Having a run of horrible luck (graphic photos) - RIDING AGAIN!!!, Vids posted Oct 7/19!!

[Kyra's Mom]

Great improvement for a short time (especially 7/21 --> 7/28). Yes, it will take a loooong time but I think, is looking very good.

Thanks for the update.

Susan

[silk]

When I had to deal with a leg-vs-wire-fence injury, I had help from someone who worked in human wound research with honey. She helped me immensely as she was interested in how honey could help the horse wound. She told me that the wound takes 24 hours to come back to a healing state after being disturbed (ie dressing changes) - is it an option to only change the dressings once a day? While I don't like the theory of putting on a dressing and leaving it to stew (quote, unquote, very common approach, gag), I did aim for fewer bandage changes where possible.

Manuka honey is hugely helpful for wounds. I found it helps prevent and deal with excessive granulation tissue. The time I treated the (first) leg injury, it healed up so well there were hardly any outwards signs. Honey and love. The second injury was vet/lessee treated for the first 2-3 months. Inflamol, less frequent bandage changes, a whole lotta less TLC, no honey. I got honey straight onto it when the mare was home but it didn't end up healing as well overall.

Best of luck with Finn xx

[DJR]

When I had to deal with a leg-vs-wire-fence injury, I had help from someone who worked in human wound research with honey. She helped me immensely as she was interested in how honey could help the horse wound. She told me that the wound takes 24 hours to come back to a healing state after being disturbed (ie dressing changes) - is it an option to only change the dressings once a day? While I don't like the theory of putting on a dressing and leaving it to stew (quote, unquote, very common approach, gag), I did aim for fewer bandage changes where possible.

Manuka honey is hugely helpful for wounds. I found it helps prevent and deal with excessive granulation tissue. The time I treated the (first) leg injury, it healed up so well there were hardly any outwards signs. Honey and love. The second injury was vet/lessee treated for the first 2-3 months. Inflamol, less frequent bandage changes, a whole lotta less TLC, no honey. I got honey straight onto it when the mare was home but it didn't end up healing as well overall.

Best of luck with Finn xx

Thanks very much for those insights.

Regarding dressing changes, the wound has been SO exudative that I dare not leave it more than 12 hrs, especially given the heat (and flies) of the summer. However, in the last couple of days circumstances required that I leave it for more like 18 hrs and it looked good — muckier, but not in an unhealthy way. So, I think as the big gap closes and the exudate settles then I can stretch out dressing changes to 24 hrs.

Regarding honey (or sugar), it’s on our radar. However, between my equine vet, the veterinary surgeon she consulted, and two of my veterinary colleagues who have seen it ... we all have concluded that the gap & pockets are still too deep to be putting honey in there ... again, especially given that it is fly season. When the gap/pocket fills in more, then it will be useful.

For the time being, the wet-to-dry bandaging is doing a good job, and the shoulder guard is (mostly) keeping him away from it and keeping the flies away from it.

[silk]

Exudate is definitely a good reason to change dressings.

When my mare's wound got drier, in order to get longer time between bandage changes, I just had to use more product to gain that lubrication factor ie extra lanolin on the paraffin gauze strips.

Re: honey and deep wounds - you can actually mix it with water to dissolve and use that to lightly spritz the wound before applying the rest of your dressing.

I'll see if I can find records of the person who's horse did exactly the same thing, also on a gate gudgeon.

[Benatus]

I am so sorry you had to go through this.

More healing thoughts!

[DJR]

What a difference 24 hrs makes re: Finn’s wound. This is day 25 to yesterday, day 26!

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[blob]

So glad to see continuous improvement. And the Aug 5th picture really does look so much calmer than the day before. It's hard to tell from the picture, but how it overall swelling of the shoulder?

[DJR]

So glad to see continuous improvement. And the Aug 5th picture really does look so much calmer than the day before. It's hard to tell from the picture, but how it overall swelling of the shoulder?

