Starting With A Leg Update

When we last left our erstwhile equine hero, he was unfortunately bound from shoulder to ground and held captive in a terrible prison....

Okay, okay. So maybe I'm being dramatic. Speaking of drama, I feel I must warn you there are graphic photos ahead.

I am happy to report that the following morning the drugs appeared to have done their duty! His knee was much reduced in size, and no longer exhibiting signs of an acute cellulitis outbreak. On top of that, he trotted (er... galloped?) extremely sound 20 meter circles in turnout.

Oh yeah, buddy. Looking real injured here.

It was almost like he was begging to be put on the trailer and taken to the show. So of course, that's just what we did.

"Except, like. I'm totally not. Also, why would you make me stand so close to my own very recent poop? This is an outrage. I am outraged."
-- Pig, probably

I wrapped his knee under his shipping boots just to be careful, and we journeyed the 20 minutes to the stunning Loch Moy. I figured if he didn't continue to improve, I could treat him there just as well as at home. If he did, we could show. No harm either way.

Exciting fact! Pig did not fall down on this trip. Way to go Pig!

Arrival was uneventful. I didn't want to push Pig's improving leg, so instead of riding him I just let him pose majestically in front of glorious mountain views and eat his body weight in lush xc course grass.

"I AM ALL THAT IS HORSE. WORSHIP ME."
-- again, Pig

Jan and I poured through the rule books looking for any indication that I could be pulled from the show for an obvious leg wound. There was no way this sucker was going to close up overnight.

Showing with a leg wound? Awkward.

We found nothing. The rules on blood and wounds are very carefully written, it turns out. Lameness would get us withdrawn (though, also I would scratch if he was lame...), as would blood anywhere drawn by a rider aid (mouth, flank, belly). We could find no indication that a cut to the leg like Pig's would get me picked on by the TD or judge.

The morning of the show dawned, and he was so gloriously sound. And so we showed.

Here's a pretty picture of us showing to distract you from the leg horrors I warned you are to come. GIRD YO LOINS, FOR DREAD IS UPON THEE.

At the show, I noticed the wound was deep. Like, into the fat layer deep. That meant as Pig moved his leg, fluid was being pushed through the opening, and (are you ready for this? Probably not...) foaming. Yeah. I know. Gross. But also, kind of just looked like my dressage horse just foamed on his own leg.

Okay. So... maybe not quite exactly like that.

The depth of the wound worked against me as I transitioned to caring for this monstrosity while Pig has remained in full turnout with his rough and tumble gang. For starters the wound was left open, while barn staff and I cleaned it out with betadine and put on antibacterial wound care ointments. This was not quite as effective as I'd hoped.

See. It started... uh, growing.

Wtf is that? Aliens? Spiders again?

The wound itself began to look granulated, like proud flesh was taking a deep hold. It refused to close up and was leaky all the time.

Mmm, granulated and leaky. So delicious.

The vet wasn't too worried. He attributed the swelling to delayed reaction to the trauma of the event, and we ruled out an abscess. He suggested a few methods to deal with the proud flesh issue.

Pictured: A few methods

I was directed to apply hydrocortisone cream directly to the wound. Any scrubbing I could do with betadine would also be good. I took it upon myself to do some light scrubbing and application of wound powder before rides to help keep it from being too disgustingly leaky.

The horse remained sound.

"I am horrified by my new leg jewelry, but otherwise unfazed. As per usual. Because I cut myself ALL THE GODDAMN TIME."
-- Pig, His Royal Majesty, Ruler of Mysterious Wounds

After two weeks of the hydrocortisone treatment plan, I'm happy to say things look much better with the leg.

The large swelling is ... uh... down? Localized? Less? Lets go with "less".

The wound is starting to look like a normal wound, and closing up internally finally.

Bai leaky knee! Hello scabland!

I'm happy with the progress, and now I'm just wondering what kind of cool scar we'll have to commemorate this lovely vet bill moment in time.

Plz. No more vets.