Thursday 30 December 2010
234. Cheaper medication...
Having searched around the internet for the antibiotics Spice is on and purchased in excess of 16 bottles worth i can thoroughly recommend petdrugsonline.co.uk who although not the cheapest are by far the most helpful and friendly and also live right on my doorstep which comes in handy. Further afield i can recommend: petmeds.co.uk and myvetmeds.co.uk both of whom i found to be very reasonably priced.
233. Is it too late...?
Having read just about everything i can on bone infections the one re-occurring point i keep finding is that if a bone infection is evident on an x-ray (as Spices was) then it is usually to late to treat especially if near other important structures such as a joint. I'd like to believe this wasn't the case but Spices rate of improvement since the first major improvement has been so slow. She is still noticeably lame in trot even though she has now been on antibiotics for almost 4 weeks so whilst i think the infection has definitely been arrested i still don't think it has completely cleared and can't say i'm all that optimistic that it will...:(
Tuesday 28 December 2010
232. Piling on the pounds...
Due to Spice not being all that active (due to still being lame) she has started to get a bit porky so on the vets advice (due to the fact that she is on no hard feed and only has a moderate amount of haylage) she is now to stay un rugged at night to help her shed those excess pounds. She is stabled at night so it wont do her any harm to be kept naked but to be honest it is only in the past two weeks that i have actually started to rug her at night (due to temperatures being below freezing) so i'm not sure how much difference this will make. Hopefully the lameness will subside and she will become naturally more active and shed the weight that way. At the moment she is still lame in trot but the vet is pleased with her progress and remains hopeful...
Friday 24 December 2010
231. Should vets be allowed to make a mark up on drugs?
At the beginning of Spices treatment for her bone infection i was informed by the vet that she would need to be on antibiotics for at least 6-8 weeks and that per day the antibiotics would cost at least £10.00-£20.00's. This being the case the overall treatment cost would be between £560.00 - 1020.00's plus any additional check ups needed and X rays. Having already been billed £600's for previous veterinary treatment for the same problem the prospect of having to spend an additional £1000's was rather worrying to say the least...
What i found shocking about this initial visit was that at no time did the vet inform me that the antibiotics could be prescribed and purchased for a third of the cost.
Fortunately, although i had no insurance i knew i could afford to go ahead with the treatment either with or without a prescription but i wondered how many other owners had perhaps faced the same scenario and felt they had no option but to end their horses life due to lack of finances. Would a vet actually let this happen? or would they make the owner aware of the options?
If purchased from a vet the antibiotics Spice is currently on cost £30.00's a bottle but if prescribed and purchased on the internet they cost less than £10.00's meaning vets are making a mark up of 200%!
My question is...Is it morally and ethically correct to withhold information which may affect ones decision to either continue treating their horse or cease treating their horse given that the consequences could mean life or death?
What i found shocking about this initial visit was that at no time did the vet inform me that the antibiotics could be prescribed and purchased for a third of the cost.
Fortunately, although i had no insurance i knew i could afford to go ahead with the treatment either with or without a prescription but i wondered how many other owners had perhaps faced the same scenario and felt they had no option but to end their horses life due to lack of finances. Would a vet actually let this happen? or would they make the owner aware of the options?
If purchased from a vet the antibiotics Spice is currently on cost £30.00's a bottle but if prescribed and purchased on the internet they cost less than £10.00's meaning vets are making a mark up of 200%!
My question is...Is it morally and ethically correct to withhold information which may affect ones decision to either continue treating their horse or cease treating their horse given that the consequences could mean life or death?
230. Perhaps it will be a happy new year afterall...
It has now been almost 3 weeks since Spice started her course of antibiotics for her bone infection and bit by bit she seems to be improving. She is still lame in trot but looks to be far more comfortable in walk and her hock is now far less swollen and only slightly warm to touch. We wont know that the infection has been killed completely until Spice has finished her course of antibiotics in 5 weeks time and shows no signs of the infection re-occurring for at least a month so we are still a long way off and by no means out of danger but at least we are seeing some improvement which for now is enough to put my mind at rest and feel a bit more positive about the new year...
Friday 17 December 2010
229. Swab Results...
Because the swab was taken the day after Spice had been injected with her first lot of antibiotics the swab results have come back negative i.e no bacteria was able to be cultured which isn't a lot of help but the vet seems to think that she is on the right antibiotic as Pen & Strep apparently covers most of the bacterias most commonly found in bone infections and due to there being some improvement she thinks it is working. However, since last Thursday Spices condition hasn't improved, - she is still resting her leg and is still lame in trot. If there is no improvement whatsoever over the next 12 days which will be almost 4 weeks since the antibiotics were started the vet has said that the chances of Spice making a full recovery would be very slim and that even if the antibiotics were to completely clear the infection she could well be lame for the rest of her life... I am still hoping for a miracle but at the same time trying to prepare myself for the worst.
Wednesday 15 December 2010
228. Still no swab results...
Yesterday the vet rang me to let me know that the results of the swab would not be back until friday due to the sample only having just arrived at the laboratory due to being delayed in the post. Would have thought something as important as this might have been sent via a guaranteed next day delivery service but obviously not...Spice is still resting her leg in stand and although walks quite soundly is still lame in trot. I think she knows she is ill. She has lost her 'flighty energy' that at times made her difficult to handle and is now calm and quiet most of the time. The worst thing is she is still so affectionate towards me which in a sense makes it a lot harder because in some ways i feel as though i've failed her and that i don't deserve her affections - if only i'd known more about this kind of injury at the beginning of this process perhaps we would not be in this situation. I know i've tried my best and i know all the vets did their best but the fact is we all failed Spice through lack of knowledge and inexperience and the only real victim in this is Spice and yet she still continues to trust, respect and love me more than ever and i realize i may just be losing the most loyal friend i ever had...
Monday 13 December 2010
227. Am i just fighting a losing battle...?
Today i am a bit disheartened because although the swelling has gone down lots Spice has once again started to rest her leg again when standing - although she doesn't seem to be at all sensitive when i touch it. There is no longer any discharge coming from the wound but this may be because the granulation tissue which has formed form at the wounds entrance is preventing it from escaping...I spoke to the vet today who said that we should have the results of the swab back tomorrow in order to assess whether or not we are administering the correct antibiotic but in my heart of hearts i can't help but think the infection has become too severe and that even with the of strongest antibiotics we could be fighting a losing battle...
Saturday 11 December 2010
226. Showjumping...
As a nice break away from all the problems i have with Spice i went to watch my friend go jumping on her horse today....who when she first bought her just a few months ago stood at 15.2hh but now stands at 16.2hh! That's warmbloods for you...
225. Update...
It has now been 5 days since Spice started her course of antibiotics and she definitely seems to be improving - she is no longer taking the weight off of her leg whilst standing and is not lame in walk but is still noticeably lame in trot. There is no longer any pus coming from the wound just clear serum which is a good sign but as she is still lame it would still indicate that there is some infection/permanent damage. I am just hoping and praying that the antibiotics are able to clear the infection completely this time. Yesterday I saw the vet that treated Spice previously and she said she never suspected that the infection was that severe because Spice was never that lame but then again she wouldn't have been because she was being given painkiller and anti-inflammatories every day (as prescribed by the very same vet) which was obviously masking any lameness. Hence the reason why the vet i have at the moment only gave Spice a pain killer for the first day purely to make her more comfortable but after this stopped due to wanting to be able to tell whether or not the antibiotics were actually working.
I wish i'd have found the vet i am using right now a lot sooner as i feel both myself and Spice would not be in the situation we are in if i had and sadly it may now be too late for even if Spice does recover she may never be completely sound again.
Sadly it seems that me and spice are not the first to fall victim to a wound such as this - i know my last livery yard lost a horse under similar circumstances and after reading the following article almost definitely wont be the last....
Infections in joints and tendon sheaths are all too common conditions in horses and ponies. Unfortunately if treated incorrectly they are often career threatening and occasionally, if the infection is not brought under controlled, can result in the horse being put down. The key to a successful outcome is prompt recognition and aggressive treatment, and following this many horses return to full athletic function.
Wounds are the most common cause of joint infection. These often occur following a kick or the horse getting trapped in wire. Bacteria may also enter a joint via a blood borne route (haematogenous spread), which particularly happens in foals when they have not received enough colostrum in the first few hours of life. On very rare occasions infection can also be introduced following the injection of drugs into a joint.
The most commonly infected joints in the horse are the hock, fetlock, elbow, knee, coffin, and stifle joints. The digital sheath (windgall), extensor tendon sheaths (over the front of the knee and hock) and the tarsal sheath (thoroughpin) are the most commonly infected tendon sheaths.
In the early stages following a penetrating wound, the joint may merely be contaminated by the introduced foreign material (e.g. hair, grit) and the bacteria. The horse very quickly mounts an acute inflammatory reaction in response to this but unfortunately, the bacteria readily overcome these defenses and colonises the various parts of the joint. The presence of the bacteria and foreign material also leads to activation of various mediators that stimulates a rapid influx of the horse’s own white blood cells into the joint. These then start to release destructive enzymes that result in damage to the articular cartilage and synovial membrane (the lining of the joint). This leads to further release of enzymes and so a continuing cycle of joint destruction occurs. It has been found in some infected joints that 45% of some articular cartilage components are lost within 2 days. If left untreated a total loss of articular cartilage and osteomyelitis (infection of the adjacent bone) quickly follows. Often more than one type of bacteria can be involved in an infected joint.
Horses with an infected joint tend to be very painful and are often virtually non-weight bearing on the affected limb. The joint is usually very distended and synovial fluid may emerge from the wound edges.
There are several things that a vet can do to confirm whether a joint has been penetrated, including the detection of joint penetration on the examination of the wound, (indicated by the emergence of synovial fluid from the wound), if this is not present the vet may distend the joint with saline, at a site distant to the wound, and look for fluid coming from the wound, or he/she may also take a sample of joint fluid and have it analysed. The latter is the most accurate way to determine joint infection. Occasionally X-rays and/or ultrasound scanning may be used to help detect joint infection.
Treatment should be started as soon as possible following the diagnosis of an infection. The aims of treatment are: to eliminate the bacteria that are causing the problem; to remove any introduced foreign material; to restore a normal joint environment as quickly as possible (infected joints are more acidic than normal joints); to avoid any resultant joint degeneration; and to prevent spread of infection, both locally and systemically throughout the body. The two most important parts of treatment are the use of antibiotics and lavage (flushing) of the infected joint or sheath. Antibiotics are usually given either intravenously or intramuscularly. In addition to this sponges or beads or adjacent local veins may to used to get higher concentration of antibiotics into the affected joint. Antibiotics alone to treat a joint infection are very rarely effective because insufficient levels end up in the acidic environment of an infected joint and because antibiotics are is not particularly good at penetrating the surrounding damaged tissues. Obviously antibiotics alone cannot remove the grit, hair and dirt that are found in many infected joints.
The other vital part of treatment is lavage of the joint. Lavage removes much of the introduced bacteria, foreign material and the excessive protein build up (in many cases pus) and it also restores the pH in the joint to a normal level, allowing the antibiotics to work. Joint lavage should ideally be carried out by arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) because this provides the best technique to visualise the joint, remove debris, deliver high volumes of fluid, and to breakdown adhesions. With the use of keyhole surgery the surgeon can also use small-motorised equipment (less than 4.5 mm in diameter) to treat any damaged or diseased tissues. The design of the keyhole equipment means that virtually all areas of the joint can be inspected and fluid can be delivered at rates of up to ¾ litre per minute. This creates an excellent way to remove damaged and infected tissues. Rather than keyhole surgery lavage can occasionally be undertaken through needles or via the use of drains. These methods have largely been superseded by the use of keyhole surgery because of its greater ability to view the entire joint and the ability to use the hand and motorised equipment. They are a lot less successful. Following the joint flush the vet will monitor the response to treatment by walking and trotting the horse at regular intervals and possibly taking repeat samples of joint fluid. The antibiotic may well be changed and/or a second joint flush undertaken if the horse does not improve in 3 to 4 days.
Prognosis of infections like these are dependent on prompt recognition, aggressive therapy, quick alteration of the treatment based on close monitoring and good nursing. With the use of keyhole surgery and newer antibiotics many more horses return to a full and healthy life with no significant long term problems than ever occurred 10-15 years ago.
I wish i'd have found the vet i am using right now a lot sooner as i feel both myself and Spice would not be in the situation we are in if i had and sadly it may now be too late for even if Spice does recover she may never be completely sound again.
Sadly it seems that me and spice are not the first to fall victim to a wound such as this - i know my last livery yard lost a horse under similar circumstances and after reading the following article almost definitely wont be the last....
Infections in joints and tendon sheaths are all too common conditions in horses and ponies. Unfortunately if treated incorrectly they are often career threatening and occasionally, if the infection is not brought under controlled, can result in the horse being put down. The key to a successful outcome is prompt recognition and aggressive treatment, and following this many horses return to full athletic function.
Wounds are the most common cause of joint infection. These often occur following a kick or the horse getting trapped in wire. Bacteria may also enter a joint via a blood borne route (haematogenous spread), which particularly happens in foals when they have not received enough colostrum in the first few hours of life. On very rare occasions infection can also be introduced following the injection of drugs into a joint.
The most commonly infected joints in the horse are the hock, fetlock, elbow, knee, coffin, and stifle joints. The digital sheath (windgall), extensor tendon sheaths (over the front of the knee and hock) and the tarsal sheath (thoroughpin) are the most commonly infected tendon sheaths.
In the early stages following a penetrating wound, the joint may merely be contaminated by the introduced foreign material (e.g. hair, grit) and the bacteria. The horse very quickly mounts an acute inflammatory reaction in response to this but unfortunately, the bacteria readily overcome these defenses and colonises the various parts of the joint. The presence of the bacteria and foreign material also leads to activation of various mediators that stimulates a rapid influx of the horse’s own white blood cells into the joint. These then start to release destructive enzymes that result in damage to the articular cartilage and synovial membrane (the lining of the joint). This leads to further release of enzymes and so a continuing cycle of joint destruction occurs. It has been found in some infected joints that 45% of some articular cartilage components are lost within 2 days. If left untreated a total loss of articular cartilage and osteomyelitis (infection of the adjacent bone) quickly follows. Often more than one type of bacteria can be involved in an infected joint.
