Box rest?

[nomini]

Alisha is at the RVC at the moment having investigations done into why she is lame. She had a CT scan today and the vets are pretty certain she has a hairline fracture of the pedal bone. They are going to nerve block again on monday to confirm.
They said to my dad that she would need special shoes and a month on box rest. However, she is a nightmare in the stable even for half and hour, she runs round and round, kicks the door and wall, stands at the door screaming and generally stressing. She is the same in any stable on the yard and if she has company. Would I be better to turn her out in a small paddock on her own or will she have to put up with being in? I'm at a loss at what to do with her as she is a nightmare in the stable but also charges round the field. I'm not ultra keen to acp/sedate her for the month but not sure what else to do? Any experiences or advice?

 

[Nailed]

personally i would box rest her for a month even if it means that you have to acp her up slightly each day. Thank the Lord you have only got to have her on box rest for a month as that is a short time for what she could have had to be on for.

One or two acp each day to take the edge of will not hurt her i dont beleive and if you are not happy giving her acp for a month, think about holistic remedies and such..

ho[e she comes right soon!
lou x

 

[Pidge]

Sorry to hear that. Just had Pidge on box rest for a week, and he is now increasing the amount of time he can go out for. Vet gave him 4 ACP am and pm, but had to up this to 5 and with these in his food he is now a chilled out and happy bunny in his box

without them well don't even go there

Would it matter if she was on ACP for a month?

 

[Jemayni]

Problem is with very small paddock turnout, it is difficult to restrict the movemnt sufficiently & provide a flat enough field for them. Plus, mine quickly learnt that an electric fence is very easy to jump!
Chance is a terrible box-walker; so whenver he is on box-rest he's on ACP, it doesnt really affect him, just takes that edge off - I think its better than having them upset, galloping around their box.

 

[nomini]

Thanks for your advice, wasn't sure if it was ok to acp for a month but if it will work and take the edge of her then I would rather she was on them and I had her in for a month than her go out, hair round and damage herself more.

 

[Hayleycob]

My nice bombproof cob (Ha!) managed to buck round a tiny paddock ! I was worried he was going to try to jump out. He eventually "lost the will to live" on box rest (and so did I !) I felt so guilty and sorry for him, but he did settle, he became very grumpy though tried to bite any horse walking past, but I felt he was safer and less likley to injure himself.

 

[filly190]

I avoid box rest at all costs, because if you have a horse that is unsettled it is difficult to manage. Also when you do turn them out, they go loopy and more damage can be done.

When ever possible I consult the vet and explain the situation and usually end up turning out on a restricted area with other horses ajoining. A hairline fracture can go either way, but generally speaking they self heal. The idea of box rest is to prevent any further damage.

Clearly you know your horse and can consult the vet with the problems of box rest and get a considered opinion on the possiblity of turning out. Vets do tend to stay on the fence and you may not got a straight answer. If you have the facility to restrict turnout and have a companion in with your horse or close by and bring the horse in at night, I would go down that road.

 

[nomini]

Thanks, I will definately be bringing her in at night whatever happens. I have explained to my vet before about the nightmare I have with her in the stable and I think he understands, BUT on the other hand I do not want the fracture to get worse. Will speak to the vets again on monday after they have done the final nerve block and hopefully will have a clearer picture then of what will be best for her

 

[Louby]

Hi, sorry to hear about your horse. Although it sounds like a lifetime a month will go really quick. My boy fractured his radius and was cross tied at the stable door for about 6 weeks, then a further 6/7 weeks normal box rest. It was hard and I didnt know how we would cope but looking back it flew. Once he knew he wasnt going out with the rest each day he settled and ate and ate and ate. It was the only way we could passify him and fortunately he loves his food. After the box rest we turned him out in a very small pen the size of 4 stables building it up to an hour a day for a week as advised by Leahurst, it should have been longer but he was going mad so we ended up putting him in a larger area near the other horses and after galloping up and down on sedalin he settled and it was like it had all never happened. My vet advised longer box rest 'just incase' and Im so glad we did as he did go mad when turned out. I hate box rest but sometimes theres just no alternative as in my boys case.
Have a word with your vet about possible turnout, if not sedalin worked really well on my horse in very small doses when needed apart from when he was turned out as he got so wound up.
Good luck, you will get through this.

 

[Maesfen]

Does she tie up well, perhaps you could cross tie her as it's only for a month? I've known of horses cross tied for many months after injury and it usually works out with good results and it would stop her throwing herself about too much.

 

[nomini]

Hi, thanks for your advice. Unfortunately my mare is not bothered about food, i can stuff her haynet and come back and it will all still be there, even hard feed she doesn't eat if she is stressed. Going to speak to vet as I'm sure they must have had horses like her before

 

[nomini]

[ QUOTE ]
Does she tie up well, perhaps you could cross tie her as it's only for a month? I've known of horses cross tied for many months after injury and it usually works out with good results and it would stop her throwing herself about too much.

[/ QUOTE ]
She is awful to tie up and will pull back and break the string so wouldn't be able to cross tie although TBH the thought had crossed my mind, think it would make her even more stressed than she will be already!

 

[amandaco2]

i would acp her (id try 3mls first to make sure shes calm)and get at least the first week out the way in the stable.
try to keep her as quiet as possible, maybe even closing the top door to keep her settled.(if its only for a short time it wont be too bad)
you could then try weaning her off the acp or reducing it as you dont really want her constantly sedated for a month.
you could try her in a small paddock with hay and the tallest electric posts you can find, but i feel it would be safer if you could try her in the stable(as the sedative wears off hopfeully she will think its not so bad!)