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.
Friday 26 November 2010
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.
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