Habronema, round #WTF

So, the two smaller sites healed up ok. And the one on his face did as well. The big one, that had been cut on three times, was slow to heal. The swelling didn’t seem to be receeding, but I was hoping desparately that it was because they’d had to go so deep that it was just taking longer.

Ha.

No.

Meanwhile, Rico had been put back to work, and we had done a schooling show a few weeks ago. I still didn’t like the look of his jaw, but I figured I would take him in as soon as the schooling show was over. (Let us take a moment to enjoy the schooling show:)

First Level, Test 3

Now, reality comes crashing in. A few days after the show, we saunter ourselves over to the vet clinic. Here’s what I was dealing with:

I did WonderDust it for the show.

 

Yeah. Denial Much? Whats really bad is the vet took one look at it and said, “Well, I guess we have more work to do.” And then proceeded to point out to me the habronema larvae that was visible on the surface of the wound. I felt like an idiot. And a Bad Bad Mom. I should have taken him in weeks ago. So the vet went to work, cutting and cutting and cutting. He removed a small lemon sized hunk of proud flesh (that’s what was causing the “swelling” above) and cut it open to show me about half a dozen little larvae. I wanted to cry. In fact, I did cry. That whole week.

And after I took him back to the barn. (Poor horse, every time I take him down the street to the clinic, he gets drugged up, and looses part of his face.) I had to leave for Denver.

Here’s day 5 after the newest cutting:

sunday AM - at least its not oozing blood anymore

So far it seems to be healing well, but it oozes all day and I have to change the dressing on it (maxi pads, believe it or not, under a nylon slinky hood) twice a day and clean it and treat it with a special solution concocted by the vets. I am HOPING that  this is it. ITs gotten cooler here, so everything (eggs) will go dormant and we’ll see if anything errupts next spring. Needless to say, this has put a kibitz on the show season.

And I did cry. ALOT. Because I should have taken him in sooner.

sigh. I f#$%ing hate this little worm.