Horses with an infected joint tend to be very painful and are often virtually non-weight bearing on the affected limb. The joint is usually very distended and synovial fluid may emerge from the wound edges.
There are several things that a vet can do to confirm whether a joint has been penetrated, including the detection of joint penetration on the examination of the wound, (indicated by the emergence of synovial fluid from the wound), if this is not present the vet may distend the joint with saline, at a site distant to the wound, and look for fluid coming from the wound, or he/she may also take a sample of joint fluid and have it analysed. The latter is the most accurate way to determine joint infection. Occasionally X-rays and/or ultrasound scanning may be used to help detect joint infection.
Treatment should be started as soon as possible following the diagnosis of an infection. The aims of treatment are: to eliminate the bacteria that are causing the problem; to remove any introduced foreign material; to restore a normal joint environment as quickly as possible (infected joints are more acidic than normal joints); to avoid any resultant joint degeneration; and to prevent spread of infection, both locally and systemically throughout the body. The two most important parts of treatment are the use of antibiotics and lavage (flushing) of the infected joint or sheath. Antibiotics are usually given either intravenously or intramuscularly. In addition to this sponges or beads or adjacent local veins may to used to get higher concentration of antibiotics into the affected joint. Antibiotics alone to treat a joint infection are very rarely effective because insufficient levels end up in the acidic environment of an infected joint and because antibiotics are is not particularly good at penetrating the surrounding damaged tissues. Obviously antibiotics alone cannot remove the grit, hair and dirt that are found in many infected joints.
The other vital part of treatment is lavage of the joint. Lavage removes much of the introduced bacteria, foreign material and the excessive protein build up (in many cases pus) and it also restores the pH in the joint to a normal level, allowing the antibiotics to work. Joint lavage should ideally be carried out by arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) because this provides the best technique to visualise the joint, remove debris, deliver high volumes of fluid, and to breakdown adhesions. With the use of keyhole surgery the surgeon can also use small-motorised equipment (less than 4.5 mm in diameter) to treat any damaged or diseased tissues. The design of the keyhole equipment means that virtually all areas of the joint can be inspected and fluid can be delivered at rates of up to ¾ litre per minute. This creates an excellent way to remove damaged and infected tissues. Rather than keyhole surgery lavage can occasionally be undertaken through needles or via the use of drains. These methods have largely been superseded by the use of keyhole surgery because of its greater ability to view the entire joint and the ability to use the hand and motorised equipment. They are a lot less successful. Following the joint flush the vet will monitor the response to treatment by walking and trotting the horse at regular intervals and possibly taking repeat samples of joint fluid. The antibiotic may well be changed and/or a second joint flush undertaken if the horse does not improve in 3 to 4 days.
Prognosis of infections like these are dependent on prompt recognition, aggressive therapy, quick alteration of the treatment based on close monitoring and good nursing. With the use of keyhole surgery and newer antibiotics many more horses return to a full and healthy life with no significant long term problems than ever occurred 10-15 years ago.
Friday 10 December 2010
224. X Ray results...
Yesterday i had Spices hock X rayed and unfortunately it confirmed that she does have a bone infection...Whilst there are no bone fragments there is a small part of the bone which has deteriorated due to the infection and is therefore at risk of becoming detached which if being the case would need to be taken out. At this stage the vet has said that because the bone is still intact she does not think it is worth operating on as it has a chance of regenerating itself due to still having a blood supply albeit a compromised one. She has therefore suggested that we attempt to fight the infection with antibiotics alone...and basically keep our fingers crossed. I am doubtful whether the antibiotics will be able to penetrate the bone effectively as i have read that it is notoriously difficult for antibiotics to do this but i am trying my best to stay positive and hope for the best. Spice is a lot less lame than what she was four days ago but is still showing obvious signs of discomfort.
Tuesday 7 December 2010
223. An anxious wait...
Today Spice was thankfully a lot more comfortable and i was able to turn her out. However, whilst she 'appears' to be better i am under no illusions that we aren't still dealing with a very serious problem. Unfortunately the vet didn't have the right equipment to x ray her today so i am still left wondering whether she has an infection in the bone or whether she has bone fragments floating about (both of which are potential possibilities).
If there are bone fragments she will almost definitely require surgery and if there aren't it is likely that the infection has gone to the bone and she will need a strong course of antibiotics for at least 2 months. However, it is notoriously difficult to treat bone infections due to very few antibiotics actually being able to penetrate the bone and therefore be effective so even looking at the more optimistic possibility doesn't look great. The worst case scenario would be that due to infection some of the bone itself has actually died in which case i fear we will be fighting a losing battle...
At the moment she is being injected with penicilin and strep which is particularly effective in killing Staphylococcus spp - a bacteria most commonly found in bone infections but results of the swab which should come back next monday will give us a more accurate result of whether or not we are using the right antibiotic although i have read that the only antibiotics that are able to effectively penetrate the bone are baytrill and chloramphenical...
If there are bone fragments she will almost definitely require surgery and if there aren't it is likely that the infection has gone to the bone and she will need a strong course of antibiotics for at least 2 months. However, it is notoriously difficult to treat bone infections due to very few antibiotics actually being able to penetrate the bone and therefore be effective so even looking at the more optimistic possibility doesn't look great. The worst case scenario would be that due to infection some of the bone itself has actually died in which case i fear we will be fighting a losing battle...
At the moment she is being injected with penicilin and strep which is particularly effective in killing Staphylococcus spp - a bacteria most commonly found in bone infections but results of the swab which should come back next monday will give us a more accurate result of whether or not we are using the right antibiotic although i have read that the only antibiotics that are able to effectively penetrate the bone are baytrill and chloramphenical...
Monday 6 December 2010
222. Wound fully healed but lame again!
Last night which would be exactly 10 days since coming off the antibiotics we noticed that Spice looked stiff on the leg again - I thought she looked a bit stiff the day before but it was hard to tell as she was walking on snow but when we trotted her up it was obvious that she was definitely lame on it so we decided to see what she was like this morning and unfortunately she's a lot worse to the point that she can barely move and is barely able to put any weight on it whatsoever. So i had an emergency vet come out to see her (who is now the 5th vet to have seen Spice) and said it's very likely that she has a bone infection. She said that it was probable that the antibiotics which had been prescribed previously were just 'keeping the infection at bay' rather than actively destroying it hence the reason why every time she came off them the symptoms of infection would reappear. It makes me so angry to think that just 2 weeks ago the vet that assessed Spice gave her 'all clear' and even suggested taking her off antibiotics (which at the time i ignored due to wanting to make doubly sure that the infection was all out) so kept her on them for a further 7 days and now she apparently has a full blown bone infection. Four different vets from two different practices and all failed to notice what this vet seems to believe is a near certainty.
So at present the prognosis does not look good. At best we attempt to find an antibiotic that will actually kill the infection by taking a swab from Spices leg which will then have to be administered for at least 2 months but i've read that bone infections are notoriously hard to treat so even with the right antibiotic there is no guarantee that by the end of the treatment the infection will not re-emerge and in the meantime the bone could be susceptible to irreversible damage which could result in long term lameness.
It broke my heart to see Spice in so much pain this evening. She was laid down flat in her stable with such a sorrowful expression in her eye...every now and again mustering up enough energy to lift up her head and turn it towards the pain in her leg...I've never seen her look this lame...
To be sure with what we're dealing with the vet has recommended that we do an x ray so at least i will know once and for all exactly what the problem is...
So at present the prognosis does not look good. At best we attempt to find an antibiotic that will actually kill the infection by taking a swab from Spices leg which will then have to be administered for at least 2 months but i've read that bone infections are notoriously hard to treat so even with the right antibiotic there is no guarantee that by the end of the treatment the infection will not re-emerge and in the meantime the bone could be susceptible to irreversible damage which could result in long term lameness.
It broke my heart to see Spice in so much pain this evening. She was laid down flat in her stable with such a sorrowful expression in her eye...every now and again mustering up enough energy to lift up her head and turn it towards the pain in her leg...I've never seen her look this lame...
To be sure with what we're dealing with the vet has recommended that we do an x ray so at least i will know once and for all exactly what the problem is...
Friday 26 November 2010
221. Patience, Persistence & Perseverance over Power...
Throughout the horse world it seems that when a horse doesn't do as you ask it to the most common solution is to use more force... a stronger bit, a whip, spurs, a martingale anything that allows you to gain more physical control.
However, i have always had a problem with this because horses don't beat the *** out of each other to make each other do as they want in fact most of the time they barely even touch each other. Horses work out who is in charge by exerting confident body language and seeing who will 'back off' first.
This is how i believe horses should be trained i don't believe in beating a horse into submission as many do and i strongly believe that the psychological interaction is far more important than the physical one. We have therefore been training Spice with these principles in mind and are seeing amazing results.
Today we decided to take Spice down to the Ford which was over flowing with water and admittedly something most young horses would find frightening but if Spice is ever to hack out confidently on her own we need to increase her confidence and this was therefore the perfect place.
Right from the start Spice led us out of the yard opening the gate and not once attempting to go behind (which is in and of itself amazing progress) in view of the fact that it was only her third time out in lead.
But sure enough as soon as we approached the Ford anxiety and fear set in and she immediately tried to use Persia (the other horse) as her comfort blanket doing her best to get 'behind her'.
We knew that if we could get Spice to go through the Ford without the comfort of another horse either in front or beside her she would gain massive amounts of confidence and would hopefully stop being so reliant on other horses in the future.
So how long did it take? approximetely 20 minutes with spins, rears, bucks and lots of running backwards but bit by bit Spices fear and anxiety decreased and she began to start thinking about the stimuli in front of her rather than simply reacting to it. And as soon as one hoof was in the rest swiftly followed.
It was a moment of great elation and the result was seeing Spice looking more confident than ever leading the way for the rest of the hack and even passing her first digger!
No real force was used throughout the time it took to get her across the Ford... the simple truth is all that was needed was patience, persistence and perseverance and what was so lovely was that Spice crossed the Ford because she felt confident enough to NOT because she was 'forced to'.
I believe that any confident rider can get a horse to do something with enough force and physical aggression but that a great rider can get horse to do something without such force and the result of this is having a horse that respects and trusts you because they want to not because they have to.
I can't wait for our next ride out...the sense of achievement one feels when seeing a result like this is immense.
However, i have always had a problem with this because horses don't beat the *** out of each other to make each other do as they want in fact most of the time they barely even touch each other. Horses work out who is in charge by exerting confident body language and seeing who will 'back off' first.
This is how i believe horses should be trained i don't believe in beating a horse into submission as many do and i strongly believe that the psychological interaction is far more important than the physical one. We have therefore been training Spice with these principles in mind and are seeing amazing results.
Today we decided to take Spice down to the Ford which was over flowing with water and admittedly something most young horses would find frightening but if Spice is ever to hack out confidently on her own we need to increase her confidence and this was therefore the perfect place.
Right from the start Spice led us out of the yard opening the gate and not once attempting to go behind (which is in and of itself amazing progress) in view of the fact that it was only her third time out in lead.
But sure enough as soon as we approached the Ford anxiety and fear set in and she immediately tried to use Persia (the other horse) as her comfort blanket doing her best to get 'behind her'.
We knew that if we could get Spice to go through the Ford without the comfort of another horse either in front or beside her she would gain massive amounts of confidence and would hopefully stop being so reliant on other horses in the future.
So how long did it take? approximetely 20 minutes with spins, rears, bucks and lots of running backwards but bit by bit Spices fear and anxiety decreased and she began to start thinking about the stimuli in front of her rather than simply reacting to it. And as soon as one hoof was in the rest swiftly followed.
It was a moment of great elation and the result was seeing Spice looking more confident than ever leading the way for the rest of the hack and even passing her first digger!
No real force was used throughout the time it took to get her across the Ford... the simple truth is all that was needed was patience, persistence and perseverance and what was so lovely was that Spice crossed the Ford because she felt confident enough to NOT because she was 'forced to'.
I believe that any confident rider can get a horse to do something with enough force and physical aggression but that a great rider can get horse to do something without such force and the result of this is having a horse that respects and trusts you because they want to not because they have to.
I can't wait for our next ride out...the sense of achievement one feels when seeing a result like this is immense.
Tuesday 23 November 2010
220. The importance of never giving up!
Today as part of Spice's ongoing training we decided to hack Spice out again with her leading in front and i am pleased to say it went extremely well. Predictably Spice attempted to stop leading the way and try to go behind within the first 10 minutes of the ride but after she realised she wasn't getting anywhere she soon gave up and for the rest of the ride was as good as gold. I'm feeling more confident than ever that we can stop Spices napping when it comes to hacking out in front or alone. So as long as she doesn't get another injury so we can be consistent with her training i can see her getting over this behaviour within the month. We haven't yet had to use a whip, a bit or any other kind of contraption on her to make her go forward which is great - just leg and voice seems to have done the trick. :)
Saturday 20 November 2010
219. 7 days later...
7 days later and the results speak for themselves...
The swelling around the hock has almost completely disappeared and as you can see from the pictures the wound is pretty much healed. She also no longer appears to be in any way lame which is a relief.
My friend hacked her out for the first time in 7 weeks today and she was so well behaved - had a few spooks but lead out in front the whole way.
At this moment in time I couldn't be happier. :)
Thursday 18 November 2010
218. Why i could kick myself...
I am pleased to say that Spices wound is looking fabulous! The scab fell of during the night in her stable but revealed a completely dry area of skin with no discharge whatsoever. 6 days since ditching the vet and allowing nature to intervene and the wound finally looks as though it has healed. I could kick myself for not listening to my inner instincts sooner but in a society that relies so heavily upon medical intervention it is sometimes hard to resist the urge to 'go along with the masses' and do what is deemed right rather than what is frowned upon...