It’s actually very good. He never even stocked up down that leg, which I am amazed at.

[StraightForward]

It is amazing to watch something like this heal. You're doing a fabulous job with this. Jingles for continued healing (and reduction in your stress levels and time spent on wound treatment!).

[Flight]

Those pics are totally gross but so good to see an improvement! He is fortunate that you have the knowledge and skill to help him out so much.

[Koolkat]

Whole lotta healin' going on! Biology is an amazing process. Good work!

[Moutaineer]

Fingers firmly crossed for you (and him!) that it continues to go down this positive path--that really is an amazing amount of healing, especially if you look back at the first injury pictures, and a testament both to your good care and that nature is indeed a wonderful thing.

[Koolkat]

Thought this was interesting:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-49219290

[Moutaineer]

Interesting, KoolKat--I could have used that after my deer vs, human incident--maybe they wouldn't have had to cut my leg open to clean it all out.

Do they use Woundvacs on horses? I think they do--that's what helped my leg to heal from the inside out without infection--but not without significant scarring.

[DJR]

It’s been almost a month since I last updated everyone on Finn’s progress. As of today, it’s been 54 days since his horrific shoulder injury. There has definitely been progress made, albeit very slow.

He is *such* a trooper and, quite astoundingly for a 5 yr old, is tolerating almost two months of stall rest with amazing aplomb. He gets excited sometimes and starts doing little mini-bucks and leaps and “airs above the ground” within his stall, but then is a perfect gentleman to take him out for his daily dressing changes and cold-hosing.

We have not started hand-walking yet because we’re waiting for the major gap in the wound to close first. Thankfully, the stall he’s in is almost 15’ square, and he very much enjoys the various enrichment activities he has at his disposal: two types of Likits, a jolly ball hanging from one of the Likits, a ball-on-a-rope toy he moves around in his stall regularly, and, his favorite, a treat ball which he has become very adept at emptying. We can often hear him banging it around from the house!

Below is another comparison photo. The Aug 5th photo was shared further up-thread. The Aug 17th photo is when we started getting into trouble with fibropurulent exudate which creates the infected membrane overtop of (and quite adherent to) the wound. I had to sedate him around then to debride the membrane down to bleeding granulation tissue (because of the infection, it was very sore hence needing to sedate him .... usually, debriding granulation tissue is a painless procedure but the infection & swelling changed that in this case). I also used that sedation to remove the stay sutures and replace them with stay “buttons”. This technique has helped in that the sutures don’t pull through as quickly.

In addition, I now use rubber bands tied to the poultice pad and use the rubber bands to wrap around the buttons; this makes dressing changes MUCH quicker. I also started using granulated sugar and/or honey at that point since the really deep pockets behind the transected muscle had closed by then. That has helped a lot, too. It’s definitely contracting more both side to side and vertically. And, there is now only one tip-of-finger sized pocket at the top right of the wound, the rest is now flush with the skin edges (yay, at long last).

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And now for something nicer to look at ... Finn’s next door stall mate, our donkey! We call him “Leon, the Prince of Uxbridge” and he is a real cutie-patootey (and quite miffed at this stall rest crap!).

Leon, the Prince of Uxbridge

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This is one of Finn’s great pleasures now ... a whole-body rub down with special focus on his shoulders (both sides) and around the withers. His face reflects pure bliss during these sessions, which I do after most dressing changes. (This photo was taken before the button technique was started. And, when he’s left alone, he is wearing a shoulder guard overtop of the dressing ... but in this photo I hadn’t put it on yet cuz skritches came first!)

Scratches

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I think it’ll be another month or more before the skin edges come together. It’s been a LONG, tedious, arduous process to date, but at least I’m seeing results. He remains sound on the leg even when he is cavorting in his stall, which is a great sign. Onward & upward!

[Chisamba]

Great!!

