for wounds & such and NOT been impressedā¦but thatās just me.
OMG you are going to have your hands full when his legs are straight!! He is super.
