Check ligament injury question.??

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nicolaread

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Hi, nearly a year ago my horse suffered quite a nasty check ligament injury, after 8 months box rest he had been returning to normal work and sound. He now seems to be having a few problems with soundness + i have tryed kepping him in on box rest for a week or two again, my question is, does anyone know if you can get shortening of the check ligament from too much box rest? my vet isnt avaliable at the moment otherwise i would call her, any knowledge or experiences would be great!! thank you.
 
i'm not sure about shortening - it would depend how it has helaed i suppose.

what treatment did yours have - mine had shockwave therapy and seems good. (touching lots of wood). he was injured a year ago, and came striaght back into work - it was only a mild strain tho.

does your horse not seem to have the same stride as before?

you could maybe go into the vet forum and ask there - but without seeing scans i suppose they can only give you general help.

i hope it all works out ok for you!
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mine only had box rest, i diddnt use any alternative therapys, the vet didnt mention them to be honest. yeah i think his stride is slightly different, i did mention it to my farrier the other day to make sure there is still even wear on his shoes. will try the vet forum + c wot they say, thanks!
 
8 months of box rest is an awful lot for anything - let alone a check ligament. I have a now 8 year old who did a check ligament badly at 5. He had 3 months box rest, then in-hand-walking starting at 5 minutes a day and building up to 15 minutes twice a day over 6 weeks. He was then allowed to be turned out in the manege for free exercise for ANOTHER 6-8 weeks and THEN we started walking exercise - for 6 weeks, before introducing trot. He was sound from the start and has stayed that way.

I don't think your vet has done you or your horse any favours - and at this stage I would be looking for a referral to a GOOD equine vet for a lameness work-up and help getting him sound!
 
I don't know the textbook answer to this but suspect that it does shorten if the horse is on box rest.

My mare did hers - I saw her do it, she decided to race down the long side of the paddock, did a massive buck and fell flat on her face! Then limped..

The vet said to box rest her, but I have to say I ignored him
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and turned her out in a smallish paddock with an old pony. She would have stressed and box walked and weaved if she had been kept in. Away she survived my lack of care and 4 months later was as sound as a bell and has had no problems since (with her check ligament anyway!)

Not sure I would recommend my approach though, I guess I was just lucky
 
Must admit I bought my mare WITH her CL injured - she'd had 4 months off, I gave her another 6 months off - but she was out in a paddock - she went on to be sound... I'd agree that amount of box rest must lead to repercussions... probably spelt better though!
 
Yep, there is a risk that the ligament will contract - your vet should have warned you to look for signs, ie walking on the toe rather than placing the hoof flush to the ground. And Oldmare, I turned my pony out because of stress, and he healed fine too. (Didn't tell my vet for ages though...)
 
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