I ended up taking Rico to Palm Beach Equine Clinic for surgery which was done this past Tues 4/8 - I watched the 1.5 hour surgery and it is something to see how they bring a knocked out horse into the surgical room and lay them on the padded table...  The vet removed a fist sized chunk of bad tissue which they cut open but couldn't find any foreign bodies.  She said whatever it was had dissolved, but the bad tissue needed to be removed.  She sewed him up in several layers and then put staples down the length of the 8" opening.  Next she put in 8 loop stitches on the sides of the wound, placed a towel over the wound, then attched it with tape to the 8 stitch loops - pretty neat way to cover the wound and keep it clean, fly free, etc.

     He's done well and I'm bringing him home later today!  He'll have to be on stall rest for 2 months with some hand grazing and once the staples come out will be able to go out in his paddock as long as he doesn't goof around.  It will be tough as he's used to all night turnout on grass.  I'm just glad he did so well and hopeful this will cure the issue.  He'll be on 2 different strong antibiotics for 2 weeks to make sure all the infection is gone.

   I can't say enough about the surgical vet and all the staff at the clinic.  They have been extremely kind, considerate, encouraging, and take very good care of all the horses there.  They have 17 vets on staff, about 40 support staff, and have room for 20 horses.  I visited all the horses there and recognized several gran prix horses I have seen compete on TV.  Rico was in exaulted company for sure!  The hospital staff were very impressive as they would groom the horses, hand graze them, rub their ears, give them kisses, baths, besides the normal stall cleaning, meds, hay, etc.

    There were several colic cases and laminities - can't stress enough to not overfeed your horses as there were several overlay fat warmbloods there for treatment.  One TB had pnemonia and they had to remove a rib!  very scary opening, another TB had a wicked looking eye ulcer - they do it all there, so I knew he was in great hands. 

   I hope I never have to go through something like this again! And yes my purse is lighter, but he's certainly worth the price.

So glad to hear your boy is doing well! Keep us updated.

Brenda

Just curious, why two months of stall rest? Will it take that long to heal up, or is it because of the location of the injury?  Glad to hear that they were able to help him.

-Betty

She sewed up the opening in several layers - I thought 50 stitches, the tech attending said more like 75, then a row of staples on top.  It has to heal properly and she doesn't want him running around popping the staples or stitches.

I have been setting up an electric paddock so he can graze without me having to hold onto him.  He's been very good about just eating and not goofing around.  I've also started leaving the stall door open during the day so he can walk around the paddock.  The other horses are in during the day so he stays quieter.

He's doing well, but now his sheath has swelled, so I'm calling the clinic this morning.  He also refuses to eat the meds in his grain, so I've been mixing them in applesauce, put them in a syringe and then give them to him....  not fun but he's gotta get them.