Weekend drama

Timing of an injury always tends to be at the worst time. 

Let's say, Friday after 5 pm?

Friday evening I went to the barn with Mason and his flying cheek

Of course it poured the whole time I drove there, while was there, and coming home it was sunny

Friday, I planned on just grooming because the rain decided that. I actually had surgery a week prior so I am not yet cleared to ride. Didn't matter anyway, because as I grabbed Laz out of the field, his RH leg was SO SWOLLEN from  hock down to hoof.

HOLY F%#*K!!!, I shouted.

Ok, stop. think. think.think.

I ran my hand over his leg. Hot but not blazing, but so so swollen. Digital pulse was slightly up but no bounding. He definitely walked like "ouchie" 

He didn't' seem to have a leg injury, the swelling was even. To me, especially in that hoof, it read as ABSCESS.

Probably brought on by spring grasses? Combination of cool/hot/cool weather, rains, etc makes for abscess heaven.

So, I decided to NOT call the vet and just go with my gut.

I cold soaked leg for 20 minutes.

I check and cleaned out his hoof.

I packed it with ichthammol and wrapped it in plastic bag, and booted him with a padded medical boot to help with comfort while hoping this helped ease out some inflammation.

I rubbed on some BioFreeze on his leg for additional support. 

I turned him back out.

I figured, moving was better than being locked up as I really felt he didn't have a leg/bone/tendon injury

I didn't get photos of how swollen his leg was because I had left my phone in the car due to rain

This was the next morning, or about 10 hours later (as of course I couldn't sleep)

About half as swollen.

YAY, I was happy for thinking I figured it out

 So in the AM, I did a Bedadine Epsom Salt warm water soak for 30

I left his bootie off and he was moving, uh, MUCH better..see videos for that

and 

What a RELIEEEEEF 

Run my angel, run...

  I came back in the evening (hello gas bill, I live 50 minutes away) to check up and keep up the treatment plan

RH below, even LESS swelling..yea yea yea

 This time I did a clean trax soak for 40 minutes to clean any area that may have opened. I couldn't find any but still, the fact the swelling went down so fast, I'm sure it happened.

Thank goodness Laz seems to know (I swear!!!) that I'm trying to help him and he is so so so patient. Soaking, picking, lifting, prodding, etc. He just chills.
I rewarded him with a good massage and he about fell asleep

Pito was like "Whoa what feelz so gud?"

Oh, and this hilarity happened early on Sunday am...

Little victories, some laughs, and a lot of stress...

Oh Laz, never a dull moment.