Sounds like you've made a terrific start, and I totally relate to the "can't
think clearly" over "family" traumas! I don't know what to think about the
calendula causing infections... Was it from a "reputable source"?
Describe as much as you can of the horse's current situation -- what does
the wound look like, is it healing as expected, how is the horse looking and
behaving, and what do you feel he still needs help with (wound-wise or
otherwise)?
Shannon
on 9/17/04 5:38 PM, Rosemary at carden@chariot.net.au wrote:
Vitamin C
Re: Vitamin C
The calendula was supposed to be from a reputable source - but I won't be
using it again (the source, not the calendula).
Mentally, Zaddy is looking okay as he appears alert and interested in his
surroundings, and he has regained his appetite. Physically he's looking a
little the worse for wear. He had wire burns in between his front legs, and
one front leg was hugely swollen (that's gone now), he also had a big
haematoma on his chest (that's gone), he has barbed wire burns on one side
of his face between the ears and eye, he has barbed wire burns down his neck
and has lost hair in these areas.
Last weekend he developed cystitis, which I gather was probably from lying
on cold & wet ground - which I treated with Dulcamara and it has cleared up
now. The hind leg has a large cut on the inside, between the hock and
fetlock, which went down to the bone but did not involve tendons. I can't
tell you what the wound looks like as it is heavily bandaged, but the vet
told me today that he had to put Zaddy back on antibiotics today as that
particular wound has tissue dying around it because of the damned wire
burns, and he's developing an infection in there - so the wound has actually
enlarged in that spot. He's told me that he's not too concerned about this,
as it will heal.
The hock injury is to the same hind leg, but on the outside and apparently
is a big wound which has penetrated the actual hock joint. It was sutured,
but the infection broke the sutures. The vet tells me that there is still a
slight amount of pus coming from this wound, (he's flushing it out daily)
but it doesn't seem to be too painful. The whole leg is swollen and hot,
but the swelling is mainly below the hock now, whereas before it was swollen
above it as well.
He's also got a pressure sore on the hip from time spent lying on the ground
when he was injured.
I'm going up every day (90 km round trip) and grooming & walking Zaddy, a
friend comes with me and has found a multitude of knots along his spine and
has managed to get them out with the aid of a golf ball. Zaddy is slowly
walking better - he was just using the point of his hoof to walk with, now
he's putting the hoof lightly to the ground. He also seems to have more
movement in the hock joint.
My vet is admitting that Zaddy is slowly improving, but says it will be a
long, painful & costly road for him. He's expecting that in about a months
time that Zaddy will be showing signs of arthritis in that joint. He is
interested in alternative therapies, so I'd love to show him a miraculous
recovery.
I guess he probably needs most help wound-wise - especially since he's got
this rotting tissue just starting up (although the vet's not too concerned
about this), and with the healing of the joint as he needs something which
will increase the synovial fluid. He's not reluctant to walk, but you can
see his nostrils flaring which is usually a sign of pain, however, he does
walk reasonably fast and, given a minute to rest, will go on again quite
happily.
using it again (the source, not the calendula).
Mentally, Zaddy is looking okay as he appears alert and interested in his
surroundings, and he has regained his appetite. Physically he's looking a
little the worse for wear. He had wire burns in between his front legs, and
one front leg was hugely swollen (that's gone now), he also had a big
haematoma on his chest (that's gone), he has barbed wire burns on one side
of his face between the ears and eye, he has barbed wire burns down his neck
and has lost hair in these areas.
Last weekend he developed cystitis, which I gather was probably from lying
on cold & wet ground - which I treated with Dulcamara and it has cleared up
now. The hind leg has a large cut on the inside, between the hock and
fetlock, which went down to the bone but did not involve tendons. I can't
tell you what the wound looks like as it is heavily bandaged, but the vet
told me today that he had to put Zaddy back on antibiotics today as that
particular wound has tissue dying around it because of the damned wire
burns, and he's developing an infection in there - so the wound has actually
enlarged in that spot. He's told me that he's not too concerned about this,
as it will heal.
The hock injury is to the same hind leg, but on the outside and apparently
is a big wound which has penetrated the actual hock joint. It was sutured,
but the infection broke the sutures. The vet tells me that there is still a
slight amount of pus coming from this wound, (he's flushing it out daily)
but it doesn't seem to be too painful. The whole leg is swollen and hot,
but the swelling is mainly below the hock now, whereas before it was swollen
above it as well.
He's also got a pressure sore on the hip from time spent lying on the ground
when he was injured.
I'm going up every day (90 km round trip) and grooming & walking Zaddy, a
friend comes with me and has found a multitude of knots along his spine and
has managed to get them out with the aid of a golf ball. Zaddy is slowly
walking better - he was just using the point of his hoof to walk with, now
he's putting the hoof lightly to the ground. He also seems to have more
movement in the hock joint.
My vet is admitting that Zaddy is slowly improving, but says it will be a
long, painful & costly road for him. He's expecting that in about a months
time that Zaddy will be showing signs of arthritis in that joint. He is
interested in alternative therapies, so I'd love to show him a miraculous
recovery.
I guess he probably needs most help wound-wise - especially since he's got
this rotting tissue just starting up (although the vet's not too concerned
about this), and with the healing of the joint as he needs something which
will increase the synovial fluid. He's not reluctant to walk, but you can
see his nostrils flaring which is usually a sign of pain, however, he does
walk reasonably fast and, given a minute to rest, will go on again quite
happily.
-
Ginny Wilken
- Posts: 324
- Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 10:00 pm
Re: Vitamin C
Rosemary: dealing with infected wounds is fairly straightforward.
Perhaps this link will help you decide on a remedy:
This is David Little's site
ginny
All stunts performed without a net!
Perhaps this link will help you decide on a remedy:
This is David Little's site
ginny
All stunts performed without a net!
Re: Vitamin C
Thanks Ginny. It's looks as though I've done something right as the vet
came out smiling this afternoon and told me that it looked like all the
rotting has stopped on one wound, the hock joint wound is looking better and
he's able to flex it more. I hope to take him home on Tuesday and I'll be
doing everything in my power to have him sound again.
Rosemary
came out smiling this afternoon and told me that it looked like all the
rotting has stopped on one wound, the hock joint wound is looking better and
he's able to flex it more. I hope to take him home on Tuesday and I'll be
doing everything in my power to have him sound again.
Rosemary