Horse First Aid? [vanity]

HairOfTheDog

[HairOfTheDog]

My horse Bay tripped and fell down tonight on trail up in the forest and has two skinned knees. I walked him back to the creek and washed them there, and rode him out, they are not overly tender to the touch and he didn't limp at all or seem slowed down by it on the flat. He was perhaps much more careful and slow going down hill on the way home, so I think they do hurt.

But they look like skinned knees. Was on gravel, so there are some deeper cuts within the skinned area which is about two inches square on both knees

He also has a gravel scrape on his back ?knee? - the point on his hind leg in the front where it connects to his body - That may be swelling but is not from serious cuts, I think it is more bruised.

Question is, should I wrap his knees? I cleaned them well with the hose when we got home 1/2 hour ago, and globbed Nitrofurazone on them and put him in stall... They didn't bleed much ever.

My horseman friend Bob said don't wrap it - leave it open so he can bend his knees. I would feel better if I wrapped them but that is just to please me. I don't know what the right thing to do is for sure. I do have gauze and vet wraps. And I think Bob is the type to not over-doctor. He's a cowboy.

What should I do about the hind quarter?

(Oh I wish my camera would work so I could take pictures.... it is on the fritz)

I left a message with my vet's answering service.... no call back yet.

He went all the way down on his side.... so fast I didn't even know it was coming. He laid on my right leg, not for very long.... and my ankle hurts a little and may swell a bit. I rapped the back of my head pretty good but I just have a little headache.... I am fine.

Any recommendations?

[HairOfTheDog]

OK - he is all doctored... I took some extra time to rub his face, which he likes. I don't want him to hate me after this!

Yes, I do hope I can fix my camera!

[Inge_CAV]

You have mail. : )

[alexandria]

The stallion you had/have is beautiful, you can kind of see that unusual gait in one of the shots. Bay is also very nice looking, reminds me of my Quarter gelding I had about 10 yrs. ago. I bought him when he was around 3 and broke and trained him myself. Bay is a more unusual color though looks almost like a dark Dun? Anyway read your post about the spray, poor thing it might very well sting but maybe also could be the sound? The hiss of a spray can is very unnerving for most horses especially when an injury is present. I'm sure though that you are aware of this already. Have a good day.

[HairOfTheDog]

hehehehe - Yes... he hates everything about the spray, the sting of it and the sound of it!

Bay is a light bronzy color... Doesn't have a dun stripe though, but I have seen duns that aren't any darker than he is...

My stallion is long gone I am afraid. He was 14 in those pictures and I am not much older in them. 20 years ago now. (I told you they were really ancient history! LOL!)

[B4Ranch]

Slosh the wounds with some Betadine Solution or Cut Heal, give him a hug and quit worrying about minor scrapes. You can also cover the just the wound with a cloth, spray bug repellant on the upper and lower leg then take the cloth off. That works good for keeping the bugs away. The leg will stink too much for the bugs to want to get near the wound.

For your ankle, take a couple of asprin, put the ice on for 30 minutes then take it off for 30 minutes, repeat until the swelling subsides.

[andysandmikesmom]

Hi there HairoftheDog...you know I dont know anything about horses, but you know how I love all animals, and was so sad to see that your dear horse got hurt...and I know how badly you must feel....

So I am thinking good thoughts, and crossing my fingers, and saying a little prayer, and hope all that along with meds, and doctoring and vet visits will return your horse to good health....

Its true, here on FR, we have mostly cat and dog lovers(of which I am one), but I have known many horse lovers, and their love for their horses, is just as deep and full as can be....

I will keep looking at this thread for updates, and expect to see your horse, fully recovered....take care...

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, thanks, and I may tend to baby my horse, but these are not minor scrapes... Horses are nothing without legs! His knees took a hit worth worrying about. After two days on bute his right knee is still as big as a grapefruit, and the vet is coming out tomorrow.

I would rather over-worry than under-worry.

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks a&mm! - He will get better, I hope quickly! Yes I do worry about him!

[B4Ranch]

There's not too many folks that I know who don't baby their horses. Sometimes we overwork them but we make up for it, don't we?

I hope all turns out well.

[Inge_CAV]

Good Morning! : )

Bumping for a progress report and hoping the healing process is moving right along.

[HairOfTheDog]

Good morning and thanks for asking!

Swelling is down a bit today in his knees! - The wounds look good I think. Still a bit more troubled by the right knee than the left. (still can't take pictures - can't find anyone who repairs them - dang)

A new thing I discovered was a bit of puffiness and a minor scrape over his eye that I didn't notice until I was investigating why is eye was watering yesterday. Guess he whacked his face a bit too.

The vet is coming out this afternoon for a checkover and the West Nile booster. Will let you know what he says!

Think I should buy Bay some of these?

Knee & Brushing Boots The ultimate boot for horses where the footing is unsure. Manufactured from extra thick high quality neoprene. The boot is both a brushing boot with a cushioned PVC strike pad and a knee boot with a hardened knee pad for extra protection.

Black Cob or Full

£26.75

[Inge_CAV]

Those look good but wouldn't they interfere with the cooling effect of blood flow through a horse's legs? Kinda like an athlete wearing neoprene. The idea is great though.

[HairOfTheDog]

I use to use splint boots religiously (they didn't cover the knees though) made of neoprene when I rode hunter jumpers. They really do protect them from striking their inside splint with their own feet when running and jumping.

I quit using them on trail because I had a bad experiences in mud and water where mud and dirt got under the boots and acted like sandpaper. It's an idea, though, if I want to prevent this particular injury, or even use when I start riding him again until they are fully healed. Another fall soon might be worse than the first.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yes they do sweat under them though I never worried about that aspect of it.

[Inge_CAV]

That would be a good use for them to protect him from further harm while healing. Like you, I would be leery of dirt inside of them and the sandpaper effect.

Very busy at work today, and this is my lunch time. : (

[HairOfTheDog]

I am supposed to be very busy too... too busy to play. Have a lot to do.

I was never here! ;~D

[HairOfTheDog]

Vet came and was pleased with how his knees are healing. The swelling has gone down even since this morning from the Bute. It might be the right size by tomorrow or the next day.

He had scratches in both eyes that were making them watery and puffy. He managed to get sand in both eyes.

[Inge_CAV]

"I was never here! ;~D"

LOL! : )

[Inge_CAV]

That is good news on the healing and I will bet his eyes were watering. He did have a rough weekend. You will have to be extra nice to him the next few weeks. : )

[HairOfTheDog]

I plan on being nice to him for at least the next few weeks! Taking things easy for a while!