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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Izzy's Leg: Week 1

1/19/2015

 
Warning: gross photos below.

I am probably going to lose track of which week I am on, but for this count, I know he has been home for a week.

When I took the bandages off on Friday afternoon, I got a little worried. The bandages smelled really bad, like they have every time, and the wound had changed in character. It was still as wide and as long, but it was starting to puff out. It also looked more like hamburger than the inside a chicken leg.

Gross images of raw meat:
Picture
Raw chicken - what the wound used to look like.
Picture
Raw hamburger - what it looks like now.
While I am a very good cook and have a fair amount of experience with different cuts of meat, I do not want to see a wound on my horse that resembles something from the butcher's window. 

When Dr. Tolley examined the wound last Saturday, I was so shocked by the hugeness of the gash that I was more focused on the treatment protocol - how to apply the five bandage layers correctly, than on asking too many questions. The one thing that I always ask when dealing with an injury or illness, which I completely forgot to do, is what should I expect over the next two weeks?

Even though I knew Dr. Tolley wasn't going be in the office on Saturday, I called anyway knowing that I could at least speak to Dr. Gonzalez, BVH's newest doctor. Sure enough, the receptionist put him on the phone almost immediately. Fortunately, I had caught him just before he headed out for a field call.

I always take my horses in for treatment, but given the severity of this wound, I hadn't wanted to put Izzy back in the trailer, unwrapped, for yet another road trip. Instead, I opted to pay the ranch call and have Dr. Tolley bring the hospital to me. Because of that, Dr. Gonzalez hadn't yet seen the wound.

I described Izzy's injury and tried to explain what it now looked like. He assured me that it sounded as though it was healing well, but asked if I could send some photos for him to exam. Photos? Oh, yeah ... I have lots of photos.

I sent the following two photos (warning - grossness follows) and was relieved at his quick response.
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Picture
Day 5 - raw chicken
Picture
Day 11 - raw hamburger
Hi Karen:
The wound looks like it is healing nicely. I dont see any issues that warrant immediate veterinary attention on our part. Continue the therapy protocol as outlined by Dr. Tolley. Clean the edges like you mentioned previously and continue to apply your bandages. I have forwarded the images to him and I am expecting his feedback. I will let you know his opinion ASAP. Thanks for sending the images.
Best,

Dr. Gonzalez 
The therapy protocol recommend by Dr. Tolley was this:
  • Soak a clean piece of the used cotton roll with Betadine and gently swab the wound to remove dirt or other debris that might have slipped in under the bandage.
  • Cover a Telfa pad with a thick glob of Biozide gel. 
  • Place the Telfa pad over the wound, pressing it gently so that it sticks.
  • Wrap the wound once or twice with brown gauze to ensure the Telfa pad doesn't move.
  • Wrap the leg snugly with a long sheet of cotton roll.
  • Use an entire roll of brown gauze to apply a pressure bandage to the wound. I am to pull the gauze as tightly as I can while I wrap the wound. He said I'll know I am pulling hard enough when the gauze starts to sound as though it is ripping. I haven't been able to pull that hard yet.
  • Making sure to leave some of the cotton roll sticking out of the top and bottom of the wrap, I am to finish off the wrap with a roll of Vet Wrap (I actually use a cheaper brand).

When I am finished it looks like this.
Picture
By the second day, it's looking a bit rough, but I love a fresh bandage job - purrrrrty!
We have our first follow-up appointment on Saturday where Dr. Tolley will probably need to debride the wound. Proud flesh will likely become an issue. At the appointment, he will decide whether to change out the Biozide gel for something to inhibit the development of proud flesh. While he hasn't said so, I am assuming, and budgeting for, every other week visits for the month of February. With a wound this large and open, I would rather have someone with a degree monitor the condition of the wound rather than simply trust my own judgement.

I paid for Dr. Tolley's first visit over the phone, so I hadn't seen his write up. His medical notes finally arrived over the weekend, here is what it said:
Picture
What does it need to look like to be something other than a SUPERFICIAL laceration?!
I feel lucky to have access to such a knowledgeable and friendly staff of doctors. Not every vet hospital will put the vet on the phone and let you chat with him (or her). While Dr. Tolley is my regular vet, it's nice to have finally worked with Dr. Gonzalez. I would definitely feel comfortable having him treat my boys in the future.
Lauren link
1/19/2015 12:27:18 am

Those heal in such interesting ways! I'm sure he'll be back to normal before you know it :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/19/2015 10:15:23 am

Thanks. It doesn't seem to bother him too much as it is. :0)

jenj
1/19/2015 01:54:58 am

Glad that it's healing nicely! And I agree, a great vet staff is peace of mind!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/19/2015 10:16:44 am

Thanks, and they sure make my life easier (vets, that is).

martina peterson
1/19/2015 02:32:06 am

Izzy's injury sure looks narly but I'm glad you feel comfortable with your vet. It sounds like you have everything under control. I know it's okay to pray for our pets and so I am love mom

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/19/2015 10:17:15 am

Thanks, Mom. Prayers are much appreciated. :0)

Paola link
1/19/2015 04:34:40 am

I haven't been reading in a while and then I saw this post! I hope Izzy is doing alright and that his wound heals up nicely. It's great that you have nice vets!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/19/2015 10:18:27 am

He's doing great, Paola! He's a real steady Soldier about the bandage changes, and most importantly, he seems really happy and settled in his new home. :0)

Austen link
1/19/2015 05:29:30 am

It makes me feel so good to read about your positive vet experience! Sounds like they're really taking care of you and Izzy both!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/19/2015 10:20:03 am

After what you've been through lately, I feel even more grateful to have such a knowledgeable team of vets just minutes away. Izzy is feeling fine and doing well. :0)

Lisa link
1/19/2015 09:04:02 am

If it makes you feel any better, my first pony had an injury similar but worse to Izzy. His cannon bone was exposed almost all the way around the front and he severed his common extensor tendon. He took a long time to heal but was back to galloping and jumping with no lameness issues, ever again. He lived for about another 5 years after that.

This wound looks great to me!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/19/2015 10:21:49 am

Thanks for sharing, Lisa. It's always encouraging to hear success stories. I don't tend to worry too much about this stuff; it doesn't really help. The best thing for me to do is to follow the vet's directions and be consistent. I trust his judgement. :0)

Cathryn link
1/19/2015 11:46:06 am

You hit the mark "bang on" with the comparative "meat" photos! LOL.

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/20/2015 09:24:57 am

Sorry for the gross photos, but that's really what it looks like! :0)

Cindy
1/20/2015 02:07:05 am

His wound actually looks like it's healing really well even though it's ugly. Just keep wrapping...just keep wrapping. I had one horse get kicked about 6 inches below the point of his hock and ended up with a nasty glob of proud flesh that had to be surgically removed. Another peeled his leg like Izzy. Learned a lot about surgical wrapping and consistency, both ended up perfectly fine!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/20/2015 09:27:49 am

Very good to know! I am hoping and praying that the proud flesh doesn't develop, but we're prepared if it does. And I don't find the wrapping to be a difficulty. Fortunately, he has learned to stand very quietly which means I get the job done in just a few minutes. Tonight was the first time I wrapped it without a handler and he stood like a total veteran.

As long as the vet says to wrap, I'm going to wrap, And truthfully, I don't want to have to look at a wound like that without a wrap! Gross!!!!

emma link
1/21/2015 07:47:15 am

your vet team sounds really great - what a relief to have them on hand!! fingers crossed everything continues to improve on schedule!


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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