[Josette]

WOW!! What an incredible start to almost finished healing progress of this injury. I have never seen buttons used this way but it is a very creative method for bandage coverage and changes. Sending more jingles for speedy recovery - almost there!

[KathyK]

This is a real testament to your veterinary skills, creativity, patience, and tenacity.

[StraightForward]

That is looking great, thank you for the update. Also, Leon has the cutest donk nose, glad he is there keeping Finn company!

[heddylamar]

Those skritches are VERY important!! <3

The buttons are ingenious! Less stress on Finn's hide. I had one sewn to my finger to put pressure on bone fusion in a joint.

[LeoApp]

Amazing! Kudos to you and to him. This was (and still is) a rough road.

[Amado]

Looks great. I had really good luck using Manuka Honey on Rico’s terrible heel bulb laceration a couple of years ago. It’s used for non-healing bed sores. It’s got something extra in it, specific to the plant the honey comes from that helps with wound healing.

[fergusnc]

Wonderful update. And again, such amazing devotion and commitment. Everything you accomplish is just incredible. Good for you!

[DJR]

It’s now day 65 post-injury, and I have EXCELLENT news!

It’s a HAPPY DAY!!! Three things happened today:
1. Buttons removed
2. Silver spray (Aluspray) applied instead of a fixed dressing
3. Freedom from his stall, at liberty (with a shot of ACE to keep him to a dull roar), for the first time in 2-1/2 months — scroll to the next two posts for more on this!!!

At long last, the wound edges are close enough & the granulation bed is superficial enough that we’re going to try topical dressings with Aluspray and just his shoulder guard from now on. I’ve also ordered another topical product called Equaide to help with a bit of proud flesh forming at the bottom part of the wound, and to stay on the wound a bit better than Aluspray does.

Here is the wound right after removing yesterday’s dressing:

Day 65: before hosing.

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This is after hosing/cleaning, and now the buttons have been removed! (The bumpies on his skin behind the wound are just bug bites.)

Day 65: after hosing, buttons gone!

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This shows the wound in perspective ... it’s so much smaller now ... YAY!

Day 65: showing how small it is now, relatively speaking.

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Scroll down for more good news in the next post ...

[DJR]

Day 65 post-injury, and MORE EXCELLENT NEWS!!!

This evening, Finn got a chance to stretch his legs for the first time at liberty. He was super sensible about it. He had a few episodes of cavorting, but mostly just walked around, a bit of trotting, and grazed. HE IS SOUND!!! No observable hitches in his stride at any gait. YAY!!!!

Here he is enjoying the blossoms off the top of the thistle plants that have grown freely without any horses in this paddock while Finn was on stall rest. Leon, the donkey, was very happy to be let out, too.

Grazing with Leon the donkey.

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He did some trotting and he was sound. Look at that shoulder swing forward!

Beautiful trot action!

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And he cantered, so joyously!

Cantering!!

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Go down to the next post to see cavorting photos, and a couple of video links ...

[DJR]

Here is the last of 3 posts from day 65 post-injury ... this is the happiest. LOOK AT FINN’S JOY!!

He had no problems moving freely, zero bobbles in how the shoulder moved.

Lots of shoulder freedom it seems!

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His love of life is infectious!

Such a happy horse!

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Wheeee!!

Four off the floor!!

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And here are a couple of videos:

https://youtu.be/x4Ilvr04l40

https://youtu.be/abeJItknYa0

We’re on the home stretch now!

[heddylamar]

I used equaide to great success on the remnants of one of Anzia’s many puncture wounds. No scar tissue left behind.

ETA: He’s feeling GOOD!!!!

[StraightForward]

The wound looks amazing Deanna, considering what you started with. And such a happy to see Finn out enjoying himself and traveling SOUND!

[Flight]

That's sooo good!!!!!
I think having you, being able to so knowledgeably treat his wound, made all the difference.

