Remember my horse who jumped the 4 ft. field fence? Well that scrape that she got on her chest if now swollen. There doesnt appear to be any soreness and there are no punctures, etc. I'm afraid she might have chipped a bone but there seems to be no indication of that either. The scrape however is edemic. I've been treating it with cold, cold water flushes, then baby oil gel mixed with epsom salt. I was out of vaseline.  

At any rate, today I put on the vaseline and epsom salts but it's still swollen. Any suggestions?

I cant see any signs of infection. It's a scrape. No soreness, no puss, nothing that even looks close. I flushed it with anti-biotics and peroxide in the begining just to make sure. Is there some other test that I;m missing?

Also, when you say sweat it out do you mean wait it out or literally, put her in a sauna! Only kidding. I mean, apply heat.

would ichthammol not work in this situation?

I have a gelding that was brought to me with a similar problem. After a couple of days of soaking it with epsoms and treating it with assorted ointments, the infection was still there. The old man who owned the barn hobbled out one day and put the ichthammol right on the wound - the next day the infection had been pulled out - the wound healed in about 5 days after that. - It might be worth considering

Good Luck!!!

Thank you all for your input/advice. If you have any other ideas please feel free to post them. hconley, that's what I've been doing with the cold water and today I switched over to cut & heal (similar to scarlet oil, etc. right? I've never used the products you mentioned but I'm a slave to Cut&heal.)

As far as the DSMO, good suggestion but I'm a little shy of that stuff. I dont know why. I probably should take her to the vet for an x-ray. This horse is amazing but just when we really start going on her training she manages to get herself into some mess. Smart horse but still young and very impulsive. It would kill me if anything happened to her. She has so much potential. I'm thinking maybe better safe than sorry? I dont want to pay the $$$$$$$$$$$$ but I'd never forgive myself if something is going on in there with a bone or something and I've missed it. There has to be some reason for the swelling and I feel I should have seen some improvement by now since I seem to be doing the right things. Yes? No?  (Sorry to go on and on but I'm sort of thinking out loud after processing all your good advice.)

I adore this horse but she is going to be the death of me. Only kidding. (I hope.)

I've usually only regretted the calls to the vet that I did NOT make. Good luck.

(DMSO side effects are usually limited to a taste of garlic in your mouth, but I like garlic! If you wear gloves you will limit your exposure and it takes the smallest amount.)

terri, no truer words.

hconley, I cant be sure it's not anything that I can't see without an ex-ray or recognize through experience. I see no signs of blood under the skin. There is no pocket that  I can feel or see that looks like it could be holding blood. What should I be looking for?

thanks have2ride (and all of you.) There is no heat, no soreness, not even tender! None of the things you'd expect to see if there was infection, a blood pocket or even a  chipped bone. It's a bad scrape but THANK GOD it just scraped off the hair. I cant even truthfully say it scraped off more than a layer of skin, if even that. Just swelling which I imagine is to be expected. I've treated much worse wounds  but I can always see down into it. I guess I just expected the swelling to go down sooner. I want it to go down sooner, obviously.

It does seem to be doing a bit better today. Spent all morning with a colicing 11 month pregnant mare. Comparatively, this wound seems to be getting better. All I've wanted to see is progress and I think (pray) I'm starting to see it.

I think the cut and heal is working better than the epson salt salve. C&H is amazing. I'll just keep alternating and see which does better. I'll keep rinsing it with cold water and thanking you all for your good advice. (I dont think this is a job for DSMO but I know all about the garlic and the gloves. ;) I will give the DSMO due consideration though, nothing is off the table.) Thanks again, all. If I need to I'll link to a picture. Lets hope it doesnt get that far.

Anne

Rose, thank you. No truer words. ;) The precious one is doing better. Why is it always the ones that you really connect with?? Very kind of you to ask.

Anne