Because i wanted to make sure the infection was completely out i did call out another vet so i could get some more antibiotics (preferably a different kind as i know that bacteria can build up a resistance against an antibiotic after a certain amount of time) but upon assessing the wound they said that they didn't think any more antibiotics were necessary...
He said that she was 1/10 lame and had considerable fibrosis which suggested some bursel involvement at the time of the injury but that other than her being left with a slightly capped hock she would be fine.
However, having taken her off antibiotics and seen her hock flare up again on numerous occasions i didn't want to take any chances so the following morning i insisted on having another 7 days worth (just to be on the safe side).
It was lovely to watch her gallop flat out around the field today and will be even nicer to see her being ridden again (I am now unable to ride her due to my bump) but my friend is taking her out tomorrow for the first time in 7 weeks!
So what lessons have i learnt went it comes to wound healing?
Well for a superficial wound that doesn't need stitching simply leave it alone.
Don't wash it, Don't spray it and definitely Do not bandage it!
Allow the blood which your horses body will produce to dry up and form a nice scab over the wound. If the wound swells up and becomes infected use antibiotics to kill the infection from the inside but leave the scab well alone!
The antibiotics will kill the infection and the scab which has formed on the outside will protect the wound from any new bacteria entering. Sounds simple doesn't it?
So where did i go wrong? I listened and took on board everything the vets told me to do!
I first called the vet the day after Spices injury due to there being swelling and warmth around the wound which gave me reason to think it could be infected and would therefore (to be on the safe side) require antibiotics. However, along with antibiotics the vet also prescribed 2 sachets of anti -inflammatories per day aswell as telling me to clean the wound morning and night. These two latter things are the things which i have a problem with...and here's why...
The inflammatory response is the body's natural response that occurs immediately following tissue damage. It's main functions are to defend the body against harmful substances, dispose of dead or dying tissue and to promote the renewal of normal tissue.
The inflammatory reaction is normally characterized by 5 distinct signs, each of which is due to a physiological response to tissue injury.
Pain (due to chemicals released by damaged cells).
Swelling or Edema (due to an influx of fluid into the damaged region).
Redness (due to vasodilatation- the widening of blood vessels and bleeding in the joint or structure).
Heat (due to an increase in blood flow to the area).
Loss of function (due to increased swelling and pain)
Tissue Healing
1.Collagenation
Wound healing occurs towards the end of the inflammatory process, however the two processes overlap considerably. Macrophages work tirelessly to clear the damaged area and make space for the regeneration of new tissue. After a number of days fibroblasts (collagen producing cells) begin to construct a new collagen matrix which will act as the framework for new tissue cells
2.Angiogenesis
Once sufficient cleansing of the area has been achieved the damaged area begins to sprout new capillaries to bring blood to the region- this is known as angiogenesis or revascularization. When blood flow has been re-introduced to the area specific tissue cells begin to re grow- for example in a muscle tear muscle cells will repopulate the area.
3.Proliferation
The proliferation phase lasts up to 4 weeks. In cases where the injury sustained has been more severe the affected area may be composed of a mixture between specific tissue cells (such as muscle cells) and other tissue known as granulation tissue. If this granulation tissue is not removed it will remain and form scar tissue, which can lead to a decreased functional ability of the tissue.
4.Remodeling
The stage of remodeling now occurs where by the new cells mould into their surroundings to once again produce a functioning tissue. This process of remodeling can take months even years, altering the new tissue slowly. The new cells and protein fibres become arranged in a way that is best suited to the stresses imposed on the tissue. Hence when a tissue is healing it is important to stretch it in the correct direction so to optimize the strength of the new tissue.
Given that inflammation is the bodies primary resource for healing wounds why on earth would a vet prescribe anti-inflammatories so soon and for so long especiallly when the horse at the beginning of the process wasn't even lame!? I strongly believe that the usage of anti-inflammatories was to blame for Spices wound not healing.
The anti-inflammatory Spice was prescribed was Danilon - the active ingredient being Suxibuzone. Suxibuzone is a NSAID with anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic properties and low ulcerogenic potential. Its mechanism of action is based on the inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase. The therapeutic effects are mainly due to the inhibition of the biosynthesis of prostaglandins, which act as peripheral mediators of pain and trigger the synthesis of endogenous pyrogens and mediators in the inflammatory process. It also inhibits platelet aggregation. After oral administration, suxibuzone is readily absorbed and it is metabolized by the hepatic microsomal system producing phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone and γ - hydroxyphenylbutazone. As happens with other NSAIDs, the duration of the clinical response is much longer than the plasma half-life. Significant concentrations of both active metabolites are found in synovial fluid for at least 24 hours after administration.
Wound healing, or wound repair, is an intricate process in which the skin (or another organ) repairs itself after injury.[1] In normal skin, the epidermis (outermost layer) and dermis (inner or deeper layer) exists in a steady-state equilibrium, forming a protective barrier against the external environment. Once the protective barrier is broken, the normal (physiologic) process of wound healing is immediately set in motion. The classic model of wound healing is divided into three or four sequential, yet overlapping,[2] phases: (1) hemostasis (not considered a phase by some authors), (2) inflammatory, (3) proliferative and (4) remodeling.[3] Upon injury to the skin, a set of complex biochemical events takes place in a closely orchestrated cascade to repair the damage.[2] Within minutes post-injury, platelets (thrombocytes) aggregate at the injury site to form a fibrin clot. This clot acts to control active bleeding (hemostasis).
In the inflammatory phase, bacteria and debris are phagocytosed and removed, and factors are released that cause the migration and division of cells involved in the proliferative phase. One of the main contra-indications of Damilon and any other anti-inflammatory for that matter is that they can inhibit phagocytosis and hence, during treatment of inflammatory conditions associated with bacterial infections, appropriate antimicrobial treatment should also be used.
The proliferative phase is characterized by angiogenesis, collagen deposition, granulation tissue formation, epithelialization, and wound contraction.[4] In angiogenesis, new blood vessels are formed by vascular endothelial cells.[5] In fibroplasia and granulation tissue formation, fibroblasts grow and form a new, provisional extracellular matrix (ECM) by excreting collagen and fibronectin.[4] Concurrently, re-epithelialization of the epidermis occurs, in which epithelial cells proliferate and 'crawl' atop the wound bed, providing cover for the new tissue.[6]
In contraction, the wound is made smaller by the action of myofibroblasts, which establish a grip on the wound edges and contract themselves using a mechanism similar to that in smooth muscle cells. When the cells' roles are close to complete, unneeded cells undergo apoptosis.[4]
In the maturation and remodeling phase, collagen is remodeled and realigned along tension lines and cells that are no longer needed are removed by apoptosis.
However, this process is not only complex but fragile, and susceptible to interruption or failure leading to the formation of chronic non-healing wounds. Factors which may contribute to this include diabetes, venous or arterial disease, old age, and infection.[7]
The next thing i have a problem with is being told to 'clean the wound'. By cleaning the wound every day twice a day i was never allowing it to dry out and at the end of the day what on earth was the point in trying to clean an area on a horse which within minutes was going to get dirty again???
The next vet who came to see Spice immediately recommended wet poulticing the wound to draw out the infection. This kinda made sense but in keeping the wound so moist for 6 days Spices body reacted by producing a mass of proud flesh which then had to be cut off - this would have been o.k had the vet done what i decided to do 6 days ago but instead they decided to cover the wound up in a bandage and cover it in undiluted hibi scrub which was likely to kill good cells as well as bad thus preventing Spices body from once again being able to heal itself. Aswell as this bandaging the wound was far from helpful for two reasons...firstly it didn't allow the wound to ever completely dry out and heal - (a wound needs to be exposed to air in order to do this) which then meant that as soon as the bandage would fall down which it inevitably would (even when on box rest) the wound was once again exposed to bacteria and likely to become re-infected which is exactly what happened. Recommending box rest is also something i have a big problem with as movement/circulation plays a huge part in the healing process so being on box rest once again massively compromised the healing process. With all these things it is no wonder that Spices wound couldn't heal.
It must sound as though i am being quite pig headed about all of this but the fact is when i decided to let nature take over the healing process rather than a vet Spices wound healed itself within 6 days.
And surely it is more pig headed for a vet or anyone of any other medical profession to assume that they can do a better job than something which has successfully evolved over thousands of years...
Because i wanted to make sure the infection was completely out i did call out another vet so i could get some more antibiotics (preferably a different kind as i know that bacteria can build up a resistance against an antibiotic after a certain amount of time) but upon assessing the wound they said that they didn't think any more antibiotics were necessary...
He said that she was 1/10 lame and had considerable fibrosis which suggested some bursel involvement at the time of the injury but that other than her being left with a slightly capped hock she would be fine.
However, having taken her off antibiotics and seen her hock flare up again on numerous occasions i didn't want to take any chances so the following morning i insisted on having another 7 days worth (just to be on the safe side).
It was lovely to watch her gallop flat out around the field today and will be even nicer to see her being ridden again (I am now unable to ride her due to my bump) but my friend is taking her out tomorrow for the first time in 7 weeks!
So what lessons have i learnt went it comes to wound healing?
Well for a superficial wound that doesn't need stitching simply leave it alone.
Don't wash it, Don't spray it and definitely Do not bandage it!
Allow the blood which your horses body will produce to dry up and form a nice scab over the wound. If the wound swells up and becomes infected use antibiotics to kill the infection from the inside but leave the scab well alone!
The antibiotics will kill the infection and the scab which has formed on the outside will protect the wound from any new bacteria entering. Sounds simple doesn't it?
So where did i go wrong? I listened and took on board everything the vets told me to do!
I first called the vet the day after Spices injury due to there being swelling and warmth around the wound which gave me reason to think it could be infected and would therefore (to be on the safe side) require antibiotics. However, along with antibiotics the vet also prescribed 2 sachets of anti -inflammatories per day aswell as telling me to clean the wound morning and night. These two latter things are the things which i have a problem with...and here's why...
The inflammatory response is the body's natural response that occurs immediately following tissue damage. It's main functions are to defend the body against harmful substances, dispose of dead or dying tissue and to promote the renewal of normal tissue.
The inflammatory reaction is normally characterized by 5 distinct signs, each of which is due to a physiological response to tissue injury.
Pain (due to chemicals released by damaged cells).
Swelling or Edema (due to an influx of fluid into the damaged region).
Redness (due to vasodilatation- the widening of blood vessels and bleeding in the joint or structure).
Heat (due to an increase in blood flow to the area).
Loss of function (due to increased swelling and pain)
Tissue Healing
1.Collagenation
Wound healing occurs towards the end of the inflammatory process, however the two processes overlap considerably. Macrophages work tirelessly to clear the damaged area and make space for the regeneration of new tissue. After a number of days fibroblasts (collagen producing cells) begin to construct a new collagen matrix which will act as the framework for new tissue cells
2.Angiogenesis
Once sufficient cleansing of the area has been achieved the damaged area begins to sprout new capillaries to bring blood to the region- this is known as angiogenesis or revascularization. When blood flow has been re-introduced to the area specific tissue cells begin to re grow- for example in a muscle tear muscle cells will repopulate the area.
3.Proliferation
The proliferation phase lasts up to 4 weeks. In cases where the injury sustained has been more severe the affected area may be composed of a mixture between specific tissue cells (such as muscle cells) and other tissue known as granulation tissue. If this granulation tissue is not removed it will remain and form scar tissue, which can lead to a decreased functional ability of the tissue.
4.Remodeling
The stage of remodeling now occurs where by the new cells mould into their surroundings to once again produce a functioning tissue. This process of remodeling can take months even years, altering the new tissue slowly. The new cells and protein fibres become arranged in a way that is best suited to the stresses imposed on the tissue. Hence when a tissue is healing it is important to stretch it in the correct direction so to optimize the strength of the new tissue.
Given that inflammation is the bodies primary resource for healing wounds why on earth would a vet prescribe anti-inflammatories so soon and for so long especiallly when the horse at the beginning of the process wasn't even lame!? I strongly believe that the usage of anti-inflammatories was to blame for Spices wound not healing.
The anti-inflammatory Spice was prescribed was Danilon - the active ingredient being Suxibuzone. Suxibuzone is a NSAID with anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic properties and low ulcerogenic potential. Its mechanism of action is based on the inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase. The therapeutic effects are mainly due to the inhibition of the biosynthesis of prostaglandins, which act as peripheral mediators of pain and trigger the synthesis of endogenous pyrogens and mediators in the inflammatory process. It also inhibits platelet aggregation. After oral administration, suxibuzone is readily absorbed and it is metabolized by the hepatic microsomal system producing phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone and γ - hydroxyphenylbutazone. As happens with other NSAIDs, the duration of the clinical response is much longer than the plasma half-life. Significant concentrations of both active metabolites are found in synovial fluid for at least 24 hours after administration.
Wound healing, or wound repair, is an intricate process in which the skin (or another organ) repairs itself after injury.[1] In normal skin, the epidermis (outermost layer) and dermis (inner or deeper layer) exists in a steady-state equilibrium, forming a protective barrier against the external environment. Once the protective barrier is broken, the normal (physiologic) process of wound healing is immediately set in motion. The classic model of wound healing is divided into three or four sequential, yet overlapping,[2] phases: (1) hemostasis (not considered a phase by some authors), (2) inflammatory, (3) proliferative and (4) remodeling.[3] Upon injury to the skin, a set of complex biochemical events takes place in a closely orchestrated cascade to repair the damage.[2] Within minutes post-injury, platelets (thrombocytes) aggregate at the injury site to form a fibrin clot. This clot acts to control active bleeding (hemostasis).
In the inflammatory phase, bacteria and debris are phagocytosed and removed, and factors are released that cause the migration and division of cells involved in the proliferative phase. One of the main contra-indications of Damilon and any other anti-inflammatory for that matter is that they can inhibit phagocytosis and hence, during treatment of inflammatory conditions associated with bacterial infections, appropriate antimicrobial treatment should also be used.
