|
Foot
-
Foot
injuries are common problems,
and often result in sudden and acute lameness. The cause may be
a sharp stone, nail or piece of glass piercing the sole and penetrating
the 'quick'.
Having
picked out the foot, study the sole carefully and remove any foreign
body. If there is a lot of bleeding from the sole, hose it, cover
with a clean pad, bandage firmly and Call
the vet.
Note the point of penetration exactly.
Bruising
on blunt objects often produces pain and lameness, but without-outward
evidence of cause in the early days. Over-reaches and bruising
of the heel are painful and sore.
Hosing
and thorough cleaning and dressing with Epsom salts and glycerine,
or Animalintex poulticing for no more than 3 days, and covering,
may be all that is necessary so long as the area is kept clean
If there is a deep cut Call
the vet
Simple
pastern injuries can be painful and difficult to heal, because
every time the horse takes a step the skin is stretched. Clean
thoroughly then twice daily apply Epsom salts and glycerine, and
bandage over a dressing pad or poultice with Animalintex.
Over-reaches
to pastern and heel areas should be carefully cleaned and
dressed in the first instance with Epsom salts and Glycerine,
and covered.
If
in three days 'first-aid' is not giving results, or if the
injury is very deep, consult
your vet.
Abscesses, often caused by a bad bruise as well as penetration
of the sole, can be very painful and their location difficult
to determine. A characteristic is distension of the vein which
runs on the inside of the leg before dividing to pass either side
of the fetlock, where there will be extra- strong pulses. Hot
bran poulticing or Animalintex, or hot tubbing, is sensible first-aid;
an Equiboot or foot bandage will keep the dressing in place. Your
vet will make a small hole in the sole to release the pus.
A
pulled shoe may result in a nail injury, which may bleed copiously.
Remove the nail to prevent further damage, note the entry point,
clean and cover the sole, Call
the vet
Back
to reference section home
|
