This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb » Ruptured Peroneus Tertius »
  Discussion on Ruptured Peroneus Tertius on a 12y/o Quarter Horse
Author Message
Member:
Reuben

Posted on Thursday, Oct 24, 2002 - 7:02 pm:

I need suggestions on rehab for a 12 y/o Quqrter with this injury. Vet says rest for 9 to 12 weeks then hand walking. What sort of conditioning should follow this and how long on the lead rope?
Reuben
Member:
Amara

Posted on Thursday, Oct 24, 2002 - 7:18 pm:

i just helped rehab a horse through this same injury late last year-early this year..
our traditional vet said about the same thing yours did - stall rest than hand walk... and honestly, its the wrong thing!..
we started with hand walking 5 min 1x/day after 2 week stall rest, than 2x/day, etc...hand trotting and work over poles started at about 2 1/2 months...smaller circles were incorporated as well
(have a rehab vet in our area who recommended all this)
we rented a laser from respond systems...and used that extensively...(we woulda done magnet therapy too, but the horse had severe issues about anything being wrapped around his hock)
did lots of cold/hot H2O therapy
supplemental therapy incl. MSM,glucosamine (horse already had arthritis in the hock) and a VERY well balanced, high quality vit/min supplement...
with the horse that we rehabbed (it was a complete rupture), the horse was very lightly under saddle in just 3-4 months...
within 6 months he was w/t/c/basic dressage

good luck...
if you want to talk to the person who had this horse, let me know..
Member:
Reuben

Posted on Thursday, Oct 24, 2002 - 7:39 pm:

Melissa, thanks for the advice. Could you give me some detail about the well balanced diet. This horse is on straight coastal hay and he is still pretty hyper. Thanks.
Member:
Amara

Posted on Thursday, Oct 24, 2002 - 7:46 pm:

we put him onto all you can eat timothy hay with a little bit of alfalfa mixed in... his "grain"
was beet pulp only, with rice bran (he was a difficult keeper)..
he was fed the free choice vitamins from the ABC company...they set up a special program for him..

he was a 13 yr. old TB (OTTbut unraced)...and we had no problems with him being hyper (except for those occasional "its so windy i just gotta run days")
we have an indoor, so it certainly was easier to keep him quiet, what with the boring scenery and all...
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Oct 25, 2002 - 6:03 am:

Hello Reuben,
We have an article that explains this injury and its care in detail at Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of the Hock » Ruptured Peroneus Tertius.

Melissa complete stall rest is a well established and effective treatment for the first 2 months and doing so gives the horse the best prognosis for returning to work particularly if the rupture is more proximal than the hock and involving more of the muscle. A horse walked carefully in hand during this period may be able to heal but you run an increased risk of ending with a nonunion of the two ends.

Whether you use laser, magnets, or MSM is unlikely to effect the outcome.
DrO
Member:
Reuben

Posted on Thursday, Nov 14, 2002 - 11:30 am:

Hi Dr. O.
I have an earlier post on this subject. My vet was out yesterday and this horse has made little or no progress after several weeks of stall rest. The swelling in the lower extremities of the leg is gone but he still carries the leg if he happens to move suddenly. Is there a remidial surgical procedure to aid in the healing such as pinning? The rupture is at the hock. Would any type of supplement or high protein feed help? He is currently on Coastal grass hay only. This is a really good roping horse and I sure do want him back. Rube Richardson
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 15, 2002 - 9:02 am:

That is not surprising Reuben, these things take several months to heal. Y'all are just being impatient. Check the article it explains this and I have never had to do surgery to get one of these healed up. Of course this is assuming you have the diagnosis right.
DrO



Member:
Reuben

Posted on Friday, Nov 15, 2002 - 9:09 am:

Thanks Dr. O. My vet didn't do a cat scan but he did take X-rays of the hock. With those and the symptoms he decided what it is. What about any type of supplement or feed that might aid the healing proces? Rube
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Nov 17, 2002 - 10:43 am:

No just good quality feed, fed in the proper amounts, see » Care for Horses » Nutrition » Nutrition for the Horse: an Overview of Feeding Horses. There are some special consideration and suggestions for long term stall management at » Training Horses » Behavioral Problems » Stall Resting Horses. I will move the older discussion to here so we can keep the case easy to follow.
DrO
Member:
Reuben

Posted on Thursday, Dec 5, 2002 - 7:53 pm:

Hi DrO. This horse has been confined for almost 7 weeks. Is it too early for 15 minute hand walks?He still favors the leg if he moves too quickly but while being led he seems to move normally.
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC