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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Oct 2011 : 6:13:13 PM
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who can give me info on it eg muscles, ligaments, tendons etc? This is a long one, sorry!
We all know Im paranoid about my horses injuring themselves. Well Velvet put her near fore through the chest part of her rug on sunday morning (no idea how!). Anyway brought her in on Monday and the outside to back of the forearm, above the knee was very hot and swollen. I cold hosed it and decided to see what it was like on tuesday.
Yesterday her whole leg was huge including her knee. Couldnt see definition of tendons in lower leg. Top part of leg was leaking also (obv from the oedema). Phoned vet and spoke to him. Told him she was walking on it but bit tender but has had 2x danilon. Swelling in lower leg did reduce a bit. He told me to bandage it, cold hose and if worse or same tomorrow (ie today) he would come out.
So today, lower leg not quite as swollen but still cant see outline of tendons. Knee huge and the forearm not as hot, no leaking but still very swollen. Thought it best he came out cos of the knee.
He was pressing on it and said lower leg is just oedema but the upper part on outside of upper part of knee and just above is sore when pressing. She also has a sore part on the inside higher up. Said def infection...but said cellulitis????
Cellulitis is a skin infection and yes she is very prone to it but there is no cuts whatsoever on this leg. She has a cut on her hind leg that vet (diff one) had to cut a chunk of skin off last friday and yes it has got localised infection in it. I did point this cut out so I could get antibiotics for it.
I mentioned the rug thing again but Im not sure he took it in. I think he thinks the front leg prob is related to this cut on back leg cos Im sure he muttered that he didnt understand how shes got cellulitis in front leg from the back leg. Wasnt til I was driving home I realised this.
He gave her IV antibiotics and getting same tomorrow after that hes going to give me an antibiotic liquid. I cant be about tomorrow cos Im doing 12 and half hours in the hospital so the yo is going to hold her for me. Was going to say to her to sort of remind him the front leg is from the rug.
What Im afraid of is he said it prob best to let her walk about in a school or something but what if its an injury to a ligament?
Am I doing my paranoia thing again?
Regards
a worried paranoid mum to a horse thats a danger to herself
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sub
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1919 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2011 : 7:21:26 PM
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Its entirely possible that it is cellulitus - the skin was broken when the oedema burst.
It only takes a bit of bacteria to trigger the infection and if your mare is prone to it.
I've had cellulitus myself and its very painful - mine took 8 days to clear on IV antibiotics!
I don't think your mare will have damaged a ligament.
The heat and swelling is more than likely from bruising to the soft tissue around the forearm and the resulting oedema.
Exercise will help with the swelling and I would hope the vet will give you 7 days worth of antibiotics to clear teh infection. |
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gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2011 : 09:13:19 AM
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| ive had 2 instances in the last month, first horse somehow got hind leg through beely strap and had been trying to moved around field all night, causing extreme swelling and a huge burn mark, her rear back leg was the size of her bum from top to bottom and burning, i didnt hose i used arnica gel, gave antib's and bute for 2 days, i didnt get vet out but got advice over the phone, he advised to let her stay out walking as this helps dramaticly and it did, the second instance was my old welshie who got a rear leg wrapped around leg strap and the knee, and had puncture so fluid oozing out, she was really limping and hopping lame, vet came out and advised to keep out to walk around again and also administer danilon and antibs, they are now both back to normal.i agree with sub, heat and swelling can be normal and sometimes a protector of ligaments etc. |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2011 : 10:42:31 AM
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| I also agree that the swelling is most likely from the cellulitis and not ligament damage, having a tight strap or rug caught round a limb is going to cause enough trauma to the skin and soft tissue to make it swell, hope she recovers soon. |
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2011 : 11:45:41 AM
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Cellulitis isn't a skin infection; it is when the infection has gone through the skin into the deeper tissues, hence the extreme pain and swelling, and needs to be treated seriously. You vet was correct to give her an antibiotic jab and she must have follow up antibiotice for at least a week, he should have given you sachets to add to her feed.
When Taz damaged his eye badly he was on IV antibiotics for a few days at the vets and then 2 weeks of oral antibiotics even though the eye wasn't infected but the worry was that until it healed if it did get infected he could lose his eye.
I am sure your girl will be fine if she has plenty of antibiotics.
Barbara |
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Angelo
Junior Member
Scotland
40 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2011 : 2:43:31 PM
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Maybe Lymphangitis? This causes swelling like you describe but usually in back legs. I hope you get hes sorted out soon. |
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sub
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1919 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2011 : 4:43:34 PM
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Cellulitus is an infection of the deeper layers of skin - so by definition is classed as a skin infection. (Or at least it was when I took my exams!)
Cellulitis develops when the normally harmless bacteria living on the skin (or sometimes fungi) move down through the skin’s surface and into the dermis and subcutis through a damaged or broken area of skin, such as a cut, burn or bite.
Treatment is by antibiotics in all cases. |
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oliviaw
Bronze Member
202 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2011 : 6:51:34 PM
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| The best definition i can think of for cellulitis is an infection not in a closed capsule so can spread. The opposite of an abscess which is within a closed capsule. (thats in terms of dental infections anyway) x |
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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2011 : 8:48:35 PM
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Never thought about the skin being damaged by having it caught in the rug. I was just thinking cuts. Ive just came off a long shift but the yo text me after the vet had been. Shes been given more IV antibiotics today and left liquid for me. Shes to get 40ml x 2 daily for 7 days and see how that goes. Yo said her back legs werent as filled as expected (normally has to have them bandaged) but her front leg was still huge. She turned her out in the school for a walkabout and it came down a little.
So its now a case of waiting to see how it goes. |
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the horses forearm...
