We'd like to get this week started by highlighting our 'Case of the Month' series from our Facebook page. This was a case we saw in the hospital back in July and it highlights how serious puncture wounds to the foot can be. If you have any questions regarding this case you can post them here or email us at legacyequinehospital@gmail.com. You can also view the information on our Facebook page by clicking here.
July Case of the Month
This QH gelding presented to our clinic 5/5 (non weight bearing) five days after the owner found a D-cell battery
in poking into the sole of his left front foot. The owner removed the foreign object and
placed the gelding on antibiotics and administered a Tetanus Toxoid
vaccine and an anti-inflammatory. His condition continued to worsen
which is why the owner brought him to us. During the examination, hoof testers were applied to check for the presence of an abscess,
which was absent. A skin scrub was applied so that a local nerve block could be performed. Once the nerve block was performed,
radiographs were taken of the foot to ensure there was no remaining
foreign material left in the foot. After radiographs, a sterile scrub was
performed for a coffin joint tap to check infection. Joint fluid filled the syringe spontaneously (indicating an increased amount of fluid) and the fluid was thick, cloudy and discolored
indicative of infection. Normal joint fluid should be clear, light
straw colored and the consistency of warm honey. A laboratory joint
analysis was performed on the joint fluid which revealed a very high
increase of white blood cells, protein and bacteria. A joint lavage was
performed and a one liter bag of saline was flushed through the entire
coffin joint. Once the joint lavage was finished, a concentrated dose
of antibiotics was placed in the joint and a bandage applied over the
injection sites to keep them clean. Regional perfusion was then
performed on the left front leg to help deliver concentrated antibiotics
to the distal limb. This regimen was continued for three days along
with the horse being on oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Due
to financial constraint, the owner took the horse home and continued him on
oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Several days later, we called the owner to check on the gelding's progress and the owner
stated that he was not doing well and would likely put him down the following day.
It is extremely important to know whenever you find a foreign object in your horses foot, DO NOT REMOVE IT! Call your veterinarian immediately so they can examine your horse and determine the proper course of treatment. By removing the foreign object, the doctor will have no way of knowing whether or not the object punctured something vital in the hoof.
CAUTION: THESE PHOTOS MAY CONTAIN GRAPHIC MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES
It is extremely important to know whenever you find a foreign object in your horses foot, DO NOT REMOVE IT! Call your veterinarian immediately so they can examine your horse and determine the proper course of treatment. By removing the foreign object, the doctor will have no way of knowing whether or not the object punctured something vital in the hoof.
CAUTION: THESE PHOTOS MAY CONTAIN GRAPHIC MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES
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