Help! Casper's got a new wound! *Updated*

[amby]

Alrighty, so the horse is at it again. I have learned to bandage and coat most of his wounds, however he has pulled a new one on me.
Yesterday, when I was grooming, I found a piece of wood about the diameter of a toothpick or a bit larger in the side of his neck under his mane. I pulled it out and didn't think anything of it. There was a small not but I thought it'd go down.
Yesterday nite it was about the size of a golfball. This morning it was about twice as big.
There is not drainage.
One of the barn managers thinks it will go down. One wants me to find the scab,scrub it off, and clean it out with water and peroxide.
I just don't want him to abscess.

So what do yall think??

I swear, this horse could live in a padded stall and would still manage to get himself hurt.
LOL but we love him anyways,!!

[saddlebredlover]

Are you sure all of the wood came out? We had one of the horses I trail ride get the same thing in his neck a few weeks ago, but his never swelled up. It had been there for a little while too (a day or so) because serum was draining around it.

Since it has swelled up that big, my guess is that there's either something left in there, or it's gotten infected and needs to drain. You could try finding the scab and pick it off and press on it some to see if anything comes out. If it does, I would try warm compresses on the site to encourage it to drain.

Now where did I put that bubblewrap.....

[tinypony]

i also suggest cleaning it out - if there is nothing left in there then pulling a scab off and cleaning it won't do any damage where if you just leave it there could be serious problems later on...... keep us updated!!!!!

[amby]

You're right about the bubble wrap saddlebredlover. lol
I called my vet and he agreed, take temp pull scab, press then put DMSO on it) Well, after checking temp (no fever YAY) and pulling scap (and a small thorn/wood something near the scap) and pressing as much as he could stand, (no pus, and VERY little blood) I went to the vets to talk. Got some Antibiotics and bute (we hope that will kill whatever infection there might be and take the swelling down.) So, how is it that you are supposed to give 10 pills twice a day to a horse? Especially one as finicky as mine?? I think tomorow we are going to try the method of dissovling the in a bit of hot water, then mixing it with karo syrup and putting it in a wormer or bute syringe....

Also, interesting side note.....Dr. Vaughn said we might consider not turning him out except in the arena.......just letting him out there for about an hour a day and then also working him......I hate to keep him inside, but he needs a stable pasture where the horses don't change...and with it being a fairly busy DIY boarding barn, the horses outside change from day to day.....that's why he gets cut up so much!! I really don't want to move him, cause this place is economical time and money wise. It is the most sophisticated barn in the area for facilities. Hot water wash racks and a lit and covered arena are nice for those of us who can't always ride/wash at the best times. So I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with him!!

[cheri]

Well, if the barn fits the budget and is the better of those in a nice time frame, follow what the vet says. Turn him out for a while in the arena and work him before you put him back in his stall. Keep him exercised and he should adjust just fine.

[twnpnds]

Here's what a friend did to get her horse to take her pills. She crushed the pills. Then she heated up about a fourth of a cup of molasses in the microwave. Don't get it too hot. She mixed the pills in the molasses, let it sit a few minutes, then poured it over her horses feed and mixed it just a little on the top. Her horse took it willingly. Good luck.

[devotee]

I've got the finickiest horses on the continent and I don't even bother trying to mix up sulfa tabs in palatable concoctions (say, applesauce with molasses, brown sugar, sweetfeed) any more. They won't eat it. Period. I squash the tablets with a mortar and pestle (or meat pounder) and then dilute them in applesauce and water. Then I suck it up in an oral syringe (a turkey baster will do in a pinch) and squirt it into their mouths just like paste wormer. Good luck!

Btw, as far as keeping horses up goes, I strongly favor turnout as a strategy for keeping horses happy and healthy. Rick (at Friesians 4 USA) cites some studies that show colic incidences are significantly reduced for horses who have long daily turnout. (I think he says 12 hours, but mine don't get THAT much.) Check his site, if you want to read what he says. That said, we all do the best we can for our horses with what we have. And their lives are better for our efforts.

[amby]

Well, I managed to squirt the antibiotics and bute into him this morning. It looked like it was draining a little bit. I went ahead and turned him out, cause I just hate to leave him in all day. And when I got him back up to remedicate and feed, THE SWELLING WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE!! YAY!! I have to wonder, can antibiotics work THAT fast??? It was only 9 hours! Anyways, I'm going to continue cleaning it out and giving him the antibiotics until we run out, just to rule out infection. Thanks for all of your suggestions. (And YES, he did have new cuts when I brought him in, two on his face!!)
I can't help but wonder if getting cut up or being inside is better.

Maybe Diedre has some bubblewrap left!! LOL

[devotee]

Hi Amby. That's great news! The turn-out should facilitate swelling reduction, yes. Exercise will improve circulation and help reduce swelling. Antibiotics do sometimes seem to work quickly, too, but you're right to finish up the full course of pills. Good job!

As far as "collateral damage" goes, most horses will learn in time to stop doing the things that cause them injury. Casper, dear, let's see that learning curve!