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Moni
Member
Username: pfdusty
Post Number: 79
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Friday, Oct 12, 2007 - 9:07 pm: |   |
This would be a long post but I'll try to keep it very simple:
We received a horse with a snake bite just above the rear left fetlock on both sides (probably 2 bites). It's been about 6 weeks since it happened.
The bottom line question is this: we are concerned that we are losing the hoof all together. Due to the discharge from the wound it is hard to judge what fluids come from where since it's all very smelly. The coronary band is 4x the width and the hoof is very flaky on the very top.
When I pushed on the very top of the hoof some clear fluid came out (the discharge from the original wound is thicker) with a tiny amount of possible blood and it smelled very bad. Now I am wondering if it could be an abscess (since abscesses stink) or does it smell as well when losing a hoof?
We had him scheduled to be put down a couple of days ago, and over night he did much better and we cancelled it. Of course we are very guarded and still expect the worst.
I hope this makes sense. |
Diane E.
Member
Username: scooter
Post Number: 1419
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 - 2:11 pm: | |
Hi Moni, sounds like the horse has an infection. I think venomous bites especially are prone to infection. Is the horse on antibiotics or has he been on them at all? Has he been given any anti-inflammatories? Has a vet seen him? Have you taken his temp.? I suppose it is possible for him to slough the hoof if infection isn't brought under control. There is an article on first aid for snake bites in herehttp://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/4/20976.html, but I think you should probably get a vet involved if you already haven't. Good luck |
Moni
Member
Username: pfdusty
Post Number: 80
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 - 2:56 pm: | |
He has an infection for sure and we are doing all we can. He is on Bute and Uniprim now. The Vet saw him the day he came and is still involved but isn't very hopeful. We did some x-rays which seem to indicate (by the way the bones/joint lines up) that the tendons are probably separated. The skin from the hoof upward past the joint is very thick and scaly. The bite wounds themselves are being treated with hosing and silver dine cream.
If we could get this boy pasture sound our goal would be reached but we are very concerned about the hoof sloughing off since on both sides of the heel the coronary band is hanging over the hoof.
It is hard to describe. I guess we are thinking that if we were to lose the hoof then it should have happened already since the original injury occurred beginning of August. At least so we hope. |
Vicki Zaneis
Member
Username: vickiann
Post Number: 528
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 - 5:43 pm: | |
Hopefully, there may be new hoof forming under the hoof that is being lost. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 19361
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Sunday, Oct 14, 2007 - 12:20 pm: | |
In either case of an abscess or sloughing a hoof I would expect there to be odor Moni as either will have large amounts of necrotic material. Also the time frame does not rule it out as your inflammation is still ongoing. If the wound has thoroughly been debrided of necrotic tissue and you feel your wound care is about as good as it can be yet the problem continues, consider changing antibiotics, see the article on antibiotics for other choices. The presence of a foul odor in itself suggests there needs to be either further debridement or more frequen/aggressive wound care. For more on this see the article Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Wounds / Burns.
DrO |
Moni
Member
Username: pfdusty
Post Number: 81
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 2:18 pm: | |
We lost the fight this morning. It was determined that all the tendons were gone. We let him move on to greener pastures. |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: mrose
Post Number: 3258
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 2:59 pm: | |
All the tendons were gone? From infection due to the bite?
I'm so sorry. I'm sure this has been very hard on you. He is out of pain now and I'm sure much happier. |
Shirley Johnson
Member
Username: shirl
Post Number: 547
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 3:12 pm: | |
So sorry for your lose. Take care of you and know he is well and happy now.
Shirl |
Vicki Zaneis
Member
Username: vickiann
Post Number: 534
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 4:59 pm: | |
So sorry for your loss, Moni. |
Ann S
Member
Username: annes
Post Number: 237
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 5:35 pm: | |
Moni,
I am so sad for your loss. You know you did everything you could and he is out of pain now.
Take care, Ann |
Cyndy
Member
Username: hpyhaulr
Post Number: 246
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 6:00 pm: | |
It is so hard to know what to say. Simply "I am so very sorry for your loss" doesn't do much,but it is all we have. |
Holly Wood
Member
Username: hwood
Post Number: 2399
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 6:06 pm: | |
Moni, I hadn't checked into this post since Sunday. What an odd kind of injury and awful sequence of events for both you and the horse.
So sorry you weren't able to save him. Seems that the injury was too far gone by the time you got him. Bless your heart for trying to help the horses. |
Lilo
Member
Username: lilo
Post Number: 642
Registered: 4-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 6:45 pm: | |
Moni, so sorry to hear about your loss. Too bad you could not save him, and kind of sobering that snakebites on the leg could have such dire consequences. We had a mild fall here, and the snakes are still very much in evidence.
My condolences,
Lilo |
Fran C
Member
Username: canter
Post Number: 1225
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 6:59 pm: | |
Moni, I'm so very sorry for your loss. It's too bad that you couldn't save him but it sure sounds like you tried so very hard.
Thinking of you~
Fran |
Diane E.
Member
Username: scooter
Post Number: 1431
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 7:15 pm: | |
Sorry for your loss Moni. You did all you could. My condolences. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 19379
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 7:21 pm: | |
My deepest condolences Moni,
DrO |
LL
Member
Username: frances
Post Number: 527
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Oct 18, 2007 - 7:19 am: | |
What a shame Moni, and how strange that the tendons in particular were affected so badly. I am truly sorry. |
Patty
Member
Username: pattyp
Post Number: 6
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, Oct 18, 2007 - 10:10 am: | |
Moni,
I'm so sorry for your loss. We've got a lot of poisonous snakes in SW Missouri. Although it doesn't seem that they come in contact often, the possibility is scary. I hope that knowing that you did all you could and he isn't in pain any longer brings you some comfort.
Patty |
