Box rest anyone??

M

mrsk29

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 July 2011
Messages
231
Visit site
Anyone else currenty got one on box rest?
Mine has suspected lami... He's not impressed having to stay in but luckily he's a quiet boy... He's Not allowed any treat balls or anything food
related to keep entertained... Anyone got any good ideas to help keep him occupied? Also a little worried in a week his condition Is going down hill.. He's a tb, wasn't over weight to begin with but his ribs and back bone are starting to stick out already.. He's on soaked hay and that's all allowed.. Anyone else got one on box rest and hows it going?
 
When my mare was on box rest with lami last year, my vet allowed her cow parsley. It was just shooting up at the time, and she adores it anyway, so I used to cut handfuls and sprinkle it about (she was on so-called box rest but could come out into part of our little stable yard). A stream runs through our field, and so I also fed her a sort of water cress , pepperminty in flavour, that grows there. We had also had our willows pollarded and had sawn the big branches into logs. I would put one or two of those in at a time and she would spend hours stripping the bark off them. Willow bark is full of (god I've gone blank - the thing in aspirin) and he was happy with that.

It did keep her happy for hours. Hope this might be of some use.
 
Our vet told us to feed hay from the floor and spread it around a little, so he had to work a bit to get it. It's horrible having to keep them in but, in some cases, for the best.

How about a football or something to nudge around!
 
Nettles are great I pulled them up by the barrow load for my pony when he was on box rest.

I would be a little worried if yours is losing weight that quickly, even with the need to lose some it should be so gradual that you hardly notice it, there are possibly other health issues if he is dropping too much.
 
i have a 10 month old filly on box rest for 11 weeks up until this week she has been great but things have started to change and she is becoming really naughty and bucking and rearing in stable which is far from ideal after surgery on her hock so we have now started giving a little sedilin
 
My vet back today so I will find out how much longer he has to stay in... And Find out about his condition.. I'm expecting another few weeks..
 
My welsh x tb suffered from a bout of stress laminitis and although the lami was not diet/weight related he too had to have everything cut out. Although his weight didnt deteriate as quickly as it sounds your guy is he did lose a significant amount of weight/muscle and lost his fantastic shine he usually carries. His feathers also went extremely curly and this was due to the sudden loss of vitamins and minerals and after checking with the vet he was allowed a salt lick so please be aware of this. As for things to do doubling up haynet and putting small amounts in different haynets around the stable kept him occupied for a while. He loved the radio (i think chris moyles was his fave). My boy was very much a horse that needs company so i got who ever was at the yard thtoughout the day to go and speak to him even just for a few minutes and he seemed to enjoy his visits. Its a tough time box rest but follow the vets advice even if they give you the sad eyes! My boy made a full recovery and you would never know he had had laminitis now.
 
Mine has recently done 3 months box rest for a broken leg, and is 5 weeks in to restricted turnout in a small paddock. He had to go on a diet so food type treats were out of the question for him too. I just gave him lots of attention and did a bit of clicker training with him (using low calorie treats) to keep him occupied.
 
Well vet been and turns out possibility of secondary laminitis vet cant be 100% sure main prob is an abcess (he stood on something last week) so vet happy to treat for gravel and he should be out next week starting with an hour in the bare field tomorrow then fully out with grazing muzzle as precaution..I'm so happy he's not going to be stuck in ages!! There was def no signs of lami today. He will have front shoes on once he is better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top