[Josette]

Ditto what Flight said! You did an amazing job in Finn's healing and recovery. He looks GREAT!!! (and very happy to be outside!)

[Chisamba]

Yay, fantastic!

[Ryeissa]

He sure is pretty! So happy for you

[Moutaineer]

Very pleased to see this! Lucky horse!

[fergusnc]

Oh, to say I am happy for you is such an understatement! So flippin' thrilled for both you and your boy...and Leon the donkey!

[Kelo]

Congrats, Deanna!

So much hard work -- made me smile to see his "freedom" pics, you must be ecstatic.

[LeoApp]

This was such a long haul but your expertise, patience and attentiveness paid off. He looks wonderful and boisterously happy!

[DJR]

It's now day 79, and things are progressing more quickly now.

He's been out of the shoulder guard for the last three days now that it has cooled off & the bugs are far less. I'm just using Aluspray on it now and have been for the last 2 weeks since the buttons & dressings were stopped. He's been out with his friends for the past approximately 10 days and SO happy to be back with his normal group of horses. He is moving normally, two.

Here is a close-up of the wound as of today:

Close-up view.

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And here is a perspective view:

Perspective view.

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I estimate that it'll be another month until the skin edges are together (it still has a line of granulation tissue down the majority of the wound between the skin edges). In the meantime, I will be starting him back into light work. There is a hand's span of an indent mid-wound on the leading edge where the muscle is missing, so that may be permanent or he may still bridge it over time. Time will tell!

Onward & upward.

[KathyK]

Wow, it's hard to believe that's the same shoulder! Well done!

[StraightForward]

Incredible!

[piedmontfields]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing, and please keep us posted.

[LeoApp]

Wow!!

[Chisamba]

Well done

[Flight]

Very amazing. Such a good job in helping him heal.
I had a new shed built for stables and we moved some fences and gates. I showed the builder your first photos and what can horses do to themselves when he welded the gate latches sticking out. He made sure none were after that, and I doubt he ever will have them outwards again.

[blob]

this wonderful news and that shoulder looks excellent! You must both be happy to be rid of dressings and bandages and now even the shoulder guard! and of course, I'm sure it's a huge relief for you having him outside again with friends and bouncing around soundly!

[DJR]

Very amazing. Such a good job in helping him heal.
I had a new shed built for stables and we moved some fences and gates. I showed the builder your first photos and what can horses do to themselves when he welded the gate latches sticking out. He made sure none were after that, and I doubt he ever will have them outwards again.

If this horrible situation helps prevent even one similar injury, then all the documentation has been worth it.

[fergusnc]

DJR, well done! I read something recently about how important it is for the horrible things a person goes through to eventually be used/shared to help others, for the person who went through it and also for the others in the world who will undoubtably run into similar trauma. Thanks for sharing the details, but thanks also for sharing your courage and dedication. Sometimes it is really easy to think "I just can't handle one more life-altering thing" with horses...and I'm learning that it is OK if that is really a person's truth...but when you want to keep fighting but just don't think you can reach your boot straps to pull yourself up yet again, seeing the amazing things others find a way to pull off can be encouraging and can help a person keep going.

I'm so glad for your boy's great progress. It really is amazing. And so glad you and he both got through all that intense care and stall time.

[acheyarcher]

This thread serves as encouragement to anyone who thinks it would not be possible. Highest praise to your vet, yourself your support barn and you lovely horse.

[Kyra's Mom]

Wow...Amazing work from you and Finn.

Susan

[DJR]

It’s now 85 days since Finn’s gruesome injury, and ... we have skin edge contact!!!

He’s been out full-time now for the last 3 weeks or so and hasn’t looked back. He is sound at all three gaits. In this photo, you can see the indent at the front edge of the upper half of the wound which is where there is a defect in the underlying muscle.

Day 85 post-injury.

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Could this whole nightmare soon be in our rear-view mirror?!!

[heddylamar]

That has healed beautifully!!