Izzy's Leg: Well, Hell ...

4/13/2015

April 11, 2015

April 12, 2015

I took the bandage off and four hours later it was quite swollen and blood was oozing. I rinsed it clean and hand walked him for a few minutes, but there didn't appear to be any new scrapes or cuts. It was just bleeding from the very small part that had not yet closed. I rechecked it before bed - no change.

The next morning it was still quite swollen and seeping blood. I couldn't find any new trauma, and he wasn't lame, but it's definitely annoying him.

I am not a vet, but I imagine that this is what happens when you remove a pressure bandage after fourteen weeks. Rather than panic, I cold hosed the leg for ten minutes and hand walked him for fifteen. I rode him for less than ten minutes, at a walk, gave the wound another coat of Aluspray, and finished off his day with two grams of Bute.

I'll call the vet today, but I don't think there's much else to do other than re-wrap it which I'd rather not do. I think the swelling will just work itself out with light exercise, and the oozing blood will stop when there is less pressure from the swelling.

And this too shall pass ...

jenj

4/12/2015 11:13:15 pm

Oh, how depressing! I hope it scabs over soon and goes back to healing up quickly.

Lauren link

4/13/2015 01:09:54 am

:( I know how frustrated and tired of this situation you must be! Hopefully the swelling goes away with no more wrapping needed.

emma link

4/13/2015 01:29:43 am

aww bummer... hopefully it's just the wound sorting itself out rather than any type of setback!

Jan link

4/13/2015 01:38:38 am

I agree with you about it being from not wrapping it. I spent a week or two weaning my horse off his hock and lower leg wraps, and it still blew up a bit. I hope he returns to normal soon! And Aluspray is great, we use it all the time!

Bakersfield Dressage link

4/13/2015 11:18:21 pm

Vet agreed as well. He said I could wrap it on and off again or just wait it out. I am choosing to just wait it out. It will eventually go back to the correct size. :0)

Amanda link

4/13/2015 02:15:25 am

Oh, how maddening! I think you're exactly right, but still, utterly frustrating. Poor Izzy, and poor you.

Tracy

4/13/2015 02:15:40 am

:-(

Anna Erickson

4/13/2015 11:32:25 am

Yep, horribly frustrating but you are right - it just has to form a big ugly scab at that spot for a few days then the scab will drop off and better skin will be underneath. Bandaging it at this stage will actually make it worse not better.

4/13/2015 11:21:24 pm

There shouldn't have been any reason for a scab to form as the wound was essentially closed, but the pressure of the swelling did "stretch" teh skin to the point that small cracks appeared and blood oozed.

Fortunately, the bleeding has stopped, but new scabs have formed. Dr. Tolley said that it might take a few more weeks for all of this to go away, but light exercise is the best therapy. So yah for that! :0)

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage