Box resting arthritic horse

M

mudmonkey17

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 September 2005
Messages
1,390
Visit site
Has anybody done this? Have a 22yr old cob who is semi retired and just does light hacking around 4-5 times a week. He has arthritis in hocks and coffin joints but does quite well with turnout and one sachet of bute when needed.
Am worried as doesn't seem quite right at moment and tonight has slight swelling on lower leg. No heat but he wasn't happy with me picking foot up.
Obviously will get vet out to him tomorrow but worried it is some sort of tendon or ligament issue.
Question is don't really want to box rest him as will stiffen up. Has anybody any experiences?
 
May sound stupid but could it be an abcess? My old boy has similar problems and he came in hopping lame turned out to be abcess!
 
my mare is 24 and has injured her tendon sheath again. a few years ago when she first did it I got the vet and she was box rested and I used ice packs to get the swelling down, she then went into a small turnout area but managed to put herself into the main field. as she was calmer being out in the field I left her and she came sound....I have decided not to box rest this time as she is a bit older and generally stiffer all round and I feel it would not be the best treatment for her other ailments. she is in at night and out from 9 till 4.30 and so far she seems to be improving. with oldies its a difficult decision but I am trying to give her the best quality of life as she also has cushings and is on 4 prascend daily so cushings might shorten her life anyway....good luck with your decision..
 
Thanks for all the advice. He looks a lot better today and puffiness gone down with a walk out so hoping is wingalls or swelling from being in. All legs have been swelling but this one the worst. He has just changed fields to a much flatter one with a gentle slope in it and with a nice quiet gelding so won't be gonbing around the same. Fingers crossed he improves. Was very slight lameness on a turn and nothing on a straight line
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top