Sam's Hurt:( I REALLY need help.

I would clean it very well like other have explained, and leave it uncovered so it can dry out. Can you move him to an area where he won't be chased by other horses?

I did a job shadow at a equine hospital in my area and a mare came in that had both hind legs all torn up from getting cast in a stall. The vet recommended something called Underwood along with a baking soda solution to keep proud flesh from forming. This mare was a bit farther along in the healing process though (6 weeks I believe). They kept her legs moist and bandaged, and the vet thought that is why they weren't healing.

Thanks everyone.

CharliGirl - Yes, I have him in a pasture with a shelter by himself.

We have decided that it's time to put Sam to sleep. Between what just happened, his weight loss, arthritis, age in general it's getting unfair for him especially with winter coming up.

His leg is quite bad and he's having trouble walking. He is still following me everywhere wanting to be scratched. It's really hard to see because he's got such a good spirit, his body's just shutting down.

What a hard decision, I love Sam so much and so does everyone else.

Im so sorry. What a long life he has lived though!

You must be very strong, but in the end I guess it's the right decision. I'm so sorry you had to make the choice...I don't think I would have been strong enough.

Strongs! Keep your chin up! Sam knows that you love him, and that's what important.

I'm so sorry, Its so sad that you must do that, but I suppose its for the best so I hope you are okay and I'm sure he's going to better place.

Ok, so I spent a lot of time with Sam today, and right now from the way he acted today were going to give him a chance to get better. I thought he was going to die yesterday it was so bad. Today he was Sam again, just with a leg injury. Though he can't really see, hear, and has arthritis he seems to be happy. So as long as his leg heels and we can keep him at the weight he's at and hopefully get him fatter he will not be put to sleep.

I'm extremely happy about it. Were just going to take things day by day and check him carefully so he does not suffer.

From now on Sam has FULL run of the property. The other horses are in a large pasture across the road. Sam not has 5 shelters and different pens, on top of a cherry orchard, a bunch of apple, peach, pear, and plumb trees, and all the room he wants around the house.

He LOVES it.

I hope this is the right thing to do???. Nobody wants him to suffer, but if his quality of life is good then for now he shouldn't have to be put down.

I've added some pictures from today. The ones of his cut makes it look really good. What happened is last night it closed over. I don't think that is good because it needs to heal from the inside out and it's really deep. It smells a bit, so I will clean it maybe 2 times tomorrow instead of one (which I did today). I'd like to keep it clean, so should I open it a bit to make sure the inside gets better before it closes? It dosent look clean and healthy like it should does it?

Last summer my then 19 year old gelding had a run in with the electric fence and had a gash in the same location that was Much much worse. I thought for a while I was going to lose him. Looked terrible for the first month, oozing, weeping, proud flesh, looked like brains growing out of his leg, yuck. Went out 2x a day to hose it, debride it, scrub with iodine solution, wonder dust. This happened in early June, and I was light riding by September. Once he started to heal, it then healed fairly quickly. Today he is absolutely fine! All he has now is a scar about 1/4 inch wide and 4 inches long. Not even a scar actually, but healthy, soft skin, that just hasn't grown hair back.
So I am glad he is doing better and that you are able to give him a chance. Hopefully Sam will fare as well as Spike did.
(Spike did get some shots when the accident happened--tetanus, penacillin, and something for pain. The greatest risk was infection because it was so deep.)

What a gorgeous old guy! He looks fantastic for his age!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've wrapped a bit of vetrap over gauze on things like that, changed daily, if the conditions are such that a lot of dirt will get in the wound. He looks to be healing up already pretty well.

I just read what you wrote more closely. . . If his wound smells and is closing over, I personally would scrub it out with iodine or something, rinse it with cold water for as long as he'd stand it, and then use some antibiotic powder in it. Perhaps wrap it loosly with gauze and a layer of vetrap and change the dressing frequently. If there is heat or it is swollen, I'd likely give some IM penacillan (however you spell it) as well.