Another Fudge update :(

tabithakat64

tabithakat64

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After speaking to the vet today it seems that Fudge will always be in pain and even after the rehabilitation process all he will be able to do is have small paddock turnout with a quiet companion and I'll have to pray the pain means he doesn't move around too much as this will make the damage/pain worse.
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This has just been another blow as I don't think this is quality of life for him. Fudge loves playing with his friends out in the herd, they don't gallop round but play bite and groom a lot, he enjoys hacking and also schooling although I think he would cope fine without being ridden as long as he still got lots of attention.

Mostly the thought of him suffering is unbareable.

Lots of people have given me stories of hope and because I want to give him every last chance to recovery and I've already put him through this operation I have decided give it until medication to the tendon sheath has worked and he's been re-scanned (this isn't being done until after an initial months box rest) then if the prognosis hasn't improved I will be PTS.

I have a lot of questions to ask the vet and will do so when I next speak to her (tomorrow or Monday).

I made my feelings regarding the minimum quality of life I wanted for Fudge known to the vet upon arrival (pain free with proper turnout) and again before the operation, she assured me that I would be able to turnout normally and have him as a slow hack as the worst outcome.

I am also gutted that my own vet had no clue what was wrong (I was told a mild traumatic sprain) and I didn't insist on referral straight away.

He's been on no pain medication, cold therapy or anti-inflamatories since five days after the injury occured in the middle of November and I believe the pain was why he wasn't coping with the box rest.

He's been so much happier mooching round with his friends during the last three weeks and now it seems like he'll be in more pain and not even be allowed to do that, I feel like the worst, cruelest owner alive.

I've put him through so much pain and suffering for nothing and am devastated.
 
Following a field injury, that it seems was misdiagnosed he was referred to Rossdales at my request this week, they carried out a lameness workup and then performed surgery.

He has a 4cm tear on the edge of his DDFT in his left hind at fetlock level and some damage to his SDFT and an inflamed tendon sheath. During surgery they cut the annular ligament and the surrounding tissue to relieve the pressure on the tendons, the tendon sheath will be medicated in a months time with cortazol and antibiotics.
 
I’m so sorry to hear this, you know Fudge the best, you just have to do what you think is best. I can’t offer any advice but just the biggest hugs ever. I really feel for you.
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I can understand why you are feeling so miserable and down right now, but you are not a cruel owner at all - quite the opposite in fact as you are putting Fudge's needs first and foremost. Please don't beat yourself up about this - you did everything right.

Stay positive, he may well come through this and be happily turned out yet. xx
 
I really feel for you as Kizzy has been off with the same injury, except in a front leg, I replied to you yesterday in vets. In defence of your vet it is a hard injury to detect, Kizzy had 3 scans, including one by super top vet David Lloyd at Liphook & there was no sign of a tear until he actually looked inside. Please don't feel guilty, you followed the advice you were given & are doing all you can. Are they absolutely sure that there is nothing else, say stem cell?? I think it depends how deep the tear is, but longitudinal is defiantely better than a core lesion. I suggest you write all your questions down & have a thorough discussion with Rossdales. If they have operated then there has to be some degree of healing & improvement. Be strong, I know how hard it is. xx
 
My friend has a Welsh D that had the same injury although he had 2 smaller tears rather than 1. Intially he was treated as a strained tendon, the annular ligament was inflammed so it was injected (not sure what with) on the third injection he had a reaction and became non weight bearing.
The vet wanted to operate immediatly (10pm at night!) and called in a vet (his name escapes me) from Royal Vet Collage. They then discovered the tears and glued them together.
Anyway after months of box rest and walking in hand etc, we were given the all clear to ride him.
6 years on and aged 21years he is perfectly sound, he canters, gallops, hacks and schools. His owner made the decision never to jump him again, although the vet said he would probably be fine.

Please give your horse some recovery time, don't decide anything now. I'm sure you will know whether he is in pain or his quailty of life is poor.
I feel for you as I'm very close the above horse and owner and felt all the emotions as if he was mine.
Good luck and hugs x
 
I've re-read my original post above and just thought I'd say that I'm not complaining about the vet or staff at Rossdales they have been excellent in every way.

I make a list of questions to ask throughout the day and the vet is more than happy to discuss anything I have concerns about we I speak to her on the phone.

I was just very shocked at the change in prognosis after the full extent of Fudges injuries were known.

I realise that the swelling and him being a typically thick skinned cob made it very hard to get a completely accurate diagnosis prior to the operation.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I've re-read my original post above and just thought I'd say that I'm not complaining about the vet or staff at Rossdales they have been excellent in every way.

I make a list of questions to ask throughout the day and the vet is more than happy to discuss anything I have concerns about we I speak to her on the phone.

I was just very shocked at the change in prognosis after the full extent of Fudges injuries were known.

I realise that the swelling and him being a typically thick skinned cob made it very hard to get a completely accurate diagnosis prior to the operation.

