[oldhorsehome]

Cowboy caught his legs in the cattle guard a couple of weeks ago. You all gave me some excellent advice for treatment. Well, I'm back again! The vet came out and looked at it, put him on antibiotics, told me to wash it and when all the dead skin came off to call him back. At that time he would come back out and show me how to wrap it.

Well, he was supposed to come last Wed. but I have yet to hear from him. I called another vet. She was supposed to come Mon. afternoon but got sick and can't come until Fri. I called another vet, he can't come until Thurs. I don't have a trailer, don't know anyone I can borrow one from and can't find a place that rents them.

SOOOOOO.....please help me treat this leg. I've been washing it and putting Underwoods on it. But there's still all that raw flesh that is draining serum (not so much anymore). It is swollen and a little warm to the touch. He walks fine and puts weight on it. I notice when he stands still that he will take the weight off of it.

The last thread about this you all recommended DMSO, furazone etc. Since the vet didn't say to use these I didn't go out and buy it. Is this still what you recommend? Make me a shopping list and I'll go get it today. I have nothing except Underwoods and baking powder - no vet wrat (oops, Freudian slip!) wrap or anything. Should I get some antibiotics or not?

Thank you so much!!! As you can probably tell, I've never dealt with this before.

[SC Sonoma]

From the other posts I've read with similar injuries on this forum ... Underwoods is a miracle treatment and will heal it up better than most other products. I have never used it, but other forum members have and had great success.

Have you seen any progress yet?

There are lots of people on this forum who are knowledgeable about these kinds of injuries ... I'm sure you'll get some great advice.

[syndi]

Looks like there's still some swelling. I would cold hose to reduce heat and swelling. I would not wrap unless he starts getting it full of dirt.

Vets They can be our saviors and sources of trials and tribulations.

Good luck with Cowboy, Hope he gets better soon.

Is He gaining weight yet?

[4hooves4me2]

I would use the Underwoods on it, I have used it for years, and have the best of luck with it. I would scrub that down with betadine scrub, then start the underwoods on it as soon as I could-the wound looks really good though, you have done a great job with it.

[JBandRio]

You have a good bit of proud flesh developing there, and that needs to go or the wound will never heal. Lower leg wounds are notorious for developing proud flesh.

IF you cannot get a vet out, then start scrubbing it - it WILL bleed, it's just a mass of capillaries. But no nerve endings, so should not hurt.

Can you get some Panalog or Animax from a vet? Both of those are usually pretty good at melting down the proud flesh, plus they have antibiotic properties.

Worse case, at this point in healing, is to get some Wonder Dust and liberally apply to just the proud flesh areas. Coat the healthy healing tissue with your ointment of choice, then puff the Wonder Dust on. This will cauterize the proud flesh. Scrub it off twice a day and reapply.

[mslwpk]

when my horse did a similar thing to his leg we cold washed it 3-4 times a day to reduce swelling and any fever he may of had in it at the time. I would just keep it clean and rinse it as often as you can and put the underwoods on it. I do aree with JB scrub it. If i am not mistaking if the proud fless developes and not taken off when the wound heels it will heel with a big lump on it. I could be wrong about that though. I just remember the vet told me to keep it clean and the proud flesh reduced. Good Luck!

[4hooves4me2]

To scrub, I buy one of those complexion brushes from Walmart or where ever. They do the BEST job at getting that proudflesh 'woke' up (so to speak) for treatment. JB gave some good advice-the Wonderdust is great stuff also!

[Ryle]

Also, were x-rays taken at the initial exam? If not, it would be a good idea because the bowed out appearance, continued oozing and the location and type of injury cause suspicion that there is a sequestrum present. X-rays would be necessary to rule this in or out and if there is a sequestrum then surgical removal of the dead/damaged tissue that is causing the internal infection/inflammation is necessary to get the leg to heal.

[BettyBootsy]

Did you run a round of antibotics at all? I does look a bit swelled what color is the drainage and is there smell to it? It really should of been wrapped and taken off daily to hose and clean. I would scrub it with betadine and scrub it make it bleed. It will stimulate the good tissue. I would use the hose with a wand with different textures on the dial and pound the leg where it's swollen and the actual wound after you scrub it good once then you can use the hose to keep it stimulated and it will bleed a lil and it's okay won't hurt. I would do 20 min 2x a day to get the swelling down and since your not wrapping it to keep it clean. If it were me I would of use the DMSO, Furazone and steroid mix. If you haven't done a round of antibotics I would. Your best bet is going to be have the vet cut the proud flesh and have him teach ya how to wrap Good luck!

[JBandRio]

Be aware that furacin/furazone on lower leg wounds is known to stimulate proud flesh growth.