The proliferative phase is characterized by angiogenesis, collagen deposition, granulation tissue formation, epithelialization, and wound contraction.[4] In angiogenesis, new blood vessels are formed by vascular endothelial cells.[5] In fibroplasia and granulation tissue formation, fibroblasts grow and form a new, provisional extracellular matrix (ECM) by excreting collagen and fibronectin.[4] Concurrently, re-epithelialization of the epidermis occurs, in which epithelial cells proliferate and 'crawl' atop the wound bed, providing cover for the new tissue.[6]
In contraction, the wound is made smaller by the action of myofibroblasts, which establish a grip on the wound edges and contract themselves using a mechanism similar to that in smooth muscle cells. When the cells' roles are close to complete, unneeded cells undergo apoptosis.[4]
In the maturation and remodeling phase, collagen is remodeled and realigned along tension lines and cells that are no longer needed are removed by apoptosis.
However, this process is not only complex but fragile, and susceptible to interruption or failure leading to the formation of chronic non-healing wounds. Factors which may contribute to this include diabetes, venous or arterial disease, old age, and infection.[7]
The next thing i have a problem with is being told to 'clean the wound'. By cleaning the wound every day twice a day i was never allowing it to dry out and at the end of the day what on earth was the point in trying to clean an area on a horse which within minutes was going to get dirty again???
The next vet who came to see Spice immediately recommended wet poulticing the wound to draw out the infection. This kinda made sense but in keeping the wound so moist for 6 days Spices body reacted by producing a mass of proud flesh which then had to be cut off - this would have been o.k had the vet done what i decided to do 6 days ago but instead they decided to cover the wound up in a bandage and cover it in undiluted hibi scrub which was likely to kill good cells as well as bad thus preventing Spices body from once again being able to heal itself. Aswell as this bandaging the wound was far from helpful for two reasons...firstly it didn't allow the wound to ever completely dry out and heal - (a wound needs to be exposed to air in order to do this) which then meant that as soon as the bandage would fall down which it inevitably would (even when on box rest) the wound was once again exposed to bacteria and likely to become re-infected which is exactly what happened. Recommending box rest is also something i have a big problem with as movement/circulation plays a huge part in the healing process so being on box rest once again massively compromised the healing process. With all these things it is no wonder that Spices wound couldn't heal.
It must sound as though i am being quite pig headed about all of this but the fact is when i decided to let nature take over the healing process rather than a vet Spices wound healed itself within 6 days.
And surely it is more pig headed for a vet or anyone of any other medical profession to assume that they can do a better job than something which has successfully evolved over thousands of years...
Wednesday 17 November 2010
217. Bit by bit...
Bit by bit Spices wound seems to be finally healing...i still haven't touched it for the last 5 days and all i can say is that it seems to have improved far more than what it would have done keeping her in her stable with it bandaged up!
Wound... As you can see from the picture below the wound has completely dried up and has been covered over with a nicely formed scab mixed with a bit of mud...there is no discharge coming from the wound whatsoever...
Swelling...The swelling has gone down substantially but the whole hock area is still inflamed...I am hoping this will continue to go down as the wound heals...
Protruding Bone...The protruding bone is not nearly as obvious as it was...
Dissection... I'm pleased to say this isn't Spices leg but a leg of a horse who had had a very hard life and as a consequence had to be put down. Learning about the functions of all the different parts of the leg gave me an insight into how important movement/circulation is to a horse - there's a reason why horses need doors and locks on their stable doors...
It saddens me to see that some horse owners would rather keep their horses in when it is raining and risk the health of their horses than turn them out for fear of them getting cold and wet...
The picture below was taken today in the pouring rain when the temperature was approximetely 5 degrees but as you can see none of the horses are rugged up and instead of staying under the huge shelter where the owner had put haylage they prefered to stand outside exposed to natures elements...
Wound... As you can see from the picture below the wound has completely dried up and has been covered over with a nicely formed scab mixed with a bit of mud...there is no discharge coming from the wound whatsoever...
Swelling...The swelling has gone down substantially but the whole hock area is still inflamed...I am hoping this will continue to go down as the wound heals...
Protruding Bone...The protruding bone is not nearly as obvious as it was...
Dissection... I'm pleased to say this isn't Spices leg but a leg of a horse who had had a very hard life and as a consequence had to be put down. Learning about the functions of all the different parts of the leg gave me an insight into how important movement/circulation is to a horse - there's a reason why horses need doors and locks on their stable doors...
It saddens me to see that some horse owners would rather keep their horses in when it is raining and risk the health of their horses than turn them out for fear of them getting cold and wet...
The picture below was taken today in the pouring rain when the temperature was approximetely 5 degrees but as you can see none of the horses are rugged up and instead of staying under the huge shelter where the owner had put haylage they prefered to stand outside exposed to natures elements...
216. Going down the Natural Route...
Today i was a bit worried about turning Spice out in the rain and the risking the nice scab that has formed over the wound getting moist, falling off and leaving the wound open to infection but since i've decided to go down the 'au natural' route i thought i might as well carry it through. I should say that i am still giving her antibiotics though (just until i am sure the wound has completely healed) so the risk of re-infection is minimum. I don't think the boney protrusion is looking as bad as it was last week but seeing it on a daily basis makes it a bit difficult to tell...one thing's for sure both the swelling and wound on the hock have improved dramatically and in trot Spice more or less looks sound. I am eagerly awaiting the day for when the scab that has formed starts to peal off on it's own accord and reveal new fresh skin and hair.
Tuesday 16 November 2010
215. Feeling more optimistic...
So the other vet i contacted and sent pictures to of Spices protruding bone sent me the following email...
'The bony lump is the medial malleolus of the tibia and is not a spavin. It is possible that it is more prominent than on the other leg because of thickening of the skin. Because it sticks out it is prone to bandage rubbing and commonly is a site for bandage sores. I don't think it is anything to worry about. However, because it sticks out it is an occasional site for fractures and is traumatised easily. Without examining it I can't really say too much more.
Hope this helps,
Peter
Wow...i can't tell you what a relief it is to find out that the bony protrusion is not a Bone Spavin/Bone Spur. However, i'm not convinced that it isn't something serious just yet - a friend of mine thinks it looks a lot like what her youngster had...OCD Osteochondrosis...which is quite a scary thought :( However, in walk Spice is definitely not lame so at least whatever is isn't causing her too much pain. :)
There is at least good news on the wound front...it almost looks as though it has closed!
'The bony lump is the medial malleolus of the tibia and is not a spavin. It is possible that it is more prominent than on the other leg because of thickening of the skin. Because it sticks out it is prone to bandage rubbing and commonly is a site for bandage sores. I don't think it is anything to worry about. However, because it sticks out it is an occasional site for fractures and is traumatised easily. Without examining it I can't really say too much more.
Hope this helps,
Peter
Wow...i can't tell you what a relief it is to find out that the bony protrusion is not a Bone Spavin/Bone Spur. However, i'm not convinced that it isn't something serious just yet - a friend of mine thinks it looks a lot like what her youngster had...OCD Osteochondrosis...which is quite a scary thought :( However, in walk Spice is definitely not lame so at least whatever is isn't causing her too much pain. :)
There is at least good news on the wound front...it almost looks as though it has closed!
Monday 15 November 2010
214. Feeling a bit hopeless...
Today although Spices wound is looking heaps better and looks to be very close to being fully healed there is still this boney protrusion on the inside of her hock which i am still convinced is a bone spur/bone spavin.
I have asked a vet for a second opinion and also queried whether the condition could be caused by applying a pressure bandage for too long and am currently waiting to hear back but the more i read on the net the more sure i become that it could have been...
Craig Wood, University of Kentucky
There are any number of reasons to bandage a horse's leg. Bandaging can provide both protection and support for the horse while working, traveling, resting, or recovering from injury. Regardless of the reason a bandage is being applied, it is essential that the proper technique be used. Applied incorrectly, bandages will fail to perform correctly, which may cause discomfort and restrict blood flow as well as damage tendons and other tissues. A bandage that slips so that it bunches and creates a pressure point on the back of the tendon can cause tendon damage and create a "bandage bow." A bandage bow can also be caused by a bandage that is too tight.
Causes of Bone Spavin
• Cartilage compression
Excessive compression can cause, over time, the cartilage between the upper and lower surfaces of the lower tarsal bones to become compressed and eroded. The joint spaces then become smaller and new bone growth may occur.
I have asked a vet for a second opinion and also queried whether the condition could be caused by applying a pressure bandage for too long and am currently waiting to hear back but the more i read on the net the more sure i become that it could have been...
Craig Wood, University of Kentucky
There are any number of reasons to bandage a horse's leg. Bandaging can provide both protection and support for the horse while working, traveling, resting, or recovering from injury. Regardless of the reason a bandage is being applied, it is essential that the proper technique be used. Applied incorrectly, bandages will fail to perform correctly, which may cause discomfort and restrict blood flow as well as damage tendons and other tissues. A bandage that slips so that it bunches and creates a pressure point on the back of the tendon can cause tendon damage and create a "bandage bow." A bandage bow can also be caused by a bandage that is too tight.
Causes of Bone Spavin
• Cartilage compression
Excessive compression can cause, over time, the cartilage between the upper and lower surfaces of the lower tarsal bones to become compressed and eroded. The joint spaces then become smaller and new bone growth may occur.
Sunday 14 November 2010
213. Can Bone Spurs be caused by excessive bandaging...?
Having done some research on the internet it appears that the boney protrusion on the inside of Spices leg may just be a 'bone spur'. However, to have appeared six weeks after the incident took place (i first noticed it on the 10th november the day before the last bandage was applied) and there being no signs of lameness at the time i am somewhat doubtful that it has been caused by the incident itself...Having read on about possible causes i just found the following:
Causes
Cartilage compression
Excessive compression can cause, over time, the cartilage between the upper and lower surfaces of bones to become compressed and eroded. The joint spaces then become smaller, and new bone growth may occur in the area.
Right now i actually feel physically sick...could it be that all the bandaging the vet has been applying to Spices leg over the last 2-3 weeks is actually the cause of this...?
The other disturbing thing is that the protrusion actually looked and felt more obvious after the last bandage came off which incidentally was the 10th bandage and Spices leg has been literally bandaged almost 24/7 for the last 16 days solid.
Reading on...the news gets worse...Bony changes of the lower hock joint are irreversible. It is possible, however, to manage the problem and thereby slow the progression of the bone spavin, ease the pain, and control the lameness. Surgery is an option for horses that do not respond to conventional treatments.
Just when i thought my faith in vets was at an all time low it seems to have dropped even further...If there's an actual risk that excessive bandaging can cause bone spurs why on earth of vets still applying bandages in this fashion?
Am i just being paranoid...? I don't think so...the fact that the vet dismissed the boney protrusion saying that it simply looked more obvious due to muscle wastage is a joke...even someone who'd never seen a horse could see this wasn't due to muscle wastage....when comparing both legs (see below)
I sincerely hope that i've got this all wrong and that i have to come on here and completely eat my words because in truth i would rather be wrong about this and risk sounding like a complete paranoid fool that doesn't know anything than possibly be right.
But reading on i am doubtful this will be the case...
Bone spurs also form in the feet in response to tight ligaments, to activities such as dancing and running that put stress on the feet, and to pressure from being overweight or from poorly fitting shoes. For example, the long ligament on the bottom of the foot (plantar fascia) can become stressed or tight and pull on the heel, causing the ligament to become inflamed (plantar fasciitis. As the bone tries to mend itself, a bone spur can form on the bottom of the heel (known as a "heel spur"). Pressure at the back of the heel from frequently wearing shoes that are too tight can cause a bone spur on the back of the heel. This is sometimes called a "pump bump" because it is often seen in women who wear high heels.
I realise this is an example of how bone spurs can be caused in humans but given that the conditions are the same surely the causes are too.
Causes
Cartilage compression
Excessive compression can cause, over time, the cartilage between the upper and lower surfaces of bones to become compressed and eroded. The joint spaces then become smaller, and new bone growth may occur in the area.
Right now i actually feel physically sick...could it be that all the bandaging the vet has been applying to Spices leg over the last 2-3 weeks is actually the cause of this...?
The other disturbing thing is that the protrusion actually looked and felt more obvious after the last bandage came off which incidentally was the 10th bandage and Spices leg has been literally bandaged almost 24/7 for the last 16 days solid.
Reading on...the news gets worse...Bony changes of the lower hock joint are irreversible. It is possible, however, to manage the problem and thereby slow the progression of the bone spavin, ease the pain, and control the lameness. Surgery is an option for horses that do not respond to conventional treatments.
Just when i thought my faith in vets was at an all time low it seems to have dropped even further...If there's an actual risk that excessive bandaging can cause bone spurs why on earth of vets still applying bandages in this fashion?
Am i just being paranoid...? I don't think so...the fact that the vet dismissed the boney protrusion saying that it simply looked more obvious due to muscle wastage is a joke...even someone who'd never seen a horse could see this wasn't due to muscle wastage....when comparing both legs (see below)
I sincerely hope that i've got this all wrong and that i have to come on here and completely eat my words because in truth i would rather be wrong about this and risk sounding like a complete paranoid fool that doesn't know anything than possibly be right.
But reading on i am doubtful this will be the case...
Bone spurs also form in the feet in response to tight ligaments, to activities such as dancing and running that put stress on the feet, and to pressure from being overweight or from poorly fitting shoes. For example, the long ligament on the bottom of the foot (plantar fascia) can become stressed or tight and pull on the heel, causing the ligament to become inflamed (plantar fasciitis. As the bone tries to mend itself, a bone spur can form on the bottom of the heel (known as a "heel spur"). Pressure at the back of the heel from frequently wearing shoes that are too tight can cause a bone spur on the back of the heel. This is sometimes called a "pump bump" because it is often seen in women who wear high heels.
I realise this is an example of how bone spurs can be caused in humans but given that the conditions are the same surely the causes are too.
