Collateral Ligament Injury and Paddock Rest

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lozza_cook

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My horse is in week 8 of box rest for Collateral Ligament Injury and we have hitted a bit of a decision point. The original instructions were walking twice a day but after 5 weeks to be checked by my own vet and then he could go on paddock rest. However he hadn't shown any improvement after 5 weeks so I decided to keep him on box rest and my vet agreed.

However he has now started to get dangerous. He won't be grazed in hand without now leaping around and this morning got free and he almost had me off walking on the road on monday (have to ride him for control as lost control in hand at week 6).

So I know most people have said on here that you shouldn't turnout but I don't see what else I can do. I think its either turnout in v small paddock or keep in box and stop any walking/grazing in hand...

So has anyone managed to heal a collateral ligament injury on paddock rest?
Thanks
Laura
 
Have you spoken to your vet about giving your horse something to help keep him calm?

We currently have a horse in with us for rehab from a tendon injury. He is on a drug called modicate`which is a human drug for schizophrenia. It helps to take the edge off the horse and one injection lasts for 3-4weeks. There are side effects and it is not currently licensed for horses but this may be worth having a chat with your vet about.

Another option is bromide, or acp.
 
gosh this could have been me writing this post 9mths ago !!!
i really feel for you lozza. please don't give in and turnout, i nearly did but now i am so so glad i did'nt. use whatever methods you need to keep control. a few ideas-- a chiffony to lead with, a normal bridle with side reins attached and lunge rein attached, sedaline and more sedaline!! hand walk at quiet times and take someone with you. my horse is now back in work and we had a damaged collateral in each foot.
some people will tell you to turn out into a small pen, but it is still too soon for him - he only needs to spin and slip up or be going round and round ( like he be lunging himself!!) and thats the worst thing you could do. please hang in there. pm me if you like, its a bit of a roller coaster ride this injury
 
It completely depends on the damage to the collateral ligament. My first TB ruptured his collateral ligament and we had to bxo rest him. There was no way turning him out would have done any good. Sadly after six months he was still no better and we made the decision to have him pts as he was still in pain despite being on two bute a day. This was however five years ago when little was known about the injury.
My current TB was diagnosed with chronic wear to his medial collateral ligament last year. We made the decision to turn him away for six months. He had four hours turn out a day (individual in a small paddock). He was not the sort of horse you wished to box rest and because the injury was chronic rather than a rupture it was safe to do this. He spent six months on paddock rest and has come back in to work sound *touch wood*
If you want any information at all PM me and I will try to help. Definitely talk to your vets because my vet was very understanding and agreed box rest was pointless as he'd simply cause more damage when eventually turned back out.
 
My horse has collateral ligament injuries in both front feet. She had shockwave therapy, eight weeks of box rest and has now been chucked out barefoot until next spring when we see where we're up to. My vet at the time said that in her experience they either heal or they don't and I couldn't justify months more aggro and box rest when she's got such a poor prognosis (less than 30%) anyway.

I don't know what the right thing to do is, this is just what I've done.
 
Thanks for all of your advice. Vet has only given me enough Sedalin for 2 days so that isn't much good. I will see how he goes on that and make my decision from there.

How much walking in hand (if any) did everyone do? I'm doing 30mins once a day - only because I can't get up twice a day.
 
started with 5mins twice aday in jan 08 increasing to 30 mins twice aday end of march 08. in march got the go ahead for 30min ridden walk. end of april we started troting, end of july started cantering. last week got the go ahead to introduce large 20m circles !! wow
smile.gif
 
Hi,

My horse was diagnosed with collateral ligament damage and also damage to DDFT in March of this year. He initially had 2 months box rest with 20 min in hand walking twice a day.

Following this the plan was to turn him away for 12 months, as his injuries were so severe (30 per cent chance of getting back to work). However he was so good on in his 3 month review (and I did lots of homework which suggested that walking out was far better than field rest alone) and the vet then agreed that he could do 20 min in hand walking (he was out at night and in at day at this stage).

After 2 months of this he was seen by vet and still sound he then agreed the in hand walking could be increased by 5 mins a week which I did. He was seen 2 days ago and was still sound on 45 mins walking in hand. He then agreed I could start ridden walking for 30 mins per day for 2 weeks, then start increasing 5 mins a week etc. To be seen again when on 45 mins walking ridden. I was told I could use the school or road and only to avoid hard uneven ground. He is still in the main turned out although I am very careful eg. He is in his own paddock, has been in the last few days due to how wet the field is etc.

We are still very much at the fingers crossed stage and I worry all the time that he could come in lame. I have no doubt that it is best to keep them in, but all horses are individual and no two injuries are the same. I just thought I would share my experiences in the hope that it may help or give you some other options.
 
My horse is into the sixth week of box rest for collateral ligament damage right fore. She was very fit ready for eventing when the lameness began. Two tenths lame what have others been diagnosed. She was given modicate to help but carried on leaping about when walked out for five mins so now has 10 acp tablets an hour before walking which helps but do not like giving them. She is very miserable but we have to keep going . In three weeks she will have shock wave therapy as there has been some good results with the treatment. We will all have to be supportive and post any good news or tips we can.
 
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