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Discussion on Pelvic Fracture
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New Member:
Robertg9
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Posted on Monday, Sep 25, 2006 - 12:09 pm:
Hi,
My horse was just diagnosed with a pelvic fracture. how do I keep my horse mentally and physically sound when he has to be kept in his stall for 3-6 month?
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Monday, Sep 25, 2006 - 12:55 pm:
Welcome Robert,
You'll receive a wealth of ideas here  I think Dr. O has an article on this somewhere...
My two cents...
1) Lots of hay, but no grain eventually. Hopefully this horse isn't an easy keeper!
2) Teach tricks (head down, etc)
3) Toys. I bought my horse a pasture pal from Dover Saddlery. It has a base so you can mount it on the wall if you like, with a barrel that dispenses pellets as the horse turns the barrel. I use grass hay pellets. It takes them much longer to eat and keeps them occupied.
My horse also likes to play with feed pans and small arena cones.
Good luck!!
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New Member:
Robertg9
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Posted on Monday, Sep 25, 2006 - 1:02 pm:
Thank you for the advice. I also ordered a product called slo feed. https://www.slo-feed.com/. This will keep him from eating fast and hopefully keep him busy eating his hay.
Regards
RG
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Monday, Sep 25, 2006 - 3:49 pm:
Doesn't look like you'll need the pasture pal
I wonder if your slo-feed can be mounted on the outside of a stall?? If I can take off the feed doors, then mount it, hmmm...
Thanks!!!
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Monday, Sep 25, 2006 - 4:29 pm:
A few members have had success with mounting a non-breakable metal mirror in the stall. Seems to make the horse feel like he has company and isn't stuck by himself. I haven't tried it personally so don't know where they are purchased...but I'm sure someone else will jump in with the details.
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Member:
Jockyrdg
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Posted on Monday, Sep 25, 2006 - 5:36 pm:
Robert;
I don't have an answer but can offer a resource. Obviously New Bolton is dealing with a very stall bound patient in Barbaro. Dr. Sue McDonald is a leading equine behaviorist there, has a good website and she takes questions - you might contact her- share her ideas with us if anything interesting is offered! https://www3.vet.upenn.edu/labs/equinebehavior//
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Member:
Hally
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Posted on Monday, Sep 25, 2006 - 6:04 pm:
Hi Robert,
I dont want to sound like the grim reaper but what kind of prognosis has the vet given your horse? The reason I am saying this because I have a 6yr old Swedish Warmblood that also fractured his pelvis as a weanling. The vet told me that I would have to wait till I started riding him. It wasnt in the joint so the prognosis they gave me was guarded. Well I wish I had had him put down, because I waited till he was 3 had him started and all went well for the first 3 - 4 months. Then the problems started. The head tossing, refusing to move forward and bucking. I knew that this was not his usual behavior as he was a sweet boy usually. After a few thousand dollars I was told that I had two choices. Euthanize or a pasture ornament. I chose the pasture ornament as I couldnt bring myself to destroy this lovely animal after owning him for 3 yrs and getting very attached to him. He is now 6.5 yrs old and lives at a friends place. You would never know anything was wrong with him as he flies around the pasture does incredible flying changes and is very happy. The down side is that he cannot every carry weight on his back!
I just wanted to share this with you as the vets told me that pelvic fractures are very difficult to deal with and dont have a great outcome.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Sep 25, 2006 - 8:50 pm:
Much depends on where the pelvis is fractured Robert. Can you better describe the nature of the fracture and how it was diagnosed?
DrO
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New Member:
Robertg9
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 - 4:15 pm:
Hi Dr.O
Chico had a rectal exam that showed large boney calcus on floor of pelvis on rt side. The vet then did am ultrasound that showed separation of the illium-fracture. He does not bear any weight.
6 Months ago he injured a ligament in his hip. We sent him for a bone scan which did not show any injury to his hip. We kept him separated from the herd and treated him with acupuncture and alternative herbs. He was doing great. 2 week ago the acupuncturist gave him a clean bill of health. He was moving great and we were getting ready to back him for the first time. Then this happened. We have no idea how he did this. We continued to keep him separated as we wanted to make sure he was not going to hurt himself.
Prior to his first injury he cast himself in his stall. I witnessed it and it took him about 3 min to upright him self. I since installed anticast mats along the stall walls. Is it possible that he did this back then?
Regards,
Robert G,
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New Member:
Robertg9
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 - 4:25 pm:
Hi Aileen,
I installed 2 gates outside his stall about 12 x 10. I then mounted the slo feed on one of the panels. In the morning Chico can move from his stall to the center part of the barn. He then eats from the slo feed. It has greatly reduced the amount of hay his is eating.
Thank you,
RG
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New Member:
Robertg9
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 - 4:29 pm:
Hi Fran,
That sounds like a good idea. I leave the radio on all day and his buddies can come in for a
visit. I never thought of a mirror.
Thank You,
RG
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Member:
Robertg9
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 - 4:31 pm:
Hi Beverly,
I am definitely going to contact her. Thank you for the info
RG
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Member:
Robertg9
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 - 4:42 pm:
Hi Hally,
That is a sad story. Chico is a PMU rescue horse. I adopted him last September he was a yearling. He is a draft quater horse cross. The sweetest horse you could ever meet. We passed a spooky obstacle course with flying colors. Even silly string in the face was not a problem. I feel that I have to give him a chance. The vet seems to think he will be fine. My Wife and I realize that he could be a lawn ornament. I believe he deserves a chance.
I am sorry that it did not work out for you. Did you have a chiropractor look and your horse?
Thanks
RG
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Member:
Hally
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 - 5:33 pm:
Hi Robert,
Yes I have had the whole nine yards look at him. Such is the reality of being a horse owner. He was going to be my show horse. He is bred out of the ying yang. His sire, is an Elite stallion standing in Europe. But in the end be they a PMU horse or a show horse, they all deserve the best of care dont they.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 27, 2006 - 6:42 am:
Robert,
I don't think this was caused by the casting if, as your post implies, he was normal for a period following the incident. But it does seem likely this happened back when the ligament disease was diagnosed. From the description you provide I really cannot make much of the nature and severity of the injury to the pelvis but it does sound like it has been there a while if the veterinarian is feeling new bone formation.
To get back to your original question we have an article that discusses strategies for stall resting horses at Training Horses » Behavioral Problems » Stall Resting Horses.
DrO
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