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't read it, that you were complaining about your vets - sorry if I came across like that. I was simply giving you my experience of this.

Our vet didn't diagnose a tear in the tendon until the surgery and in fact he told us that although a scan can show trauma to the area it doesn't show what the exact trauma is. (ie strain, tear)
Also the vet never really gave us a confirmed progonsis, he always said it depends on how the horse repair basically!

I was simply trying to give you hope
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You never know with horses - I would give him some time, see how he copes. A lot will depend on how sensible the horse is to be honest if he can happily mooch about in a smallish paddock whilst he heals then so be it. They can surprise us sometimes! It's very difficult with these as some horses heal better than others.

If you have the facilities to let him do his own thing and some time to give it a chance then I'd certainly try this first.

Fingers crossed for you both.
 
how old is he? am i right in thinking he needs another 3 weeks box rest, then re-scan?
i'd insist he gets full pain medication from now on, and give him lots of fuss and love and company (radio on, another horse in next door all the time, is this possible?) for the next 3 weeks, you've come this far and if you do anything drastic now you'll always wonder, i reckon. 3 more weeks is very little time as long as he's not in pain, as long as he gets lots of grub and company etc.
i'd get through this bit, get scans done, then see. it may well be that he will improve enough for proper turnout.
it sounds as if the vet's prognosis has changed quite drastically, is that because they found more damage than expected once they were operating?
also, i don't think a horse is less happy in a small paddock than in a big one, as long as he's got food and shelter and company. they don't make comparisons the way we do, he won't be thinking "i used to be able to gallop around with my mates" so i wouldn't worry about that.
all that would really concern me is pain management (i'd want to be positive he was pain-free) in the long-term.
pls don't beat yourself up about it, even vets make mistakes and misdiagnoses sometimes, and unfortunately none of us are psychically linked with our horses...
if you want to go down a slightly batty route, Anne Dee is a Horse Communicator who was recommended on here and who i have used twice now with interesting results.
*i fully realise this makes me seem like a fully certifiable fruitcake and unable ever to hold my head high ever again*
 
My mare has an annular ligament and SDFT injury - same scenario did it in field two and half years ago. She's had all the treatment going excep the operation, as on my vets advice we didn't think it was right for her.

She came sound after a year off and came back to hacking/light schooling for 6 months, but went lame again May last year, had summer off and I've been walking her since in the hope I can get her hacking sound again.

However, for most of that time she has been on small, and then slightly larger paddock rest on her own and I didn't for a minute think she would be happy, but she has surprised me and was absolutely fine and content.

I've now opted to ditch any further treatment (and my vet agreed we had pretty much done the list!) and have just given her time in the field, no box rest and I now just take it day by day, if she comes back to anything riding wise its a bonus, if not we enjoy mooching around on the days she is good and on the days she's not so good, she still gets to have her field time and actually now has my 18 month old filly for company and is loving being an auntie!

Is she completely pain free, I really don't know, but I think at the moment she's actually made a remarkable recovery from what was a very lame horse in trot when she first got turned away in May. Most important she's perfectly content and personally even if she ends up in full retirement because she doesn't stay sound to ride, I'm not going to get hung up about her being completely pain free, as long as she's happy mooching around with a friend or two, then that's fine with me.

Suppose what I'm saying is don't be too strict on your notions of what quality of life is for a retired horse - yes I too believe they have to be relatively comfortable and mobile, but completely pain free imho is not essential for them to enjoy their lives.

Really sorry that Fudge's prognosis isn't better, but agree with others above, give him a chance and don't rush into any decisions.

In a weird way, whilst my mare's injury devasted me, as it put paid to so many plans we had, its also improved our relationship no end and nowadays I really do just love being with her and I think I value her far more now, than I did when we were doing lots of riding and competitions etc.
 
Thanks for the replies, they have really helpped.

Fudge will be going back to Rossdales in a month to have his tendon sheath medicated and be rescanned.

I've spoken to the vet at Rossdales again this morning and am feeling a bit more positive and rational about the whole situation.

It seems that what she told me yesterday was the absolute worst possible outcome given the additional damage she found when operating and I misinterpreted what she was saying.

She hopes relatively normal turnout with companions and possibly light hacking will be the eventual outcome for Fudge, which I'd be thrilled with.

I realise now I've calmed down that given time he would adapt to a new herd and smaller field.

The operation will have greatly improved his chances of a painfree and positive future.

The amount of recovery depends on how well the tear (4cm long) in his DDFT heals, this will also determine the level of discomfort, the vet feels this even at it's worst will be manageable and he'll still be able to roll etc.

I knew something wasn't right when he was first on box rest, he was obviously in pain, I just wish I'd pushed things along with my own vet sooner.

When he comes home he will be lavished with attention, have constant company (over the door grooming too), as much soaked hay and suitable food as he can eat (he's overweight) and will be kept pain free as I will not have him suffering any more.

BTW he's 13.
 
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