Cut on leg...wwyd

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Cut on leg...wwyd
Topic Started: Aug 15 2009, 09:31 PM (115 Views)
JustWait	Aug 15 2009, 09:31 PM Post #1
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie! Posts: 167 Group: Members Member #282 Joined: January 9, 2007	My horse was an idiot today, kicked a fence and cut his right hind, about 1/3 of the way down on the outside of his cannon bone. He has about a 1" flap of skin the vet couldn't stitch because of how/where the cut was. It's not too deep and doesn't invovle tendons. Best we can do is keep it clean and wrapped and hope the skin flap reattaches. So here's where I need advice. My barn is set up so my stalls open onto pastures, and they're used to coming and going 24/7. If I lock him in, I know his leg will be like a Macy's Day balloon in the morning (and he could get pissed and hurt himself even worse). It's currently wrapped with gauze, then vetrap, and duct taped to secure edges of vetrap. Vet suggested putting either standing wrap or polo wrap on top of this, even if he's not shut in his stall. Since there is a chance of rain/thunderstorms, I don't really want to do either. What are your thoughts on leaving a polo on even if it's wet out? I'm thinking he's better off with just the gauze/vetrap.



kickandhowl	Aug 18 2009, 01:21 PM Post #2
Weanling Posts: 7 Group: Members Member #4,601 Joined: November 10, 2008	Ask your vet if you can put desitin on the wound. It will keep water out. It would be contraindicated if the vet wants the wound to dry out fast. A trainer at Penn National told me she and other trainers use desitin instead of nolvasan for cuts on horses. So I bought a 16 oz jar and I and the BO are using it now. I just bought the 2nd jar for backup. So far, so good. Of course it is the zinc oxide in it that is the good "stuff," so you can also buy tubes of zinc oxide to use.



snaffle	Aug 18 2009, 05:31 PM Post #3
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back. Posts: 1,176 Group: Members Member #415 Joined: January 17, 2007	I think you're fine with the vetrap and the duct tape. Tyler sliced open his leg a couple of years ago and was turned out with vetrap and some bandaging tape. It kept his leg nice and clean (and dry) and he got to move around a bit. (It worked fine until, when nearly fully healed, some moron at the barn where I used to board decided to vetrap it without any gauze despite the vet saying to leave it open - and didn't bother to call me. I walked in the barn and thought 'huh, why is Tyler wearing a bandage? He's not supposed to be bandaged.' It was a gooey disgusting mess when I took the bandage off. I thought he had gangrene. After a panicked call to my vet, he reassured me that green slime is a normal reaction to a wound being covered up for too long. Phew...all is well now.) JustWait, I hope your horse is feeling better soon.



snaffle	Aug 18 2009, 05:33 PM Post #4
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back. Posts: 1,176 Group: Members Member #415 Joined: January 17, 2007	Just to clarify the barn situation...I was boarding Tyler at a small backyard facility with 5 horses. This was not at my show barn or the great place he lives now. Return to your regularly scheduled programming.



DairyQueen2049	Aug 19 2009, 10:09 AM Post #5
DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT Posts: 7,545 Group: Members Member #385 Joined: January 17, 2007	Gorey story read no further if this bothers you. And this was not my horse, but I was there to see the burn happen and this is an old cowboy trick, except for the vet wrap part. I knew a horse with a rope burn and a flap. It was BAD and oozed blood and body fluids as a burn will do. The problem was no stalls and SANDY soils. I mean beach sand sandy. The burn was on the bottom of the fetlock and consumed the fetlock and pasturn area completely. First we put on Healex http://www.kyhorse.com/store/health/wound/healex.htm and I mean SLATHERED it on all over thick. Next we added a Teflex burn pad. This is not like gause as it WILL NOT stick to anything wet, dry, whatever. The entire area of the burn was covered with the Healex cream and then Teflex pads. Now, wrap with Vetwrap, getting 2 layers of Vetwrap to hold all in place. Leave for 24 hours, cut off, repeat for the next 30 days. This was one of the worst burns I've seen and NO sand got in and it healed with no scar. The vetwrap kept it clean and water tight. So I think you good to go with that. That said, Why do the kids have to be so accident prone?? Heal fast horsie!!!



JustWait	Aug 20 2009, 08:17 PM Post #6
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie! Posts: 167 Group: Members Member #282 Joined: January 9, 2007	Thanks y'all! So far, so good (knock on wood). I've just been doing the guaze pad and vetrap. The skin flap is still attached and is looking good!



2hsmommy	Aug 26 2009, 05:00 AM Post #7
It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure! Posts: 2,037 Group: Members Member #5 Joined: January 3, 2007	Hope it's healing well



JustWait	Aug 26 2009, 09:15 AM Post #8
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie! Posts: 167 Group: Members Member #282 Joined: January 9, 2007	Thanks! It looks like the skin flap may be trying to come off, but doesn't look too bad underneath it.



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