THE FACTS 10

2008 

SOME EXPERIENCES AND SUCCESSES WITH F1O PRODUCTS IN EQUINE PRACTICE

Dr Marisa Slabber, BVSc

Introduction

I have had great success with the use of F10 products at an equestrian facility which has over 500 horses. The most effective way in which I can share my experiences with colleagues is to select and describe a variety of cases which show the versatility and effectiveness of this novel product range.

All F10 products include the core actives of a compound of quaternary ammonium, which together with other components act synergistically to kill a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi, viruses and spores.

Wound Management

Case 1

A thoroughbred gelding from the veld came in with a cut involving the medial bulb of his near fore, approximately 12 hours after the injury occurred. Initial prognosis was very poor as the cut went right down into the medial wall of the hoof.

As Presented

After recovery

Copious amounts of a 1:250 solution of F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant was used to flush the wound every other day which was then bandaged with Flamazine. The horse was also put onto painkillers and Penicillin for 10 Days. The exposed laminae in the hoof wall, was also flushed through the crack with 1:250 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution. At no time was the site inflamed. After day 13 the wound did not debride anymore and was starting to contract. Although the coronary band is slightly misformed , the hoof wall is growing down at a fast rate. The horse was discharged to normal work and completely sound.

Case 2

X Breed gelding that came from the veld walking lame on right front was admitted. On closer inspection I saw that both front hooves had an area of 2cm diameter of sensitive laminae exposed on both sides of the frog, due to the severe case of foot rot.

The farriers proceeded to cut away dead material to better expose the involved areas in the clefts of the frog. The site was flushed with copious amounts of a 1:250 solution of F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant and both front feet were bandaged with a Lamacine Bandage.

The bandages were initially changed every other day and flushed with 1:250 of F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant. The horse became sound within two days without painkillers or any antibiotics being given. Foot pads were applied, and he was rested until his soles  had grown over the defects.

Case 3

A young X breed mare from the veld was admitted with a puff adder bite to the facial area. Her nostrils were almost swollen shut.

A tracheostomy was performed. A 1:250 of F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution was used to sterilize the wound as well as the instruments used in the procedure. The wound was cleaned daily with 1:250 of F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant. After 2 days the tracheostomy tube was removed and the mare made an uneventful recovery with the wound closing over the next 2 weeks.

Case 4

A Friesian mare was admitted with a grossly contaminated wound to the right rear hindquarter. The wound was approximately 15cm long and 6cm deep.

The wound was copiously flushed with a 1:250 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution before and after surgical debridement. It was stitched and a drain put into place and was flushed every day with a 1:250 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution for 2 weeks. The swelling and discharge was minimal over the first 3 days after which it subsided completely and the mare made an uneventful recovery.

As presented

After recovery

Case 5

A Friesian gelding was admitted with a large soft swelling between his front legs in his pectoral region.

The seroma was drained and flushed every day with a 1:300 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution until the discharged stopped after 6 days. The hole was left to close and he was discharged. No antibiotic treatment was given.

Case 6

A young Friesian cross was admitted with a swollen near hind limb. One week later a 1.2cm long and 0.7cm thick stick was removed through the hoof wall. It still had hair and a lot of mud attached to it and the progress was poor.

The site was flushed copiously with a 1:250 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution every other day and a Flamazine bandage applied. Painkillers and antibiotics were also given. Two weeks later all treatment was stopped and the protruding laminae were covered with Equilox. The mare is sound and was discharged under supervision for the Equilox to be maintained in place.

Case 7

A cross breed gelding was admitted on with grossly enlarged melanomas on right hind semi membrane semitendinous region. Three large 6-7cm growths were removed and could only be partially closed due to the tension on the surrounding skin. The open wounds were flushed every day with a 1:500 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution. They closed within 2 weeks by second intention without infection or inflammation.

Case 8

Old thoroughbred broodmare was admitted with a swollen right front knee. She was put onto antibiotic treatment and a drain was put in surgically under local sedation. Her knee was flushed every other day with a 1:250 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution and kept bandaged. After 10 days the swelling and heat and discharge was gone. The hole closed and she was discharged and is still carrying a foal.

Case 9

In the midst of a severe Rhodococcus outbreak a periosteal elevation was performed on a young foal on the lawn outside the hospital. A1:250 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution was used in and around the periosteal as well as on the instruments.

The foal recovered without complications or secondary infections.

Infection control

When attending to wound management cases it is routine practice to keep instruments and suture material in a 1:250 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution until needed.

F10 Germicidal Wound Spray with Insecticide was routinely applied post operatively to all wound sites and for the treatment of large open wounds closing by second intention. In addition to providing an effective antiseptic barrier and fly repellant it seems to prevent or significantly decrease the amount of proud flesh formation.

Nasal Flushing

Case 10

A TB cross Gelding was admitted with a fracture and a suppurating fistulous tract to the right dorsal frontal sinus. The wound was shaved and cleaned and since there was no sequestrum visible on the radiographs, the wound was penetrated with a large bore jelco and flushed with a 1:250 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution every day for 2 weeks until the discharge was clear, during which time appropriate antibiotics were given. The wound closed by itself in 2 weeks and the horse was discharged with an uneventful recovery. No surgery was necessary.

Case 11

A young Irish Draught mare was brought in from the veld, with a draining fistulous tract from the dorsal frontal sinus and a purulent nasal discharge. On X-Ray examination there was a sequestrum 3 x 2.8cm in diameter, in the dorsal frontal sinus, that was removed surgically. Because of the purulent exudate from that sinus , a drain was placed surgically into the sinus cavity. The sinus cavity was flushed every day once a day with a 1:250 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution. The discharge decreased dramatically over the next 2 weeks and the drain was taken out and the nasal cavity still flushed with 1:500 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant solution until the wound closed by second intention.

Uterine Flushing

Case 12

Three mares with retained placentas (>12 hrs duration) were admitted. A slow IV infusion of Fentocin was administered and the placentas removed using rectal massage. The uterus was flushed with a 3 litre solution of sterile saline mixed with 1:300 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant in 2 mares and a 1:250 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant in the third. Excess solution was “massaged out” rectally.

All three mares subsequently conceived and one was confirmed pregnant after her foal heat covering.

Rhodococcus

Case 13

A severe outbreak of Rhodococcus equine was successfully managed by applying a 1:250 solution of F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant on a daily basis in an aerosol mist spray/fog using an electrically operated atomizer to cover all stable walls and create a standing fog, in addition a solution of 1:250 F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant was used to wash clean water throughs and feed buckets daily.

No new cases were reported after the fogging and disinfection routines were implemented even although during this time the horses were kept mixed in both stables and paddocks and randomly rotated in the stables each night.

Fogger used to Spray Stables

Conclusion

The F10 products mentioned above are effective, non-toxic on open wounds and because of their versatility. I will continue not only to use them but i believe will continue to find more and more applications for their use.

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