Our 17 mo old filly has a wound on her outer front leg.When we first found it,we immediately called the vet,and followed her instructions for care.I also gave the filly a tetanus/EWE booster. After about a week of trying to keep a dressing on this leg,I could see that it wasn't getting any better,but worse.It was draining purulent drainage,and the knee was swollen.She was limping,too.I got back in touch with my vet who was out of town the day I called,and 2 days later took her in.Well,she stuck a hemostat inside the wound and found that it was "tunneling" or tracting some.She did not treat it,but gave me some Gentamycin to put in 500 cc of saline and told me to irrigate it twice daily with the small tip of a syringe.Have you ever tried this? I knew how to do it,all right,but after about 3 times,NO WAY.And it was getting no better,and draining a lot.So,I took her to another vet in my town 2 days later,he gave her Penicillin,and a tetanus antitoxin shot,and gave me Pen.powder to feed once a day,has me washing the leg off with cold water twice a day.

I know that is a long description but,here is what is worrying me: the wound looks clean,maybe a little proud flesh,but not too much drainage.The knee is still swollen somewhat,not as bad,and the rest of the lower leg has gone back to normal.But,she is STILL limping pretty much.

Could there be something in this wound that is causing it to close over from the outside? Could the knee joint be involved (infected?) and btw,they both have me giving her a gram of Bute daily.Any thoughts/ideas? Thanks.

Keeping the wound rinsed twice daily with a good blast from the hose (about 15 minutes worth) should keep it open and draining.  Covering the wound with ichthammol ointment will help pull any infection to the opening, thus reducing tunneling/pocketing.  Sounds like you are on the right track!

As far as the bute goes, my personal opinion from years of owning accident prone horses, you do want the injured horse to feel some pain.  If the filly knows she is hurting she won't run around and do more damage.  Instead the pain will keep her "low and slow" which helps her heal faster by not running around wasting energy acting her age but allowing her body to work on the task at hand.  So if you feel the need to ease her pain then go for it but don't eliminate it or you'll find this process will drag on forever.

She has been in a round pen since it happened,so,she's not doing any running around,I assure you.She can't run on it.That's what has me pretty concerned.If she was doing some running on it I'd feel better,quiet frankly.She's doing good to walk on it.

I have seen the ointment you talk about,never used it,I'm not sure that I can find it around here.Our Tractor Supply is woefully lacking in a variety of items like this.

I have been doing the water treatment as the vet said,but it has formed some proud flesh appearance now,and I think it has tried to close over with the tract still open inside.I'm a nurse,and the only way I've ever treated those types of wounds in my patients is by packing it with Betadine gauze and pulling it out on a scheduled basis and repacking as it closes,a feat that would be impossible on a horse's leg.

I'll try not giving the Bute today,but,I don't believe it is affecting her activity level one way or another,she's pretty low key now.

you might try packing it with sugar and bandage; that will draw out anything in there; if you have smz/tmp ds, you might give her 10 2x a day for 10 days.....as I am sure you know, those will melt in water then you can squirt it in her mouth....not a lot of fun I know, but effective send my best to you and your filly

is it possible to get an xray of the leg?

might try Kim Garner DVM clinic in Millington, TN  or Jennifer Dunlap DVM Somerville TN (she has on board her truck x ray)

You can find ichthammol ointment in just about any drug store (human) just ask for it as sometimes it's behind the counter.

I'm not sure I'd jump into thinking it's a joint infection unless you see the knee balloon with swelling and heat.  Joint infections tend to swell and get hot really fast, I've never seen one fester in silence but I haven't seen everything I openly admit.

Go with your gut, if you feel the need to chase down another vet then do it.  If not, stick with a vet you trust and follow their game plan.

They missed it because my first vet that I usually use didn't see her until about after 2 wks.I talked with her over the phone and followed her advice,we never dreamed it was a fracture.Thought about it,but,she was bearing weight fairly well on it in the beginning.When she did see her,she didn't Xray it,she can't do XRays.

The second vet saw her a wk ago,and went on the assumption that it WAS an infected wound with a draining tract,so,he medicated with the tetanus and antibiotics and said bring her back in a wk if she wasn't better,and,the drainage is but not the lameness.So,we brought her back,and,that's the outcome.

Rose,sent you a PM about above subject.

That's all I use anymore is Underwood Horse Medicine.   No more exspensive bandages or stiches for me.  I swear by the stuff.  They have a Website under the same name.