Help For Mikey *UPDATE*

[kayceepaint05]

My best friend (and partner in crime ;D) is in dire need of some help. Her and I both are not ones to ask for it, but this time she has no choice.
about 12 days ago, her gelding reared up while being tied to the trailer, and got his foot caught between the slats. He had a 2 inch long x 1/4 inch deep cut right above his heel. He was doing great by that evening, walking and such, munching on grass. We had him cleaned up, medicated and keeping cold water on him to keep the swelling down. All was good until Chanda and I got back from our haul to Idaho. She came home, and much to her horror, Mikey's leg was 2x the size it should be and swollen up to the shoulder. Even with all the awesome care that her and her hubby had given, Mikey got an infection, and it has reached the bone.
Vet says he needs surgery NOW, and if they wait, and it gets too deep, they will have to fuse that joint. Mikey is only 3 1/2 and they had just started getting to ride him. Chanda and her hubby have enough money to feed everyone ( 2 personal horses and 2 rescues) and don't have the money for the sugury. I have given them $100 to get them started. Vet said that if they don't get the surgery done now, that it would be best to put him down. Please, I am never one to ask for help, but my best friend needs help, and I would do anything for her.
Est $$ for surgery is anywhere from $500-1200
This is really hard for them, and I know that they will appreciate anything.
If you can help, please pm me or email me at [e-mail]

[kayceepaint05]

Mikey goes into the vet today to have another check up, Let's all pray that it goes well, and that Mikey doesn't have to have "major" surgury, just something minor. WHEW, on pins a needles here, just waiting for the call.

[agilitygal]

That's about as scarey as it gets. Hope everything will be alright. I was just looking at a trailer on a lot with those slats at the top and wondering if it was possible to cause injuries. But, then, I thought they were so high and no horse would get his feet up that high. Wrong. . .huh?!!! With animals, you've got to think of all possibilities. . .and, what you don't think of, they will find.

[kayceepaint05]

Ok, dum da da dum!!! ( with music of course)

Mikey went to the vet today, and they have decided that he DOESN'T have to have surgury!!! WHOO HOOOOO~~ but the vet bills are still so high, that they put rent on hold until they can get more $$. They are keeping Mikey on more antibiotics, and want to do 1 more exray to make sure that things are looking better. Mikey is now walking only with a slight limp, and most of the swelling has gone away. Vet says that MIkey should be good as new in about 4 months or so. Chanda called me earlier and wanted me to tell everyone the good news, and to thank everyone for their support. She really feels that the positive energy and prayers have really helped.

[pnp4kidz]

Can I offer some dressing suggestions, having done quite a few nasty wounds lately?

Use Equine Elite spray or lotion and wrap it to keep it clean... change wrap at least daily... but do NOT wash or scrub it!!!!
that will 'anger' it, and cause proudflesh. the bain of lower leg wounds is proudflesh...
do NOT enocurage any anger in that wound...

then, after the spray which will keep the wound as germ free as possible, blob on some Dermagel, obtained from ValleyVet or other online ordering company...
that keeps it moist...
put a piece of telfa over that so nothing sticks or pulls off the new baby skin cells...

and change DAILY...

unwrap... carefully lift off the telfa, and put on some spray, then a blob of gel smeared all over, then a new telfa, and wrap (I use the regular polo's done snug)...
do this DAILY... NO hosing, NO cleaning or scrubbing...
it is so hard... but it works...
no washing is the hardest part...

IF you do see proudflesh, if it gets over a half inch thick... or even a third of an inch... use Adolf's meat tenderizer mixed with 1% hydrocortisone Cream... mix in your palm, and smear on wound... by the next day there will be a dark crust... dry... leave that in place, it will fall off in a few days (that is the proudflesh 'burned off' chemically) when it falls off... you can do it one more time if you need to, then use the hydrocortisone for a few days, with the EE spray, and the dermagel ALWAYS on top... then telfa, and wrap...

it's kinda magical.
ask Diablo... or Belle... :-)