On February 2, 2017, Charley Ross came home to every horse owner’s worst nightmare: her 27 year-old gelding, Cyrus, was standing in the snow with a severe injury just below his knee.

“I don’t know how or what he did,” said the Montana veterinary technician, “but it raised a hygroma (a carpal hygroma is a swelling or capsule in or near the knee filled with fluid caused by trauma) directly over the joint and opened the skin and fat layer up like a big smiley face under his knee. It must have happened sometime after I left the night before so it was close to 24 hours before I discovered it. The knee-deep snow probably helped stop the initial bleeding, but the skin over the hygroma was peeled back like a grape. Even if I had found the wound when it was fresh, suturing it would have likely been an exercise in futility so I cleaned and dressed the wound in Vet Wrap which, in snow, doesn't make a great bandage. I tried different options, finally using thick No-Bow wraps and standing wraps, which were more economical than buying cases of Vet Wrap. This helped keep the knee basically straight to set the granulation tissue bed but took forever to heal.”

By March 23, over a month after the injury, she said, “I finally had a tiny scab about the size of a piece of spaghetti. It had mostly healed or so I thought until two days later, when going out to feed, I saw the top of the bandaging soaked in blood.” Removing the wraps, Charley was disheartened to see the same gaping wound as before.

“I cleaned it out and started over, doing everything the same as before with minimal healing and tons of exudates which are the fluids emitted from a wound.” By the end of April, Charley had to make a different decision. “I had to get the wraps off and I had to get him moving. He was getting stiff in his shoulder and I wasn't happy with the healing progress. He needed exercise and out time. It was time to pull out my Silver Whinnies”

,Called into work at the veterinary hospital that evening, she left the sox stacked on Cyrus’s foreleg for the next two days and what she found when she finally could check on the wound shocked her: “It looked so much better than before I’d put the sox on! I know they should have been changed daily but sometimes taking care of other’s animals at the clinic means my own don’t get their share, but he was doing great!

“In spite of my insane work schedule, it was like magic to see healing accelerated! By May 23, Cyrus had a very solid line of scab across the knee that totally belied the horrendous damage that was once there. In less than a month, more healing had taken place under the sox than following the injury and after the setback using other bandaging.”

Charley went on to say, “It isn't totally healed, but I am very close. I will keep the sox over his knee all summer to protect the new skin. I’ve used Silver Whinnys for at least five years to protect against stomping during fly season and my original 6 sox are still in service, making them a great buy in leg protection for my horses.

Silver Whinnys are a recognized solution as a bandaging and leg protection method to assist veterinarians and equine owners trying to resolve cases of non-responding scratches, mud fever, summer sores, dew poisoning, and UV driven forms of dermatitis by providing a barrier from bacteria carrying flies, dirt and debris.

The antimicrobial silver in the yarn inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi in the socks creating a hygienic environment around the skin. The breathable double-layer knit allows air to reach the skin surface while stopping the flies, and the moisture-managing properties of the yarn keep skin surface dry and cool, all of which veterinarians recognize as desirable qualities needed to protect healing and recovering skin.

Veterinarian recommended, owner referred and horse approved, Silver Whinnys are American-made by Sox For Horses, Inc. committed to helping owners better help their equines since 2008. Visit www.soxforhorses.com or call 850-907-5724.