Ain't Too Proud...

This is Anna's cut on her left knee from Iney kicking the snot out of her.  She popped the stitches Frances had sewn.  I called Frances and she said it was ok, just keep it clean and be careful of proud flesh.  HUH?  What in the world is that?  Well, I researched it, and the picture below illustrates what proud flesh is.  It's basically just an over accumulation of granular tissue on a wound, typically below the knees or hocks on horses.  It can cause a lot of damage if left untreated and the treatment varies from meat tenderizer, to prescribed medications, caustic agents (Furazone), to surgery.  I noticed Anna's wound was looking a bit "proud" and thought I'd try to fight it off as best as I can.  I put her in her stall, pulled out the stitches and went to work...

 I put some Furazone on it after cleaning it and then vet wrapped it.

 I came home that evening and found that the wrap slacked, and the wound was dirty.  Yuck.

So, I washed it off.  Lots of hydrotherapy is recommended.  We do it 2x a day.  I think Anna likes it.  In one of my vet books I read about spider bandaging.  It is a great bandage for knees and hocks as they move so much.  So, I set out and looked for a unused pillowcase, and did this!  (See below) 

 

I put some triple antibiotic cream on the wound and covered it.

 Put a stylish quilted pad over it.  I didn't want to spend the $$ on a set of 4, so I made some with leftover fleece and flannel I had.  I have to say, I was quite impressed on how well they turned out!!!  Maybe a tutorial later????

 And started braiding the pillow case down her leg.  The spider bandage looks intimidating, but it's not.  VERY simple.  I also You Tube'd it to see EXACTLY how to do it. 

VIOLA!  The end result! 

 I added another quilted pad to the bottom and wrapped a polo wrap around it like a standing wrap.  I made the wraps as well out of fleece.**NOTE of caution!  Wrap from the inside out to avoid tendon compressions.** I pinned it twice.  Very secure and VERY fashionable!

 Anna inspects her new leg wear.  So far, so good!  I have some Equaide on the way, so I'll start treating with that as soon as it comes in.  Sometimes I wish I had become a vet.  I just don't think I could have put animals to sleep though.  *sigh* 

A Pain In the Butt...Part 1

**CAUTION!  SOME PICTURES BELOW ARE GRAPHIC!  IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE SIGHT OF BLOOD OR HORSE'S PRIVATE PARTS, DON'T CONTINUE!**

 Shannon had the day off and I asked him to put the horses (Anna, pictured above & Iney) in the foaling stall since the farrier was coming to put shoes on them.  Being a good husband, he did what I told him to.  lol  Just kidding!  He did though.  We were eating dinner on the porch waiting for the farrier to show up and we heard a racket in the barn.  We ran out to see what was going on.  Anna was practically climbing the walls and circling, and Iney was agitated.  Shannon opened the stall door and Anna flew out.  Shannon noticed immediately she was bleeding.  She was gushing blood from her va-jay-jay, and her knee.  Her nose was really scuffed up, too.  I called Frances, our trusty vet and great friend.  She was on the way.  Luckily, she lives next door!

 Anna's knee...

Her bits...

 Frances sedated her, numbed her and started stitching her up.  Nothing ruffles Frances' feathers.  I was a ball of nerves, and was in charge of holding Iney while the farrier put shoes on her, while Frances worked. 

 Anna had a tear on the outside of her vulva Frances stitched up.

 The after effects...

 Frances stitched up inside her va-jay-jay.

 She stitched up her knee...

 Her nose and band-aid (as Pyper pointed out).

Her nose.  Pyper said she needed TWO band-aids.  We figured that while in the foaling stall, Iney, being the dominate mare, kicked the snot out of poor Anna.  That's what caused all the damage.  Mean Iney!  I went over the foaling stall to see what could have torn her bits all to pieces, but found nothing.  Frances says a kick can do major damage as well.  Shannon and I were both thinking we would have to take her to Va Tech.  Luckily, we have Frances.  She isn't sure if she'll ever be able to breed again, but only time will tell.  She was given Bute (an anti-inflammatory) and pasture rest, away from Iney.  Her stitches will need to be taken out in 2 weeks.  Whew.  That was scary!