Today Ozzie looked great. He got a full grooming, some massage, a full scratch session on his mane. Some anti-itch stuff applied to his tail (we are gonna do a worming dose for pinworms). We walked twice around the barns cause he walked so well, and just wanted to get out.
Ozzie and I are really getting to know each other. Perhaps that is the silver lining of all of this. Me learning I've got to be the boss, even when he is hurt. He is learning he can let me touch his injury and know I won't hurt him. He is comfy with me lifting the hurt leg now. He even lets me put visine in his eyes (a great tip from Vicky to combat the itch and swelling from the flies), yes he wears that fabulous fly mask, BUT he and his next door neighbor pull each others off - We found Peppers fly mask at the bottom of the water trough. I'm also learning all about his body meaning.. how his muscles feel, where he likes to be scratched (his mane). We are getting into a new rhythm.
The swelling is nearly all gone - most of it has been resting in his knee, but it almost matches his other leg. And the other leg is looking good, not too much stress. He puts full weight on the injured leg no problem as he eats, stands etc.
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| Wed. May 7. Flashy Fly Mask and all. |
But a couple days ago the little cut on his leg re-opened. Maybe he itched it with his teeth, or maybe there was some proud flesh going on in there and it busted out. I don't know if that actually happens, but it was a thought I had. For any non horsey folk, (warning - this is a very unscientific and probably mostly wrong description, but it's how I understand it) proud flesh is when flesh from underneath gets a bit proud and pushes out, it can get really ugly looking, and come out over the skin, it is just a nuisance to deal with and I think can slow down the healing of that spot. And can lead to a nasty scar, we try to keep the proud flesh to a minimum and get rid of it so the outer layers of skin can heal properly. So we put some meat tenderizer powder on it. Yep, same stuff you put on your steak.
I'm giving it one more day before I mess with that stuff. Today I washed it well with Betadine, and Ozzie loved the hosing off of his leg. Applied some antibiotic ointment on the wound and then some SWAT - fly repellant ointment on it and around it. I'll see how it looks tomorrow to know for sure if the flesh is getting proud.
I'd love some input on how you actually confirm that it is in fact proud flesh.
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| Wed. May 7 - legs nearly match. Knee swelling way down |
He walked out great today, maybe too good. We went twice around the barn cause I figured he could use the "fresh air." He wanted to walk a lot faster than I was letting him. And I got a couple reports of him moving around fast in his stall, and of him kicking the pipes. Urgh, Ozzie be good.
Started him on some pro-biotics today to counter act the antibiotics he took.
He continues to look too good to be hurt. Shiny, slicked out with his summer coat.
I'm thinking that I'll have the vet out at 30 days to do another xray to confirm that the fracture is improving, and hopefully get clearance for a lot of handwalking. Then find out - if all is looking good - when he might get clearance to go back into his BIG paddock.
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