box rest help

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rforsyth1984

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Horse is on box rest for a week with an infected frog

He has been in one day, and is getting very distressed, weaving like mad, running at the door - this morning he was lathered in sweat.

People have already complained to the yard manager.

Out of the box, he is so lame it took nearly 10 minutes to get him from the stable to the tie up point outside the barn (his stable is the second one down, opposite the barn door)

Any suggestions? I have told the YM as soon as he is sound enough to walk to the field (a 10 minute walk down a road for a sound horse) I will put a poultice boot on and turn him out (even though this may be detrimental to his infection, the vet said a weeks box rest), but that is unlikely to happen untill at least the weekend.

Sedalin has no effect on him, though I may ask the vet for some so Im being seen to be doing everything I can.

Im at a total loss... sat here in tears worried about why my horse is so lame from a frog infection and terrified about people on the yard shouting at me.
 
I have a horse on box rest (blown tendon), who although not overly stressy was being a pain in the a55.
Pulling his bandages off, weaving, and digging the bed up were the main culprits.
1 mirror and football later he is much better. I have never seen him play with the football, but when I took it out he started digging the bed again.
 
recommendations for a mirror and where I can get one quick?
Ill go buy a foot ball straight away...

Thank you for your quick reply, I will try anything at the moment.. just hope the stable doesnt end up looking like a playroom!
 
my horse had 3 abcess's within 4 weeks and was on box rest he just bow walked the whole time and sweated unless there were horses either side of him (american barn style stables) does your horse have other horses as company...if not would it be possible?
 
has he got a friend beside him? and a haynet with tiny holes so it takes him ages to eat? those would be my first suggestions.
if anyone on the yard says anything, tell them he's in on vet's instructions and to mind their own flipping business.
 
he has ad lib haylage, there is two horses in at the bottom of the barn, but his field pals in the next door stables go out in the day.

He also has one of those big lick things, but tbh, when he's stressed, nothing will tempt him, its like a trance but not as peaceful! I think he settles when there are no horses or people moving about, but its a busy yard and you know how people like to stare and tut at the freak!

I will try to be stong and tell people its on vets instructions and if they have a problem they will have to move their horses out of the barn cos I aint budging, but its hard when people gang up... it happened before on another yard (Was only 14 at the time though!)

Thanks for all your support and advice, Im going to robinsons to buy a steel mirror and a stable ball at lunchtime
 
I had a horse the same and he was on 3 months box rest! 40 ACP a day and nothing settled him. Years later we invested in a mirror and he was not cured by a vast improvement was seen. I tried toys, balls etc beforehand but as soon as a horse left the yard he flipped
 
If u r getting a stable ball that releases treats, try cutting up carrots and apples instead of putting in nuts - they seem to last longer.
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he has ad lib haylage,

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is it possible to give him hay instead- volume wise you can feed more of it and it will have less energy in it so not blowing his mind as much. for the same reason I would cut out or severely reduced any concentrates he has.
He may improved over a few days as he gets used to his "new routine". Is it possible for him to have horses next to him all day?
 
he could have some soaked hay I suppose (dust allergy) but I would have to spend a few days introducing it of course. its not really excessive feed that does it, I could starve him and he would still do it. He only gets a tiny bit of alfa a and D + H balancer anyway so nothing really to cut down from!
I will try with a bit of soaked hay as well as haylage, at least its a bit nore variety.
Robinsons didnt have the snack ball so I will try derby house tomorrow (or are they open late tonight?!). Got the stable mirror in my car so will go straight from work and beg someone to put it up!

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions, keep them coming if anyone has any more!
 
S*d the people at the yard - the most important thing is that you horse gets well!

How about old milk bottles (plastic ones of course) filled with chopped up carrots and apples so that he has to play with them to get the treats out.

Any kind of horse toys would be good - lickits that you can dangle from the stable, snack balls or plastic balls etc.

Try to spend as much time with him as you can grooming him etc.

Hope he gets better soon!
 
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