Discussion on After surgery care for inguinal hernia in foal
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jozee
New Member
Username: jozee
Post Number: 3
Registered: 8-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, Aug 12, 2009 - 8:15 pm: |   |
My 4 month old colt was diagnosed with inguinal hernia. he had surgery with castration 12 days ago. he stayed at hospital for four days with his mom. When I brought him home there was a good amount of swelling but the next day (5th day) he began to swell terribly, so vet put him on tucoprim. the first night of tucoprim, he was bucking and swishing his tail and just looking irritated. I thought maybe he was just itchy from the sutures, but next a.m. he was covered in huge hives. so vet said tucoprim caused allergic reaction so gave him antihistamines and dexamethozone, and put him on naxcel. this worked and swelling cut in half. after the 3rd day of naxcel (4th of antibiotics w/ tucoprim) we decided to stop injections as he was causing too much trauma to himself with the rodeo giving him shots and vet thought it looked good. Now it is 2 days later and the swellling looks a bit worse. And the weird thing, the swelling looks the same as the original hernia did, though my vet says no way his intestines came out again as there are so many suture layers.
how much swelling is normal at this point (12 days post surgery)?
Is 4 days of antibiotics enough?
and if not, is there any other edible antibiotic so we can avoid giving shots?
my vets said not to clean or put antibiotic ointment on suture sites - wouldn[t that help prevent infection?
and how long does he have to be in stall/small paddock? He bounces around so much (jumping on his mom and just feeling frisky) it seems sort of pointless to confine him. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 23567
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, Aug 13, 2009 - 3:51 am: | |
Hello jozee,
Sorry to hear about the problems you are having and let me see if I can help. Was the inguinal hernia repaired through the scrotal incision and if so I guess your castration was sutured closed? I ask because a lot depends on the nature of the surgery itself and the severity of the hernia and the amount of tissue manipulation required. Throw on top of this the allergic reaction complication, and yours may not be a typical case.
I too would be concerned with remarkable swelling 12 days post surgery and if worsening, a thorough examination and evaluation to determine why the swelling is worsening should be considered now. Transcutaneous ultrasound might be the most definitive method to diagnose whether the hernia has returned but may this may require general anesthesia.
As to antibiotic use the length of time for treatment depends on the nature of the infection and continued use is a clinical call made following an examination. If I read your post right this was used prophylactically and as such 4 days would be appropriate. I do not recommend treating closed, clean, and dry sutures with ointments and typically recommend they be kept clean and dry.
I have no doubt out in the field this colt will be much more active and if the veterinarian suggests this would be hard on the inguinal repair you should follow his instructions here.
DrO |
