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Poultice on a weanling's leg

hopeso

I have a weanling here with an infection in the hoof on the hind leg. The vet gave me a bottle of antibiotic, but said it will also need a poultice applied to it, to draw out the infection. I've applied a poultice twice now, but it was off again the next day. Has anyone any good suggestions for applying a poultice that won't fall off?

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patsy_mccabe

Did you get the sticky wrap or tape to keep it on. I put one on a lame heifer last year but she wasn't walking around at the time.

This stuff;

VetWraps.com - Shop for Vet Wrap for Pets and Humans

Base price

Apply poultice, cover with a layer of cotton wool that you buy in the roll from the chemist , cover with several layers of vet wrap leaving a good couple of inches of cotton wool protruding up the leg, but don't over tighten it, tape it off lightly with a layer of silage tape, cut a meal/fertilizer bag in half, hold it up and then cut it sorta of diagonally leaving a sleeve that fits the hoof at the small end but enough plastic to cover the cotton wool/vet wrap. Silage tape firmly in place mostly over the hoof and a few wraps up the leg. Most importantly remove and replace every day with new poultice and cotton wool, you can use the same meal/fertilizer bag again.

Edit to add - anyone that is used to bandaging horses will know how to do it. If you have someone locally that keeps hunting/racing/competition horses they will be able to show you.

hopeso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120005337#Comment_120005337

No, I hadn't that. I'll get some tomorrow. I'm sure I've seen it in the local chemist.

hopeso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120005412#Comment_120005412

Excellent, thanks. I had some of what you suggest done, but as said, the vet tape is probably the key. I used ordinary cling film. The cotton wool I had too was rubbish. It would fall apart too easy....

xhomelezz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120005412#Comment_120005412

Edit to add - anyone that is used to bandaging horses will know how to do it. If you have someone locally that keeps hunting/racing/competition horses they will be able to show you.

Poultice, gamgee, vetwrap and duct tape.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120005472#Comment_120005472

IMO cotton wool is the most important because it elevates pressure on the blood vessels going too and from the hoof. You can get a roll of it in your local pharmacy - something like this https://www.inishpharmacy.com/p/irish-breeze-hospital-quality-pure-cotton-wool/p-ib2501051/ibcotton1075?gclid=CjwKCAiAy_CcBhBeEiwAcoMRHDoCSCYDakxcdaXpT4RELwRUbfntk1GH0_0Q3n3ityhLAJ8GPqXjqxoCvdYQAvD_BwE

hopeso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120005510#Comment_120005510

I have something similar to that, but it seems very brittle. In fairness, I probably could have done with an extra pair of hands to do the job right....

hopeso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120005501#Comment_120005501

That gamgee looks the job alright....

Base price

You could also use a new born baby's nappy as in the disposable ones. I have a pack of cheap Lidl/Aldi new born baby nappies in the medicine press for such occasions.

The most important thing to emphasise is do not over tighten the wrap on the poultice. The cotton wool/nappy etc will allow for some error but remember you have to keep the blood supply going to and from the hoof.

xhomelezz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120005529#Comment_120005529

It's not that hard to do. But my only experience comes from horses. You should end up with something like this..

xhomelezz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120005582#Comment_120005582

Test by sticking your finger between the bandage and the leg.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120005599#Comment_120005599

I understand that you are coming from a horse situation but I come from both a livestock and bloodstock background and when it comes to livestock you have to ensure that the bandaging and fertliser bag protection comes well up the leg to prevent dung and urine entering the wound.

If it was my weanling I would also spray the affected area with a 10% solution of Hydrogen Peroxide and allow it to bubble up and drain off. Then I'd spray it with a 10% solution of Iodine before applying the poultice.

jonny d

Used boiled up turnip and bran meal, mashed together and put into an old sock and pulled up over hoof and secured with silage tape. then used fertiliser bag outside. This is what the local vet prescribed along with antibiotics. Changed poultice every two days for a week or so.. Worked well but left the animal off the slats for a few weeks.

sonnybill

anyone have any home solution stronger than feed bag/ tape .. seems to be water ingress no matter what I do ?

Stephenc66

We use poultice boots here for equines

But sometimes use a Gorilla Tape "boot" a variation might work for you but not sure about going higher up the leg.

For the poultice we will often use Epsom salt and iodine. I've seen Epsom salt and honey used as well

Video here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FfUjQ8b8jg

148multi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122938430#Comment_122938430

Water ingress at top or at bottom from wear

sonnybill

both really but she a bitch for kicking when I letting the hoof down and usually has it loosened by the second day ..

must get a equine poultice boot .

148multi

Can you use half a 5 litre drum for a boot

Mad about baa baas

If you know a nurse or someone working in a veterinary hospital ask them for a 5litre drip bag..made of very strong plastic..cut.off.the top and pull on like a sock..then hold on with some vet wrap above the bottom joint..or even a cable tie