212. Natural Healing versus Medical Intervention
Unfortunately 3 days after i had 2 vets visit Spice and give the wound on her hock the all clear - it quickly went downhill again and swelled up. :( So...beginning to get very disheartened by the whole thing after having had two weeks worth of painkillers, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics i called the vet out again...now the 28th October.
This time the vets approach was far more 'hands on' which i guess was a comfort if i'm honest as it made me feel that 'something' was actually being done. The hands on approach involved wet poulticing the wound for 3 days to draw out the infection which she did twice. The only problem with this approach was that although it got drew out the infection (the swelling disappeared) keeping the wound moist promoted 'a small mass of proud flesh'. So the vet then applied a dry poultice to the wound for two days with steroid cream in order to try to decrease it which worked to an extent but before applying the next bandage she decided to cut away the remainder 'to allow the wound to heal over' - as for as long as the proud flesh was there it was unlikely to. After applying another bandage with no ointments but a silver gauze for 2 days the wound was looking better than ever even to the point that the vet said i'd be riding her by the weekend. I was so grateful to her as it finally seemed as though we were making progress and that i had a vet on board that knew exactly what they were doing...but unfortunately this feeling didn't last long...
The next bandage was applied in the same fashion but this time the wound was sprayed with some blue substance before being covered with the silver gauze (which was essentially the only difference) but on removing the bandage this time the wound looked no better in fact although i didn't want to admit it to myself it looked worse. :(
The vet was surprised that it hadn't improved but wasn't too concerned and applied yet another bandage to the wound (the same way) but once again on taking it off it looked no better and worse still had produced more 'proud flesh'...at this stage i was beginning to think that not letting the wound dry out naturally and keeping Spices movement so restricted (she was on box rest at this stage due to the weather being too wet to put her out) and having so many lotions and potions applied to the wound may be doing more harm than good...Anyway, the vet cut away the additional proud flesh and yet another bandage was applied however by the time the bandage was due to be taken off it had fallen off by itself and much to my dismay revealed that Spices hock had once again become swollen and warm to touch. There was also pus coming from the wound which to me only spelled out one thing - infection but given that Spice had been on antibiotics every day for the last 14 days and had the wound bandaged throughout how could the wound have become re-infected?
Exhausted by the process i informed the vet (who was on her way) that the wound looked infected and asked her whether it would be worth doing a scan as at this point i wondered whether she might have a bone fragment which would explain the re-occurring infection. However, much to my surprise the vet arrived and said the wound looked fine and that what i thought was pus was actually serum and that the swelling was to be expected due to the fact that it was still healing but i needn't be worried about it being infected.
Whilst part of me really wanted to believe her in my heart i knew she was wrong and that essentially we were back to square one and all the bandaging, time, money and effort had all been for nothing. Anyway the vet re-bandaged Spices wound after scrubbing it with undiluted hibi scrub - (something else which shocked me) as i'd read before how powerful hibi scrub was and that it should never be applied undiluted but wanting to trust that she knew what she was doing i resisted questioning her. I did ask her though about a bone on the inside of Spices leg which seemed to be protruding far more than what it was on the other side which i had only noticed for the first time the day before but she simply said it looked more apparent due to muscle wastage - i didn't buy this either. Anyway, by the morning the new bandage had fallen off and the wound looked worse than ever. (see pictures below)
So at this point i decided that enough was enough... i had tried doing things the conventional way using vets and following what they said to the T but we were just going round in circles so i decided to let nature take over... I didn't touch the wound or try to re-bandage it i simply left it as it was and decided to turn her out - (that was yesterday). This morning she was once again turned out and this afternoon i arrived to find that the globule of blood and tissue that was sticking out of the wound yesterday had completely come off and that the wound was dry and looked to be very near to closing. There was a small drop of yellow serum oozing from the wound but no pus and the swelling had gone down substantially. It's too soon at the minute to say whether my latest course of action will or wont work but i am feeling a lot more optimistic.
My only concern is that stabling her overnight may interfere with the healing process due to lack of blood flow and circulation (which i know is an integral part of natures healing process) but fingers crossed it wont and that the wound will continue to improve. The only thing that is still concerning me is the protruding bone...as i am still uncertain as to what it is and what has caused it.
This time the vets approach was far more 'hands on' which i guess was a comfort if i'm honest as it made me feel that 'something' was actually being done. The hands on approach involved wet poulticing the wound for 3 days to draw out the infection which she did twice. The only problem with this approach was that although it got drew out the infection (the swelling disappeared) keeping the wound moist promoted 'a small mass of proud flesh'. So the vet then applied a dry poultice to the wound for two days with steroid cream in order to try to decrease it which worked to an extent but before applying the next bandage she decided to cut away the remainder 'to allow the wound to heal over' - as for as long as the proud flesh was there it was unlikely to. After applying another bandage with no ointments but a silver gauze for 2 days the wound was looking better than ever even to the point that the vet said i'd be riding her by the weekend. I was so grateful to her as it finally seemed as though we were making progress and that i had a vet on board that knew exactly what they were doing...but unfortunately this feeling didn't last long...
The next bandage was applied in the same fashion but this time the wound was sprayed with some blue substance before being covered with the silver gauze (which was essentially the only difference) but on removing the bandage this time the wound looked no better in fact although i didn't want to admit it to myself it looked worse. :(
The vet was surprised that it hadn't improved but wasn't too concerned and applied yet another bandage to the wound (the same way) but once again on taking it off it looked no better and worse still had produced more 'proud flesh'...at this stage i was beginning to think that not letting the wound dry out naturally and keeping Spices movement so restricted (she was on box rest at this stage due to the weather being too wet to put her out) and having so many lotions and potions applied to the wound may be doing more harm than good...Anyway, the vet cut away the additional proud flesh and yet another bandage was applied however by the time the bandage was due to be taken off it had fallen off by itself and much to my dismay revealed that Spices hock had once again become swollen and warm to touch. There was also pus coming from the wound which to me only spelled out one thing - infection but given that Spice had been on antibiotics every day for the last 14 days and had the wound bandaged throughout how could the wound have become re-infected?
Exhausted by the process i informed the vet (who was on her way) that the wound looked infected and asked her whether it would be worth doing a scan as at this point i wondered whether she might have a bone fragment which would explain the re-occurring infection. However, much to my surprise the vet arrived and said the wound looked fine and that what i thought was pus was actually serum and that the swelling was to be expected due to the fact that it was still healing but i needn't be worried about it being infected.
Whilst part of me really wanted to believe her in my heart i knew she was wrong and that essentially we were back to square one and all the bandaging, time, money and effort had all been for nothing. Anyway the vet re-bandaged Spices wound after scrubbing it with undiluted hibi scrub - (something else which shocked me) as i'd read before how powerful hibi scrub was and that it should never be applied undiluted but wanting to trust that she knew what she was doing i resisted questioning her. I did ask her though about a bone on the inside of Spices leg which seemed to be protruding far more than what it was on the other side which i had only noticed for the first time the day before but she simply said it looked more apparent due to muscle wastage - i didn't buy this either. Anyway, by the morning the new bandage had fallen off and the wound looked worse than ever. (see pictures below)
So at this point i decided that enough was enough... i had tried doing things the conventional way using vets and following what they said to the T but we were just going round in circles so i decided to let nature take over... I didn't touch the wound or try to re-bandage it i simply left it as it was and decided to turn her out - (that was yesterday). This morning she was once again turned out and this afternoon i arrived to find that the globule of blood and tissue that was sticking out of the wound yesterday had completely come off and that the wound was dry and looked to be very near to closing. There was a small drop of yellow serum oozing from the wound but no pus and the swelling had gone down substantially. It's too soon at the minute to say whether my latest course of action will or wont work but i am feeling a lot more optimistic.
My only concern is that stabling her overnight may interfere with the healing process due to lack of blood flow and circulation (which i know is an integral part of natures healing process) but fingers crossed it wont and that the wound will continue to improve. The only thing that is still concerning me is the protruding bone...as i am still uncertain as to what it is and what has caused it.
Monday 8 November 2010
211. The Healing powers of Silver...
Silver has long been known to be a potent antimicrobial agent and its beneficial effects on wound biology have in general been overlooked until recently...
ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES:
The antimicrobial activity of silver ion is well defined. Silver ion rapidly kills microbes by blocking the cell respiration pathway. The speed of action is almost instantaneous once the silver reaches the microbe. The efficacy of microbe killing is based not only on the amount of silver ion present, but likely also the presence of other silver radicals generated by a silver releasing product.
Because of mechanism of action, microbial resistance to silver itself has not been reported. In addition, silver has repeatedly been shown to be non-toxic to human cells. Toxicity occurs from the complexes used to deliver silver such as nitrate and sulfadiazine.
Wound Healing Properties:
The anti-inflammatory effects of silver ion on a wound have been recognized for centuries. Most of the reports are purely descriptive in nature identifying the decrease in erythema and increased healing.
A number of the biochemical effects of silver on the wound have been documented over a decade ago. However, only recently with the new concepts on wound healing and healing impairment, can a mechanism of action be presented. The major focus of wound healing has been on the relationship between tissue destruction by a group of collagenase enzymes known as METALLOPROTEINASES (MMP) and tissue synthesis which is stimulated by growth factors.
ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES:
The antimicrobial activity of silver ion is well defined. Silver ion rapidly kills microbes by blocking the cell respiration pathway. The speed of action is almost instantaneous once the silver reaches the microbe. The efficacy of microbe killing is based not only on the amount of silver ion present, but likely also the presence of other silver radicals generated by a silver releasing product.
Because of mechanism of action, microbial resistance to silver itself has not been reported. In addition, silver has repeatedly been shown to be non-toxic to human cells. Toxicity occurs from the complexes used to deliver silver such as nitrate and sulfadiazine.
Wound Healing Properties:
The anti-inflammatory effects of silver ion on a wound have been recognized for centuries. Most of the reports are purely descriptive in nature identifying the decrease in erythema and increased healing.
A number of the biochemical effects of silver on the wound have been documented over a decade ago. However, only recently with the new concepts on wound healing and healing impairment, can a mechanism of action be presented. The major focus of wound healing has been on the relationship between tissue destruction by a group of collagenase enzymes known as METALLOPROTEINASES (MMP) and tissue synthesis which is stimulated by growth factors.
Sunday 24 October 2010
210. Obedience...
Today Spice inspired me to add a video demonstrating just how obedient horses can be...
Saturday 23 October 2010
209. Why rest isn't always best!
Why box rest can sometimes be counter productive...
To understand that physical therapy can help your horse in numerous ways and on many levels takes some understanding of the basics within the horses bodily systems.
The main body structures that are influenced and affected by physical therapy include:
Muscular system
Relieving tension, spasm, pain and helping the breakdown of adhesions, scarring and torn muscles
Lymphatic system
This is the bodies defence system for fighting infection and clearing debris, it is a slow moving system and relies on movement to work, hence box rest, injuries and trauma will inhibit this system. Physical therapy will assist the lymphatic flow.
Circulatory system
Carries nutrients around the body delivering nutrients and oxygenated blood to tissues and taking waste and debris to the waste disposal systems (kidneys etc)
Decreased muscle activity results in a decreased flow of venous return. Again physical therapy will help with venous return.
Nervous system
Controls every bodily function and describes the communication between the brain, nerves and the spinal cord. Sensory nerves Nerve endings are influenced by massage and the communication is influenced by Bowen technique.
Fascia
This is a connective tissue running throughout the whole body. If you imagine the body without its bones, nerves, organs you would be left with the fascia that runs from head to feet without interruption.
As you can see the systems are all interlinked one working with and affecting another. The main thing to remember is injury, trauma, badly fitting tack and equipment wrongly used can have an effect throughout the WHOLE body, effecting fascia and the bodily systems then having a knock on effect on the body's memory movement pattern. Physical therapy will help with and assist the body's recovery from muscular fatigue, pain, soreness and incorrect way of going and as a preventative measure.
To understand that physical therapy can help your horse in numerous ways and on many levels takes some understanding of the basics within the horses bodily systems.
The main body structures that are influenced and affected by physical therapy include:
Muscular system
Relieving tension, spasm, pain and helping the breakdown of adhesions, scarring and torn muscles
Lymphatic system
This is the bodies defence system for fighting infection and clearing debris, it is a slow moving system and relies on movement to work, hence box rest, injuries and trauma will inhibit this system. Physical therapy will assist the lymphatic flow.
Circulatory system
Carries nutrients around the body delivering nutrients and oxygenated blood to tissues and taking waste and debris to the waste disposal systems (kidneys etc)
Decreased muscle activity results in a decreased flow of venous return. Again physical therapy will help with venous return.
Nervous system
Controls every bodily function and describes the communication between the brain, nerves and the spinal cord. Sensory nerves Nerve endings are influenced by massage and the communication is influenced by Bowen technique.
Fascia
This is a connective tissue running throughout the whole body. If you imagine the body without its bones, nerves, organs you would be left with the fascia that runs from head to feet without interruption.
As you can see the systems are all interlinked one working with and affecting another. The main thing to remember is injury, trauma, badly fitting tack and equipment wrongly used can have an effect throughout the WHOLE body, effecting fascia and the bodily systems then having a knock on effect on the body's memory movement pattern. Physical therapy will help with and assist the body's recovery from muscular fatigue, pain, soreness and incorrect way of going and as a preventative measure.
208. It's all about honey...
This evening i made my second trip up to the yard to tend to Spices wound and to my relief its finally healed over after 18 days! It still looks slightly puffy but the vet only saw it yesterday and seemed to think that the infection had cleared so it i am assuming it is just inflammation.
I have been cold hosing her cut every day twice a day for around 2-3 mins or until clean and then applying manuka honey which i believe has played a huge part in the healing process...
For more information on the healin g properties of honey click here
However, not all honey is of equal effectiveness...
All honey has some level of the antibacterial chemical hydrogen peroxide, which is produced by enzymes in the honey. These enzymes are easily destroyed by exposure to heat and light and also by contact with body fluids. It is now understood that some rare honeys have an antibacterial action that is separate to the peroxide effect, resulting in a much more persistent and stable antibacterial action.
