Can a horse survive a broken jaw?

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silu

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I read with sadness that 1 horse collasped and died post a race at Aintree and another had broken it's jaw. I was wondering how on earth a horse could be saved with this injury as I wouldn't imagine it would be able to eat? I am hoping I'm wrong and that the horse can be saved. Maybe someone has knowledge of the prognosis.
 
Horses can survive a broken jaw, I think it depends how severe the fracture is. If I remember rightly, PapaFrita's mare broke her jaw (and PF broke her collar bone) in a jumping accident. Both of them are fine now :) I'm sure she will be along to tell the full story.:)
 
My yearling colt broke his jaw very badly about 6 weeks ago. He was able to eat even with a large piece of the jaw hanging off. He is now absolutely fine! So yes, the can.

Apparently it's a very common injury in TBs.
 
They sure can!

Youngish tbx on my yard had gone off his haylage a bit for a few days. Nobody thgought it was anything serious but the YO lorry was taking another horse to our local equine surgery for pregnancy check up and there was a space on the lorry so the tbx went. Vets checked teeth, usual stuff then suggested an x-ray to see if it would show up what was wrong. Everyone was stunned because there it was: a well and truly broken jaw for all to see!!! Amazing. Healed on it's own though he had to be fed sloppy feed because he couldn't chew.
 
A lot of painkillers and tlc!

I have dealt with two horses and both are now fine! One snapped the end of his bottom jaw, just behind his incisors - he got wired up! The other somehow managed to break the huge thick round part at the neck end of the lower jaw (in a stable over night - we still have no idea how!) - he was left for everything to knit together on its own - which it duly did. Took some keeping weight on both of them short term though!! Lots of sloppy food and patience!
 
Thanks everyone for giving positive news. I have read that the poor horse's jaw was only hanging on by the skin...ugg, but it has been wired and he is off back to his yard. Maybe he could be taught to use a straw! only joking just hope he is good at sooking up his feed, 1 of mine loves his food really wet and is very good at supping up every last morsal, but don't see much bulk feeding being possible. Hope he mends quickly.
 
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