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 Lower Limb » Tendon Lacerations »
  Discussion on Three year old with old tendon laceration
Author Message
Member:
Paardex

Posted on Monday, Aug 28, 2006 - 5:25 am:

Hello All,
I would appreciate advice on how to start training/rehabilitating a three year old arab cross [1.50m]with an old extensive tendon laceration.
Friends asked me to take on caring for their horse Palmya, she had an accident with a fence december 10th 2005[I didn't see her until may this year]according to the vet the extensor tendon of the right hind leg was badly damaged and the flexor was damaged to but less. He didn't give much hope the owners didn't know what to do and don't have the money to send her to a clinic for a longer period so they put her on stall rest for six weeks and after that in a small paddock with an old pony keeping her as quiet as possible and gradually enlarging her paddock. The wound was hosed and a diversity of ointments was used and is still bandaged during the day[flies].At the moment she is out 24/7 doing whatever she likes with another horse and sound.
Problem: She is getting way to fat and the wound still isn't completely closed. So they asked me to do something.
My plan is cutting her food as much as possible to get her to a normal weight and after reading the articles on wound care and rehabilitation training I decided I would try Nolvasan creme and Nitrofurazone spray[if it is available in France]
Furthermore I want to take her on a lunge line 1 time a week 15 minutes good walk on a stable sand flooring and 15 minutes handwalk on the road for another 5 days a week.24/7 outdoors seems good as the poor young thing has been confined long enough.
After this building up the walking to half an hour and if possible getting to two or three times a week lungeing[walk] to get her used to saddle and so on.
I must add the owners just hope for a horse they can take into the forest for two or three times a week for a leisurely outing and otherwise will accept a 'pasture ornament'.
At the moment she looks close to foundering which is why I persuaded them not to leave her alone for another year.
Any comments and suggestions are very welcome because I never had this trouble on my hands before.
Thanks in advance Jos
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 28, 2006 - 7:59 am:

Hello Jos,
We have a very complete regimen on rehabing soft tissue injury especially flexor tendon damage. See Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Treatment Methods » Rehabilitating Injuries to the Tendons and Ligaments.
DrO
Member:
Paardex

Posted on Monday, Aug 28, 2006 - 9:48 am:

Thanks Dr O the articles are very clear and I based my plans on them,the two things that worried me are the fact the wound isn't completely healed so perhaps it is to soon to start?[but on the other hand she is sooo fat! and enclosed in a little part without much food seems more amusing if she can do something]
The second thing is I would love her to walk on a lungerein which means a circle and I assumed 'handwalk' means go out for a walk without to much bending, but getting used to a saddle and so on is easier [and safer] in an enclosed environment.
Jos
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 29, 2006 - 7:41 am:

Hmmm, whether the wound should be exercised would require an examination jos: what does your veterinarian say. The problem with lunge reining is not the bend but the lack of control if the horse decides to take off.
DrO
Member:
Paardex

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 29, 2006 - 8:24 am:

Thanks Dr. O I understand the lunge problem. Ofcourse you are right about the lack of control, this is a very laid back horse [and ofcourse being out 24/7 helps] who during treatment learned to obey and stay calm, but of course a young horse will decide to take of one time or another. I suppose skipping the lunge thing will be advisable.
The vet ofcourse doesn't want to say anything except: leave her in the field until she is completely healed on her own and after that look what you have got left. Which I can very well understand as the owners refuse to do an ultrasound[to costly as they seem to think the horse is beyond saving as a riding horse and have accepted this] The one thing which made them decide to ask me to work her is that she will certainly founder if she stays in the paddock like this for another year.
The one thing which surprises me is that the mare looks completely sound for at least the last three months even when playing with her mate.
Still all things considered I suppose handwalking and after that mounted walking as the articles advise seems the best way to go and the weight issue will have to be dealt with confining her more.
Thanks very much for putting me right on the lunge thing, as always your advice is keeping me straight.
Jos
New Member:
Moser

Posted on Friday, Nov 3, 2006 - 1:36 am:

Hi Dr. O -

I have a horse that severed an extensor tendon and cut the bone on the fetlock. He had surgery the night it happened. It has been 2 1/2 months and he just went down for another check. He had gouged the bone when the injury happened. His latest x-ray showed 2 tiny bone spurs. The surgeon suggested that when the tendon heals, that he opened it up and remove the bone spurs. I just had another vet out to give him is fall shots, and he suggested a cortisone shot to where the bone spurs are to stop it? Have you ever heard of this type of procedure? Is there something I can be giving him for the bone spur?
Thanks, Maureen

ps: I tried to post as a new questions, but could not figure it out. sorry.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 3, 2006 - 7:48 am:

Let me first help with finding the New Discussions Button. A discussion like this is one part of a list of discussions and a article on this subject. It is on the article page that you will find the list of discussions and a new discussion button. This page is one page back from here and you can access that page in one click using the navigation bar at the top of this page. That link is labeled "Tendon Lacerations". If you will cut and paste your question in a new discussion I will answer it there.
DrO
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