Such valuable honeys are resistant to losing their antibacterial activity when used in wound treatment and even have strong activity when heavily diluted by body fluids in a wound dressing. Furthermore, such honeys are now known to have a synergistic antibacterial effect with the hydrogen peroxide activity, producing a very powerful weapon against bacterial conditions.
Since 1991 it has been recognised that not all honey is effective in its non-peroxide anti-bacterial action and in its promotion of healing - in fact the variability between different batches of honey can be as much as 100-fold.
In 1996 an organisation called TradeNZ, in conjunction with the Honey Research Unit, set about to establish a standard for the classification of antibacterial honey activity. This led to the creation of the UMF® industry standard - UMF standing for Unique Manuka Factor. The Honey Research Unit developed a procedure for rating honeys which has now been in place for some time.
Tested batches of Manuka Honey are given a UMF® rating, depending on their tested antibacterial activity. A UMF® rating of 10 is the minimum activity to gain the UMF rating and thus be considered useful in serious applications. Honey achieving this rating is commonly referred to as Active Manuka Honey, although manuka honey is often marketed as being 'active' even though it is not.
While Manuka honey is fairly widely available, it is considered that only that which carries the UMF® registered trademark should be chosen if the intended use is for therapeutic purposes, and the majority of recent medical trial have predominantly used manuka honey with a UMF strength of 10 or more.
I have been cold hosing her cut every day twice a day for around 2-3 mins or until clean and then applying manuka honey which i believe has played a huge part in the healing process...
For more information on the healin g properties of honey click here
However, not all honey is of equal effectiveness...
All honey has some level of the antibacterial chemical hydrogen peroxide, which is produced by enzymes in the honey. These enzymes are easily destroyed by exposure to heat and light and also by contact with body fluids. It is now understood that some rare honeys have an antibacterial action that is separate to the peroxide effect, resulting in a much more persistent and stable antibacterial action.
Such valuable honeys are resistant to losing their antibacterial activity when used in wound treatment and even have strong activity when heavily diluted by body fluids in a wound dressing. Furthermore, such honeys are now known to have a synergistic antibacterial effect with the hydrogen peroxide activity, producing a very powerful weapon against bacterial conditions.
Since 1991 it has been recognised that not all honey is effective in its non-peroxide anti-bacterial action and in its promotion of healing - in fact the variability between different batches of honey can be as much as 100-fold.
In 1996 an organisation called TradeNZ, in conjunction with the Honey Research Unit, set about to establish a standard for the classification of antibacterial honey activity. This led to the creation of the UMF® industry standard - UMF standing for Unique Manuka Factor. The Honey Research Unit developed a procedure for rating honeys which has now been in place for some time.
Tested batches of Manuka Honey are given a UMF® rating, depending on their tested antibacterial activity. A UMF® rating of 10 is the minimum activity to gain the UMF rating and thus be considered useful in serious applications. Honey achieving this rating is commonly referred to as Active Manuka Honey, although manuka honey is often marketed as being 'active' even though it is not.
While Manuka honey is fairly widely available, it is considered that only that which carries the UMF® registered trademark should be chosen if the intended use is for therapeutic purposes, and the majority of recent medical trial have predominantly used manuka honey with a UMF strength of 10 or more.
207. Spices 10th Barefoot Trim...
It has now been 9 months since Spices shoes were removed and barring half a cm or so she now has now grown a whole new hoof horn. Spices hooves haven't chipped at all this month and have managed to keep their shape really well. They don't seem to be wearing down too much and haven't flared at all. When i compare Spices hooves to what they looked like in the first few months after de-shodding her the difference is amazing. The walls of her hooves are so much stronger. Anyone who thinks that shoes are not damaging the integrity of their horses hooves is seriously mistaken - that's a fact and the funny thing is people generally believe that metal shoes are protecting their horses hooves but really they're doing the exact opposite. However, i guess you could argue 'that as long as you have a good set of metal shoes why do you need a good set of hooves?' and to be honest that's a valid point. I'm not sure what ill effects metal shoes really have apart from to the hoof for i never saw or at least was aware of any whilst Spice was shod which begs the question...why did i decide to go barefoot? And to be honest i don't have a clear answer to that apart from to say that i wanted to see who was right...some or most people i spoke to including those who had worked with horses their whole lives never believed Spice could be sound barefoot due to being 'too finely bred' and yet others on the internet claimed they had barefoot thoroughbreds that were more than happy being shoeless. Ultimately i think i wanted to see who was right and my conclusion is i think they both are...
I still wouldn't feel comfortable riding Spice out without hoof boots on her front hooves 5 times a week over rough terrain even though they are as healthy as can be because i fear she may become sore. However, her hind hooves are always left barefoot and she has not once become lame/sore on them. I therefore believe that given my experience with a 'finely bred horse' like Spice that if she is capable of being barefoot on her hinds then almost all horses barring those with some kind of hoof deformity are capable and if you need more of a reason to keep shoes off your horses hind hooves think about the savings you'll make! 4 shoes are twice the price of 2 so if you want to cut your farrier bill in half go for it. And if all goes well you could even attempt to go barefoot on the fronts and simply invest in a good pair of hoof boots. My barefoot trimmer has now recommended that Spice only have her hooves trimmed once every 6 weeks rather than once every 4 simply to maintain them so at a cost of just £30's per trim i'm now saving £30's every 6 weeks and can be assured that i have done 'the best for Spice.'
I still wouldn't feel comfortable riding Spice out without hoof boots on her front hooves 5 times a week over rough terrain even though they are as healthy as can be because i fear she may become sore. However, her hind hooves are always left barefoot and she has not once become lame/sore on them. I therefore believe that given my experience with a 'finely bred horse' like Spice that if she is capable of being barefoot on her hinds then almost all horses barring those with some kind of hoof deformity are capable and if you need more of a reason to keep shoes off your horses hind hooves think about the savings you'll make! 4 shoes are twice the price of 2 so if you want to cut your farrier bill in half go for it. And if all goes well you could even attempt to go barefoot on the fronts and simply invest in a good pair of hoof boots. My barefoot trimmer has now recommended that Spice only have her hooves trimmed once every 6 weeks rather than once every 4 simply to maintain them so at a cost of just £30's per trim i'm now saving £30's every 6 weeks and can be assured that i have done 'the best for Spice.'
Thursday 21 October 2010
206. Healing....
So the good news is it looks as though Spices wound is finally healing after 4 lots of antibiotics injected (intravenously) and two sachets of anti inflamatories and painkillers every day. I have tried to leave the wound well alone cleaning it only when necessary in order to let it dry out and only applying honey sparingly which seems to have worked so far so hopefully if i continue doing this it will be almost healed by this time next week.
Spice has been amazing when it comes to her injections even walking over to the vet from the field! So i've actually been able to allow him to administer it without me even being there.
If i'm completely honest i think the vet now has a soft spot for Spice just like my partner does. For some reason that intense vulnerability that she demonstrates seems to have that power over people... yes she can be a nightmare at times but other times she can be the best dream you ever had. Perhaps it's that constant dichotomy between bitter and sweet which makes the sweet that much sweeter.
Spice has been amazing when it comes to her injections even walking over to the vet from the field! So i've actually been able to allow him to administer it without me even being there.
If i'm completely honest i think the vet now has a soft spot for Spice just like my partner does. For some reason that intense vulnerability that she demonstrates seems to have that power over people... yes she can be a nightmare at times but other times she can be the best dream you ever had. Perhaps it's that constant dichotomy between bitter and sweet which makes the sweet that much sweeter.
Tuesday 19 October 2010
205. The end to Spices Box Rest...
This morning i arrived at the stables to find Spice still full of energy and exuberance and highly distressed that she was still in her stable (even though all the other horses were too). So i took her for a quick walk to stretch her legs and then decided that she might be better off in a small paddock separate from the other horses.
She wasn't...being able to see the other horses in the other field just made her even more distressed and she just couldn't relax so i decided that i would put her back in her stable until the vet came to give her second dose of antibiotics.
At 2pm I then get a call from the livery yard owner saying that Spice still hadn't calmed down, was box walking constantly and that the vet had advised that she would be better off outside with the other horses as she was probably moving around more in her stable than what she would be outside.
So it looks like Spices box rest has come to and end and i can't say i'm upset about the fact. I hate seeing her so unhappy and so distressed. The funny thing is though i can't work out what it was which was making her so unhappy... because when i arrived this evening she was the only one left in the field but was quietly grazing in the pouring rain as happy as larry! (even though there was no other horse in sight) Saying that she was more than happy to come in when i went to get her so ultimately i think she is happiest when she is with her friends and perhaps if i'd have left it longer she would have started to fret.
The good news is the swelling on her hock has gone down lots and the cut does seem like it is beginning to heal (albeit ever so slowly.)
I find it amazing that in Spices distress and anxiety she never once tries to takes her emotions out on me or anyone else and no matter how angry or upset i get with her (sometimes for her own safety i have to use my voice and assert my dominance over her) she never once retaliates.
When Spice is calm she really is the perfect horse and is an absolute pleasure to work with but when she isn't she can be the worst kind becoming a danger to not only herself but others around her and that as always to both her and my own detriment is the problem i fear i will never be able to overcome.
She wasn't...being able to see the other horses in the other field just made her even more distressed and she just couldn't relax so i decided that i would put her back in her stable until the vet came to give her second dose of antibiotics.
At 2pm I then get a call from the livery yard owner saying that Spice still hadn't calmed down, was box walking constantly and that the vet had advised that she would be better off outside with the other horses as she was probably moving around more in her stable than what she would be outside.
So it looks like Spices box rest has come to and end and i can't say i'm upset about the fact. I hate seeing her so unhappy and so distressed. The funny thing is though i can't work out what it was which was making her so unhappy... because when i arrived this evening she was the only one left in the field but was quietly grazing in the pouring rain as happy as larry! (even though there was no other horse in sight) Saying that she was more than happy to come in when i went to get her so ultimately i think she is happiest when she is with her friends and perhaps if i'd have left it longer she would have started to fret.
The good news is the swelling on her hock has gone down lots and the cut does seem like it is beginning to heal (albeit ever so slowly.)
I find it amazing that in Spices distress and anxiety she never once tries to takes her emotions out on me or anyone else and no matter how angry or upset i get with her (sometimes for her own safety i have to use my voice and assert my dominance over her) she never once retaliates.
When Spice is calm she really is the perfect horse and is an absolute pleasure to work with but when she isn't she can be the worst kind becoming a danger to not only herself but others around her and that as always to both her and my own detriment is the problem i fear i will never be able to overcome.
Monday 18 October 2010
204. Veterinary Advice...
Today i decided to get the vet out to see Spices hock again as it was still badly swollen and still seemed to be infected. After waiting around for most of the day the vet finally came and gave me the following news...
The good news is the cut is apparently not deep enough to have caused any damage to the tendons or ligaments surrounding it and that with 5 days box rest and another course of pain killers and antibiotics (injected once daily) he thinks the skin will have healed over enough to prevent any risk of further infection.
When i asked him what i should be doing with regards caring for the wound he simply said to hose it down with cold water morning and night, dry it off with a sterile cloth and then apply some honey.
I asked him about using purple spray and he second what i'd read that it wasn't all that effective in treating wounds and was better for things like thrush.
So i feel a bit happier today in that he seemed to think that it wasn't all that serious and would in time heal over.
The only problem i now face is keeping Spice happy in her stable for 5 days - it's not that she hates being stabled she just hates being away from all her friends (as during the day all of the horses are out). However, my plan is to let her out in the mornings just for a couple of hours whilst i muck out her stable just so she has some 'outside time'. It's not a matter of keeping her in because of the wound getting dirty outside it's so that she can't trot about and cause it to split open. However, being stabled might cause her to lie down more frequently and this flexes the hocks more than anything else so i am unsure as to how much benefit box rest will actually offer especially in view of the fact that she could be lying in poo! And on top of this being immobile will no doubt inhibit blood flow which is essential to the healing process so could even prolong it rather than aid it but i guess i will see how it goes for the next 2-3 days and re-assess the situation then.
As always i find myself questioning natural medicine over conventional medicine...
The good news is the cut is apparently not deep enough to have caused any damage to the tendons or ligaments surrounding it and that with 5 days box rest and another course of pain killers and antibiotics (injected once daily) he thinks the skin will have healed over enough to prevent any risk of further infection.
When i asked him what i should be doing with regards caring for the wound he simply said to hose it down with cold water morning and night, dry it off with a sterile cloth and then apply some honey.
I asked him about using purple spray and he second what i'd read that it wasn't all that effective in treating wounds and was better for things like thrush.
So i feel a bit happier today in that he seemed to think that it wasn't all that serious and would in time heal over.
The only problem i now face is keeping Spice happy in her stable for 5 days - it's not that she hates being stabled she just hates being away from all her friends (as during the day all of the horses are out). However, my plan is to let her out in the mornings just for a couple of hours whilst i muck out her stable just so she has some 'outside time'. It's not a matter of keeping her in because of the wound getting dirty outside it's so that she can't trot about and cause it to split open. However, being stabled might cause her to lie down more frequently and this flexes the hocks more than anything else so i am unsure as to how much benefit box rest will actually offer especially in view of the fact that she could be lying in poo! And on top of this being immobile will no doubt inhibit blood flow which is essential to the healing process so could even prolong it rather than aid it but i guess i will see how it goes for the next 2-3 days and re-assess the situation then.
As always i find myself questioning natural medicine over conventional medicine...
Saturday 16 October 2010
203. Feeling as though i'm on a merry-go-land.
Arghhh...why is it that one minute Spices wound looks better and the next it looks worse. I honestly feel as though i'm going round in circles at the moment. I arrived this evening to find that it was more swollen than it was this morning...does this mean the infection has come back or is it just inflamed? There was hardly any discharge but the wound itself looked worse than it did this morning. So i decided to apply a dry poultice and not spray any more purple spray on it as it seems as though the purple spray may have aggravated the wound more than helped it!
I chose not to apply another wet poultice because the wound is still open and fleshy and is therefore still able to drain so i figured that as long as its draining it shouldn't need a wet poultice however, as always i will find out tomorrow if i was right.
It's so frustrating because it's such a small cut but due to the place (right on the hock joint) just doesn't seem to be healing :(
If it's no better by monday then i will definitely call the vet out.
I chose not to apply another wet poultice because the wound is still open and fleshy and is therefore still able to drain so i figured that as long as its draining it shouldn't need a wet poultice however, as always i will find out tomorrow if i was right.
It's so frustrating because it's such a small cut but due to the place (right on the hock joint) just doesn't seem to be healing :(
If it's no better by monday then i will definitely call the vet out.
202. Should i wet poultice or dry poultice?
So this morning after a rather restless nights sleep worrying about whether or not i'd done the right thing by poulticing Spices leg i arrived to find out i had.
On removing the poultice i found that the swelling had gone down which was a good sign and that what puss there had been in the wound had definitely made an escape onto the poultice - another good sign.
So in view of the fact that poulticing had helped draw out the infection i decided to apply a dry poultice to protect it from getting re-infected. I cleaned the wound, sprayed it with Purple spray (on the basis that all the infection was out) and then let Spice go out for a couple of hours whilst i went went to buy some more vet wrap and lintex. A couple of hours later i came back to apply a dry poultice (simply to protect the wound from bacteria) since it was still open and therefore easily prone. There was no puss whatsoever coming from the wound just a a tiny drop of blood so it definitely looks as though the infection is out. However, i guess only time will tell if this truly is the case.
I am going up later tonight to see what the dry poultice looks like and depending on whether it is pussy or just bloody i will make a decision of whether to apply another wet poultice.
If by tomorrow morning there is still puss coming from the wound i think i will have to call the vet out to re-assess it as Spice had her last dose of antibiotics today so i might well need some more if it is still infected.
On removing the poultice i found that the swelling had gone down which was a good sign and that what puss there had been in the wound had definitely made an escape onto the poultice - another good sign.
So in view of the fact that poulticing had helped draw out the infection i decided to apply a dry poultice to protect it from getting re-infected. I cleaned the wound, sprayed it with Purple spray (on the basis that all the infection was out) and then let Spice go out for a couple of hours whilst i went went to buy some more vet wrap and lintex. A couple of hours later i came back to apply a dry poultice (simply to protect the wound from bacteria) since it was still open and therefore easily prone. There was no puss whatsoever coming from the wound just a a tiny drop of blood so it definitely looks as though the infection is out. However, i guess only time will tell if this truly is the case.
I am going up later tonight to see what the dry poultice looks like and depending on whether it is pussy or just bloody i will make a decision of whether to apply another wet poultice.
If by tomorrow morning there is still puss coming from the wound i think i will have to call the vet out to re-assess it as Spice had her last dose of antibiotics today so i might well need some more if it is still infected.
Friday 15 October 2010
201. To poultice or not poultice?
Unfortunately after a nice scab formed over Spices wounded hock she went and knocked it off whilst in her stable (probably when lying down) which re-opened the wound and allowed bacteria to get in :( So unfortunately it seems to have got re-infected.
She has been on antibiotics for 10 days now which do seem to be helping but there is still a tiny bit of pus showing on the cotton wool i use to clean it twice a day.
Not knowing what to do for the best (after leaving it uncovered for the last 10 days in the hope that the air would get to it and it would start to heal) a couple of the other liveries suggested i apply a wet poultice to it in order to draw out the remaining infection. Not knowing whether this was the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do i went along with this in the hope that their 20 years worth of experience over my 18 months worth would prove to be superior. So fingers crossed this is the case and it looks better tomorrow...I think if the wet poultice does manage to draw out the rest of the infection it might be worth just applying a dry poultice to help protect the wound whilst it heals which i'm hoping will not take too long.
However, i must admit i am beginning to worry. :(
I wonder what would have happened to Spice in the wild if this were to have happened...would she have made a full recovery naturally? or would she have been struck down by infection and become too lame to survive?
I can't help feeling anxious tonight...if it was somewhere more fleshy where there wasn't any bone involved and it wasn't making her lame i think i'd be fine but i can't help but think that the infection is too close for comfort to her hock joint and that ultimately this could be very serious if it is not controlled and dealt with effectively.
How the woman in the video below coped is beyond me. I consider myself to be quite strong when faced with such challenges but for some reason i can't help but fear the worst at the moment.
Please Get Well Soon Spice X
She has been on antibiotics for 10 days now which do seem to be helping but there is still a tiny bit of pus showing on the cotton wool i use to clean it twice a day.
Not knowing what to do for the best (after leaving it uncovered for the last 10 days in the hope that the air would get to it and it would start to heal) a couple of the other liveries suggested i apply a wet poultice to it in order to draw out the remaining infection. Not knowing whether this was the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do i went along with this in the hope that their 20 years worth of experience over my 18 months worth would prove to be superior. So fingers crossed this is the case and it looks better tomorrow...I think if the wet poultice does manage to draw out the rest of the infection it might be worth just applying a dry poultice to help protect the wound whilst it heals which i'm hoping will not take too long.
However, i must admit i am beginning to worry. :(
I wonder what would have happened to Spice in the wild if this were to have happened...would she have made a full recovery naturally? or would she have been struck down by infection and become too lame to survive?
I can't help feeling anxious tonight...if it was somewhere more fleshy where there wasn't any bone involved and it wasn't making her lame i think i'd be fine but i can't help but think that the infection is too close for comfort to her hock joint and that ultimately this could be very serious if it is not controlled and dealt with effectively.
How the woman in the video below coped is beyond me. I consider myself to be quite strong when faced with such challenges but for some reason i can't help but fear the worst at the moment.
Please Get Well Soon Spice X
Tuesday 12 October 2010
200. Recovery Period
As always following an injury there is always a 'recovery period' which can be highly frustrating at times - especially when the weather is nice and you only have one horse (selfish as that sounds).
However, i am pleased to say that Spice's cut is looking heaps better. It is now 7 days since she got kicked in the hock but all is going well, the swelling has gone down and a nice scab is forming over the wound so it shouldn't be long until it is naturally protected from bacteria and therefore wont be prone to infection meaning she come off of her antibiotics.
I think it's always easy to 'worry or stress' over even the smallest ailments our horses have partly because they can't tell us how they are feeling and we always fear the worst but doing a little research on the internet always makes me realise that i have absolutely nothing to worry about...
I think it's amazing that this mare was saved - although i have to admit that if it was my horse i'd have found it incredibly hard to not consider the alternative.
However, i am pleased to say that Spice's cut is looking heaps better. It is now 7 days since she got kicked in the hock but all is going well, the swelling has gone down and a nice scab is forming over the wound so it shouldn't be long until it is naturally protected from bacteria and therefore wont be prone to infection meaning she come off of her antibiotics.
I think it's always easy to 'worry or stress' over even the smallest ailments our horses have partly because they can't tell us how they are feeling and we always fear the worst but doing a little research on the internet always makes me realise that i have absolutely nothing to worry about...
I think it's amazing that this mare was saved - although i have to admit that if it was my horse i'd have found it incredibly hard to not consider the alternative.
Thursday 7 October 2010
199. Cuts, Grazes, Knocks, Bruises, Abscesses, Lameness anything else???
So the good news is Spices cut seems to be a lot better :) - it got a little muddy with her being kept in the field overnight but i gave it a good clean and a second dose of antibiotics and the swelling definitely seems to have gone down which is a good sign.
Tonight it looked like it might rain pretty hard so all the horses were brought in and Spice was given a deep bed of straw (as i haven't yet had any time to buy any rubber matting) to see if that makes any difference to her legs swelling up so i guess i will see what the outcome of that is tomorrow morning (although at the minute i'm more concerned about the swelling on her hock.)
Why is it that some horses are so prone to injury whereas others seem as hard as nails? I think if i counted the amount of times Spice has had a cut/graze, bruise, abscess or any other injury causing lameness i'd be able to say that on average she had something once a month!
However, even though i can't ride Spice at the mo i still managed to go on a lovely hack on one of my friends horses today which was real nice so all is not bad. :)
Tonight it looked like it might rain pretty hard so all the horses were brought in and Spice was given a deep bed of straw (as i haven't yet had any time to buy any rubber matting) to see if that makes any difference to her legs swelling up so i guess i will see what the outcome of that is tomorrow morning (although at the minute i'm more concerned about the swelling on her hock.)
Why is it that some horses are so prone to injury whereas others seem as hard as nails? I think if i counted the amount of times Spice has had a cut/graze, bruise, abscess or any other injury causing lameness i'd be able to say that on average she had something once a month!
However, even though i can't ride Spice at the mo i still managed to go on a lovely hack on one of my friends horses today which was real nice so all is not bad. :)
Wednesday 6 October 2010
198. Can Rubber Matting aid circulation and guard against stocking up?
This evening i decided to turn Spice out even though she has some swelling to her hock (caused by her cut) because last night her legs filled up again due to being stabled so i thought it was better that she was walking about aiding circulation rather than inhibiting it...did i do the right thing? who knows, i guess i will find out tomorrow morning.
Anyway...in view of the fact that i will have to bring her in when the weather gets bad i really need to do something to prevent this swelling from re-occurring so i decided to do some research on the internet and apparently rubber matting can really help (which is what she had at her last livery yard) where her legs didn't fill up so could this be what's making the difference? I hope so because if it is then i can potentially solve the problem.
I've been having so much fun hacking Spice out lately but what with her getting swollen legs each time she's stabled and then getting kicked leaving her with a nasty cut and a swollen hock you can't help but sometimes think...is it all worth it? And then i look at her and she looks back at me with that 'Bambi' like expression of hers and tells me it all is.
Tuesday 5 October 2010
197. Wound Powder, Hibi Scrub, Iodine Solution or Purple Spray?
Before hacking Spice out today we noticed she had a cut on her hind leg - it didn't seem hot and there was no visible swelling so we decided to wash it off and just spray it with some disinfectant. When i got back home i thought i'd check online what the best thing to use on a cut was and to my surprise i found that purple spray which (if i'd have had it in the back of my car i would definitely have used) is not actually supposed to be very good and neither is wound powder. Apparently they help 'seal' the wounds which if not completely cleaned can harbour bacteria and cause infection. Iodine and Hibi Scrub on the other hand are thought to cleanse wounds and leave them open for any bacteria to drain and are therefore thought to be safer as long as the horse isn't turned out into a really muddy field or left in a dirty stable. After the initial treatment has been administered however neither of these substances are recommended as apparently they can inhibit new healthy tissue growth. So it is advised that after they have received this initial treatment cuts are simply bathed in salt water twice a day.
http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/Community-Landing/Forum-Landing/Forum-Categories/Topic/?&topic-id=4365
http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/Community-Landing/Forum-Landing/Forum-Categories/Topic/?&topic-id=4365
Monday 4 October 2010
196. Hacking out with the right companion...
Today i hacked Spice out with Ebbie - a horse which can be quite spooky and nappy and to my surprise Spice was more confident than ever -pushing to lead on the way out and happily going in front when pulling in for vehicles to pass - something she has had an issue with before. This made me wonder whether the notion (as many would believe) of hacking a nervous horse out with a more confident horse to help improve their confidence really works as often it seems the nervous horse ends up relying on and hiding behind the more confident horse rather building up their own confidence. I have also found that Spices attention seems to become completely absorbed by a more confident horse to the point where i have felt more like a passenger than a driver which also does nothing for building up your horses trust in you.
So i think from now on i will try to hack out with horses of equal or less confidence than Spice as i feel this works far better.
But as always only time will tell if i am right. :)
So i think from now on i will try to hack out with horses of equal or less confidence than Spice as i feel this works far better.
But as always only time will tell if i am right. :)
Saturday 2 October 2010
195. Hooves that don't make a sound...
I haven't written about Spices hooves in a while because to be honest there's not really been much to report. When i arrived with Spice at her new livery yard just (one month ago) I was a little worried about her hooves due to the fact that all the pathways to and from the fields were really stoney and i'd even anticipated that i might need to put hoof boots on her whenever i wanted to bring her in but her hooves (now approaching their 9th month of being unshod) have continued to fare well. I can walk/trot her around the roads completely barefoot for up to an hour without her getting foot sore and since her first abscess back at the beginning of the year (when i first removed her shoes) i haven't had any further issues/problems. I am hoping that they continue to fare well over the winter (as this is the time i think they could deteriorate the most) - due to the wet weather but fingers crossed they do well. She has now gone down a size in her hoof boots due i think to the fact that the white line has become tighter and these days they seem to be doing a very nice job of trimming themselves. :)
It's funny when i go out with her because her footsteps are so quiet that people always look at her feet to work out why and then say 'oh...your horse has no shoes' and i just smile as i walk on by and feel proud.
It's funny when i go out with her because her footsteps are so quiet that people always look at her feet to work out why and then say 'oh...your horse has no shoes' and i just smile as i walk on by and feel proud.
Friday 1 October 2010
194. Stabling = Lack of Movement = Lack of Circulation = Fluid Retention = Filled/Swollen Legs...
Today when i went up to see Spice i noticed that her two hind legs were once again swollen. This time i knew it had to be down to the fact that she was stabled as she had no cuts and it was the first time she had been stabled in weeks (due to the weather being so bad). Although she'd only been in for 12 or so hours it was obviously long enough to cause a decrease in circulation and substantial fluid retention in both hind limbs. Since this never happened at her previous livery yard (when she was shod) i think it could be occurring because she is now barefoot and is therefore used to having more blood circulation which without being mobile is becoming restricted. Of course i could be completely wrong about this - it's just a hunch i have in view of the fact that she used to be stabled for up to 140 hours per week and never once had such a problem.
Having read up on this condition - known as 'stocked up' it seems it is not serious and usually disappears within a few hours of being exercised. However, i can't say i'm all too pleased knowing that stabling her overnight is affecting her circulation so much so that her legs are swelling up! So I think if they continue to fill i will have to opt for leaving Spice outside and only stabling her when it's pouring it down as long term i don't think the effects of her legs filling up will do her limbs any good. :(
I have moved her haylage from the front of the stable to the back to encourage her to walk around more which i'm hoping will make a difference so will see if it has tomorrow morning.
