Check Ligament Injury- Is there anything else I can do?

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luce1

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So my lovely eventer has doen his check ligament just before the start of the season. He is currently on box rest with cold hosing twice a day and taken out to be hand grazed a couple of times a day.
I bandage his legs at night as they fill anyway so gives him a bit more support.
Vet is coming back in 4 weeks to rescan and hopefully see some improvement.
Is there anything I can feed that could help at all? Or any gel or creams that could go on in the day when he hasnt got his bandages on?
Thanks x
 
Well I was told to box rest my arab when he damaged his check ligament, but he doesn't do box rest, so after seeing him bucking round his stable, I decided he was less of a risk going out.
He went out for an hour a day for 12 weeks, and was rescanned, all was fine.
 
if the injury is new cold hosing 2x a day, and ice packs inbetween. be guided by the vet and the scans. mother nature is the only healer and she cant be speeded up. when you get the ok to start work again then you really need to adhere to the old school regime of 4 weeks pavement pounding in walk, and a further 4 weeks in walk and trot on the roads to strenthen the legs before you start canter work! good luck but realistically you will lose the first half of this season. hopefully he will be up and running june/july time .. just when the going gets hard,, not ideal. be patient do not rush his rehabilitation otherwise it will all take a lot lot longer.
 
I did as my vet said rigidly. I also used magnets. Have used the before to good effect. Was back in work quickly...well I was allowed to ride her rather than walking in hand as she was going crazy in hand... but on limited turnout for a good 6 months.
P.S I now exercise in bandages rather than boots on my vets advice. Air-cooled ones so not to overheat the legs.
She has stayed sound since and been in hard work at times.
Good luck xx
 
If he's insured i would also recommend a hydrotherapy spa. I've used them for various ailments, including a torn check. Our vet said she had never seen one heel so quick. You'd never know now that she'd done it :)
 
Thank you for all the replies..
I have heard good things about the spa and really want to take my horse however I am slightly concerned about travelling him and the strain it could have on his leg. He is only 2 weeks into his 5 weeks on box rest. I am thinking maybe the Spa woud be better when he has done his box rest and is allowed to start his 4 weeks walking...
The langley spa is a good hour drive in the lorry for us and would hate to injury the leg anymore.. will speak to the vet.
Thanks again
 
My horse is also on box rest due to a check ligament injury. I've been doing pretty much the same as you aswell as using witch hazel and arnica gel after hosing and drying the leg. My vet said it was a good idea after i mentioned i was using that aswell but it's hard to tell how much it's helping. It can't hurt though so i think i will just keep going with it
 
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Mine had done a week and a half box rest due to cellulitis, back out for a couple of days then he did his ligament. Two weeks box rest and the swelling was down so he was allowed turnout for an hour (he hates being stabled and becomes really unmanagable and bargy. Had already dragged me around the arena on my back and broke my finger etc when leading him out in hand), seemed fine when he came in but the next morning his leg was back up so it's back to box rest! Currently trying to kick his door down to get out and hosing his leg is becoming a total nightmare even in a control halter, it's like running a gauntlet every time to get it done before something sets him off! I don't know how long he'll need to wait until he can get out for a wee while but i'm not looking forward to getting him to the field lol! Vet suggested i take him for a short hack (in walk) before turnout the last time but he's the kind of horse that has to go out for 30 mins before you ride him under normal circumstances so that isn't an option for me :(
How is your horse coping?
 
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