My gelding (NOT metabolic) somehow got an injury of some sort Dec 9. He has been seen by a vet 3 times, blocks to the abaxial sesamoid block (pastern / toe). Rads and ultrasounds all clean. He has been nearly 3 legged lame at the walk for that entire time. Because of his history of colitis, vet was hesitant to try NSAIDS especially because we don't know what's wrong but I assume soft tissue.

I've been scared I'll have to put him down.  

He has been on jiaogulan for a week and is SIGNIFICANTLY better. He is now sound at the walk (although very lame at the trot). 

Will jiaogulan mask pain and cause him to further injure his foot? Im worried that I'll be making things worse this way? 


-Alicia Harlov and Vinnie 
Joined September 2017 (with a different email address)

J does not directly block pain. It has antiinflammatory effects and improves circulation. From your history I'd suspect abscess.
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Dr. K

I would love if this turns out to be an abscess, there are no signs on any rad views (even paid a radiologist to review them), no gas pockets, no pedal osteomyelitis... His feet are no longer hot although occasionally warm, and very rarely has a pulse. Since starting jiaogulan he hasn't had a pulse. Although he is seemingly sound at the walk now, he is still very very lame at the trot, so I don't think the jherb caused an abscess to blow 

Can an abscess last over 3 months? 

What is the dose/day of Jiaogulan & what is a good & available source?  Thanks!

Hi Karla,

Info on Jiaogulan can be found in the Files on the main group:

https://ecir.groups.io/g/main/filessearch?q=jiaogulan

Dose is going to depend on the individual horse's reaction to it: look for the gums to become more pink, indicating better blood perfusion.

Some good suppliers:

http://www.mybesthorse.com/productsorderhere.html

https://www.herbalcom.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cEcommerce.dspProducts&CategoryID=2403&OrderClause=ProductName,ASC&LinkKey=I

https://uckele.com/search/?q=jiaogulan
(enter coupon code ECIR for 5%off)

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Lavinia

Moderator/ECIR Support

One that is compartmentalized, so only partially drains as each "part" opens could. Administration of NSAIDs will slow the maturation process of an abscess so can extend the resolution for a long time.

If there is an ongoing problem that hasn't been resolved (i.e. infection, smoldering laminitis, foreign body) that is the driving force behind an abscess being created then that could keep the cycle going indefinitely.

--
Lavinia

Moderator/ECIR Support

How frustrating!! 
Lavinia, I am starting a hoofcare podcast and interviewing Nic Barker on April 6. Maybe I can interview you as well? 
I visited Rockley Farm in 2015, I'm excited to see Nic again!

It will be called The Humble Hoof. Pete Ramey just set up an interview for April 17, and I'm interviewing Sally Hugg tomorrow (although hopefully she will nail down a time!!!)