Apart from that Spice had her second visit with the chiropractor today who wanted to come back and treat her left hind leg again after finding that she was quite stiff on it last time and the good news is it's a lot better and she only has some mild soreness through her back which is probably due to being exercised more.
Having read up on this condition - known as 'stocked up' it seems it is not serious and usually disappears within a few hours of being exercised. However, i can't say i'm all too pleased knowing that stabling her overnight is affecting her circulation so much so that her legs are swelling up! So I think if they continue to fill i will have to opt for leaving Spice outside and only stabling her when it's pouring it down as long term i don't think the effects of her legs filling up will do her limbs any good. :(
I have moved her haylage from the front of the stable to the back to encourage her to walk around more which i'm hoping will make a difference so will see if it has tomorrow morning.
Apart from that Spice had her second visit with the chiropractor today who wanted to come back and treat her left hind leg again after finding that she was quite stiff on it last time and the good news is it's a lot better and she only has some mild soreness through her back which is probably due to being exercised more.
Monday 20 September 2010
193. Back to work...
Shortly after the chiropractor came to visit Spice she had what the vet thought was a short episode of lymphangitis where all three of her legs became filled. She wasn't lame on them but they were quite badly swollen. We're still not entirely sure what caused it - the vet thinks a small cut on her left hind leg may have become infected or suggested it could have been due to her being stabled overnight (for the first time in almost year!) but either way they all went back down to normal within a few days and she is now sound again. :)
Hacked her out today and she was so well behaved. She had boots on her fronts but was barefoot on her hinds and i was really pleased because even on the really rocky terrain they didn't move an inch and she seemed to cope fine without any protection on her hinds.
It's definitely starting to get a bit more difficult riding whilst having a bump, walking is fine but rising trot is a bit uncomfortable so i might have to stick to just walking and the sitting trot.
Realistically i think i have another 4 weeks left of being able to ride until i get too big which means I will not be riding her over the winter but that's probably the best time to not be able to ride and at the minute i am just thankful that i'm not too big to hack and the weather is still so nice.
Spice has really settled into her new home now...her poos are back to normal and she seems very comfortable in her surroundings.
Hacked her out today and she was so well behaved. She had boots on her fronts but was barefoot on her hinds and i was really pleased because even on the really rocky terrain they didn't move an inch and she seemed to cope fine without any protection on her hinds.
It's definitely starting to get a bit more difficult riding whilst having a bump, walking is fine but rising trot is a bit uncomfortable so i might have to stick to just walking and the sitting trot.
Realistically i think i have another 4 weeks left of being able to ride until i get too big which means I will not be riding her over the winter but that's probably the best time to not be able to ride and at the minute i am just thankful that i'm not too big to hack and the weather is still so nice.
Spice has really settled into her new home now...her poos are back to normal and she seems very comfortable in her surroundings.
Saturday 11 September 2010
192. Spices session with the Chiropractor...
Yesterday i had a Chiropractor come out to see Spice since before i owned her she'd never before seen one and when i had one come out to see her shortly afterwards they had said she was too sore to have anything done and had even suggested that she could have Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy which at the time i was very skeptical about since she had only just recovered from being lame on her hind hoof for almost 8 weeks which in my view was far more likely to be the reason behind any soreness.
And i am pleased to say that yesterday the Chiropractor confirmed my skepticism finding no reason whatsoever to suspect Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy. The only bit of soreness she could find was in her right hind leg (the one which had the hoof abscess) where she said that due to the lameness Spices muscles had shortened in comparison to the other side and that she wasn't able to flex as much but that in time this would even itself out and that i just needed to do some stretches after working her.
She recommended that she see Spice again in 4 weeks time to work on the area again but that she didn't see that there would be a need for any further treatment after that.
So i am really pleased because her back is absolutely fine which means her treeless saddle must fit her well and apart from a bit of soreness in her leg which is not affecting her ability to work she in very good shape. :)
The Chiropractor i used to treat Spice was Claire Warman who works primarily in the Somerset/Avon area. She has some of the highest credentials in the industry and is also embarking on a Msc in Veterinary Physiotherapy at Harper Adams University College. If anyone is in need of a Chiropractor in the Somerset/Avon area I would definitely recommend her. She spent over an hour manipulating/massaging/stretching Spices ligaments/muscles and Spice genuinely seemed to love it.
And i am pleased to say that yesterday the Chiropractor confirmed my skepticism finding no reason whatsoever to suspect Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy. The only bit of soreness she could find was in her right hind leg (the one which had the hoof abscess) where she said that due to the lameness Spices muscles had shortened in comparison to the other side and that she wasn't able to flex as much but that in time this would even itself out and that i just needed to do some stretches after working her.
She recommended that she see Spice again in 4 weeks time to work on the area again but that she didn't see that there would be a need for any further treatment after that.
So i am really pleased because her back is absolutely fine which means her treeless saddle must fit her well and apart from a bit of soreness in her leg which is not affecting her ability to work she in very good shape. :)
The Chiropractor i used to treat Spice was Claire Warman who works primarily in the Somerset/Avon area. She has some of the highest credentials in the industry and is also embarking on a Msc in Veterinary Physiotherapy at Harper Adams University College. If anyone is in need of a Chiropractor in the Somerset/Avon area I would definitely recommend her. She spent over an hour manipulating/massaging/stretching Spices ligaments/muscles and Spice genuinely seemed to love it.
Thursday 9 September 2010
191. Spices 9th Barefoot Trim...
Today the barefoot trimmer came to give Spice her 9th barefoot trim. Having had Spice on quite rich grazing for the last week and having had to walk her over stony pathways around the yard i was expecting the trimmer to say that her hooves hadn't improved but she said that they actually looked better and that her front hooves are beginning to get more concavity with every trim. So, it seems that her hooves are fairing well in her new surroundings which i couldn't be happier about.
Just before her trim she was schooled for 30 minutes and was so well behaved considering it was her first time in the new arena and the first time she's been schooled for a couple of weeks. She completed the jump course without any refusals or hesitation whatsoever and cleared every single one with ease so i was very pleased with her.
Just before her trim she was schooled for 30 minutes and was so well behaved considering it was her first time in the new arena and the first time she's been schooled for a couple of weeks. She completed the jump course without any refusals or hesitation whatsoever and cleared every single one with ease so i was very pleased with her.
Wednesday 8 September 2010
190. New Home...No New Problems!!!
Today as i said in my previous post i had the vet come out to administer Spices annual booster and at the same time check her hooves over.
The vet tested for sensitivity in each hoof with hoof testers and to my delight and surprise found no sensitivity whatsoever...which was good given that during the night she'd jumped the electric fence yet again to gain access to the rich grazing (this time leaving her two best friends)!
I was so relieved and happy that i nearly kissed him. I was so sure that she was foot sore but apparently not. :) He said her hooves were pretty tough and that unless she got sore he saw no reason why i should put shoes back on but to take each day as it comes and keep an eye on grazing.
So as i said in my last post i have decided to keep her in for 6-8 hours during the day and only put her out in the evenings at least until the grass stops growing. I have bought a muzzle for her but i would really prefer not to use it if possible as when i put it on her she looked absolutely miserable in it so i think i will see how she is over the next few days with her new routine.
Tomorrow, Spice has her hooves trimmed for the 9th time so i will get a second opinion on everything for my own peace of mind. After the trimmer has been she is being schooled and possibly jumped in the livery yards new arena which i'm really looking forward to! I have only ever watched Spice be ridden around a jumping course once before and she was a little nervous to say the least but i think without the nerves she will be awesome and we've practiced loads too so she should be lots better.
I might just video her tomorrow as it would be nice to see if all our hard work has paid off.
The vet tested for sensitivity in each hoof with hoof testers and to my delight and surprise found no sensitivity whatsoever...which was good given that during the night she'd jumped the electric fence yet again to gain access to the rich grazing (this time leaving her two best friends)!
I was so relieved and happy that i nearly kissed him. I was so sure that she was foot sore but apparently not. :) He said her hooves were pretty tough and that unless she got sore he saw no reason why i should put shoes back on but to take each day as it comes and keep an eye on grazing.
So as i said in my last post i have decided to keep her in for 6-8 hours during the day and only put her out in the evenings at least until the grass stops growing. I have bought a muzzle for her but i would really prefer not to use it if possible as when i put it on her she looked absolutely miserable in it so i think i will see how she is over the next few days with her new routine.
Tomorrow, Spice has her hooves trimmed for the 9th time so i will get a second opinion on everything for my own peace of mind. After the trimmer has been she is being schooled and possibly jumped in the livery yards new arena which i'm really looking forward to! I have only ever watched Spice be ridden around a jumping course once before and she was a little nervous to say the least but i think without the nerves she will be awesome and we've practiced loads too so she should be lots better.
I might just video her tomorrow as it would be nice to see if all our hard work has paid off.
Tuesday 7 September 2010
189. New home...new problems...
This morning i got a call from the livery yard owner where Spice is kept saying that she didn't look quite right and had been seen lying down and looking uncomfortable on her feet :(
So, we agreed that she should be brought in and i would be there as soon as i could to check on her. So off i go to my local feed store to get some high fibre low sugar haylage to substitute her grass intake whilst inside.
I arrive at the stables to find Spice standing up and alert (her normal self) which was a good sign and immediately check her hooves over. They all feel warm to touch with raised digital pulses but they don't look out of shape apart from the odd bit of chipping and she doesn't have a cresty neck and is not particularly overweight so I walk her around the yard to see how she is moving and she seems to be walking o.k so i decide to keep her in for the rest of the day with small rations of haylage, water and a salt lick and decide to come back to check on her later on...
Later on i arrive to find her still standing up so she is obviously not that uncomfortable since the stable flooring is concrete - although we did make a nice deep bed for her to lie down in if she wished but apparently she hadn't used it. So i walk her around the yard again to check her movement and once again she seems fine. So, having kept her in all day we decide to put her out in a small paddock with limited grazing with 2 other horses. The only problem is 2 of Spices best friends are in the paddock next door. So, as soon as i take off her head collar she gallops flat out to go and meet them until she realises there is a fence in her way....However, not to be deterred by a 3 foot fence Spice continues to trot around showing absolutely no signs of discomfort and with a little determination and impulsion she jumps straight over it making a b line for her companions.
The problem is i can't leave her out there with them because that's where she was before and the grass is just too rich and if it is mild laminitis that's the worst thing she can be out on so we then decide to put all of them in the restricted grazing paddock in the hope that if they are all in there together Spice wont feel the need to escape.
Tomorrow i think i will keep Spice in during the day and only let her out in the evening with a muzzle on.
Luckily, I have the vet coming tomorrow to give Spice her yearly vaccination so will be able to ask them whether it is the onset of laminitis and what course of action to take and the day after that my trimmer is coming so she will be able to advise me too.
My gut feeling is that it's probably a very mild case of laminitis and a warning sign that the grass is definitely too rich and if her poos are anything to go by that's definitely the case but if i stick to my plan above i think all will be o.k.
I guess the one good thing is that because i have seen Spice literally walk around crippled before for weeks on end due to a recurring abscess i don't tend to get stressed about her being 'slightly tender/uncomfortable and luckily i feel i know enough (having had a pony at my last yard have acute laminitis and make a full recovery) to know that as long as you are responsible and take action quickly it wont develop into anything serious.
So i guess I will update you all tomorrow to let you know what the vet thinks...fingers crossed it's what i think and nothing else. :)
So, we agreed that she should be brought in and i would be there as soon as i could to check on her. So off i go to my local feed store to get some high fibre low sugar haylage to substitute her grass intake whilst inside.
I arrive at the stables to find Spice standing up and alert (her normal self) which was a good sign and immediately check her hooves over. They all feel warm to touch with raised digital pulses but they don't look out of shape apart from the odd bit of chipping and she doesn't have a cresty neck and is not particularly overweight so I walk her around the yard to see how she is moving and she seems to be walking o.k so i decide to keep her in for the rest of the day with small rations of haylage, water and a salt lick and decide to come back to check on her later on...
Later on i arrive to find her still standing up so she is obviously not that uncomfortable since the stable flooring is concrete - although we did make a nice deep bed for her to lie down in if she wished but apparently she hadn't used it. So i walk her around the yard again to check her movement and once again she seems fine. So, having kept her in all day we decide to put her out in a small paddock with limited grazing with 2 other horses. The only problem is 2 of Spices best friends are in the paddock next door. So, as soon as i take off her head collar she gallops flat out to go and meet them until she realises there is a fence in her way....However, not to be deterred by a 3 foot fence Spice continues to trot around showing absolutely no signs of discomfort and with a little determination and impulsion she jumps straight over it making a b line for her companions.
The problem is i can't leave her out there with them because that's where she was before and the grass is just too rich and if it is mild laminitis that's the worst thing she can be out on so we then decide to put all of them in the restricted grazing paddock in the hope that if they are all in there together Spice wont feel the need to escape.
Tomorrow i think i will keep Spice in during the day and only let her out in the evening with a muzzle on.
Luckily, I have the vet coming tomorrow to give Spice her yearly vaccination so will be able to ask them whether it is the onset of laminitis and what course of action to take and the day after that my trimmer is coming so she will be able to advise me too.
My gut feeling is that it's probably a very mild case of laminitis and a warning sign that the grass is definitely too rich and if her poos are anything to go by that's definitely the case but if i stick to my plan above i think all will be o.k.
I guess the one good thing is that because i have seen Spice literally walk around crippled before for weeks on end due to a recurring abscess i don't tend to get stressed about her being 'slightly tender/uncomfortable and luckily i feel i know enough (having had a pony at my last yard have acute laminitis and make a full recovery) to know that as long as you are responsible and take action quickly it wont develop into anything serious.
So i guess I will update you all tomorrow to let you know what the vet thinks...fingers crossed it's what i think and nothing else. :)
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