Badger update and how do tendon injuries normally heal in first stage??

[Starbucks]

I’m getting really frustrated having to wait til Tuesday to find out how bad Badger’s check/DDFT injury is!! I just want to know!!!

Anyway, I think he’s doing really well despite wanting to go out in the field!! He’s been a very good boy on his little walks and having his leg hosed! His actually leg is massively better!! There is no swelling or heat now, he doesn’t seem lame to me although I didn’t think he was lame to begin with but the vet did (only a little).. all he has to show for it is a small lump about the size of a thumb nail raised probably a couple a mm.

I’m thinking this is good news?? How have your tendon/ligament problems healed/improve over the first few days? Sorry I know I’m being impatient!! Just a worried mum!

 

[TheMule]

Yes, I would expect the swelling and pain to reduce significantly. That doesnt mean it has healed though and it's really crucial you keep up the programme recommened by the vet to be certain it heals correctly

 

[Starbucks]

Wasn’t planning to start going up the gallops or anything!!!

Haven’t really got a plan as such yet..

Another question – when walking out is it ok to walk around the school or does it need to be on a firm surface?

 

[Izzwizz]

My mare had a tear to her DDFT diagnosed last September. Tendons take ages to heal as the blood supply to the lower leg is not great. I used magnetic boots to help with this. Its all about the fibres aligning correctly to avoid scar tissue forming. She wasnt allowed in the school atall and had to be walked out in hand on a flat surface, around the stable block at regular intervals. She was on box rest for a long time and box confinement when ridden work was re-started last Feb. She wasnt allowed out into the field until summer turnout began in May, the muddy fields before that time would have been far to risky. We didnt touch the school until July and hacked out for months before that. Roadwork is key in the recovery of these injuries.

Hope that helps.

 

[wispagold]

Hi

Sorry to hear that your horse has damaged a tendon. I don't mean to put a downer on things but one of my ponies seriously damaged a tendon 2 years ago out hunting. We had to box her straight from the field to the vets as she couldn't walk. They scanned her and put her straight in a robert jones bandage. The vets actually said that tendons get worse before they better as the chemicals released by the damaged cells actually cause cell death in the surrounding cells so the tendon continues to breakdown for weeks after the actual incident. This why you have to keep the leg from moving as much as possible. Having said that it was a very servere case and she had stem cell therapy and we have decided not to bring her back into work.

I also had another pony who had mild damage to her digital flexor tendon, she was 18 at the time. She was on and off mildly lame for a couple of weeks so we decided to get her checked out. The vets recommended 6 weeks off work where was allowed to go out in the field. She didn't have any box rest. Then just 6 weeks to get her back into work. She made a full recovery and is still in work now aged 30.

Good luck, I hope it is nothing too serious