Damaged Tendon - ok, terrify me guys

[SouthWestWhippet]

In field, pony got kicked on the back of his near hind fetlock by a bloody great cart horse (belgium draft mare). He's not good with the women.

As there wasn't much of a cut, just a scratch but some heat and swelling we put it down to a bruising, cold hosed every day but otherwise left it largely alone. Pony was lame but not dog lame, just a bit 'short' behind.

2 weeks later pony is still lame, still heat, still swelling so I called the vet in as brusing should have cleared up by now.

Vet thinks due to location on back of fetlock that it may be that he's damaged a tendon or the anteriour ligament. I think vet said 'split' or 'blown' tendon? Basically not a strain or sprain, but more that the tendon got mashed up due to the impact of the kick.

Pony is currently on 2 sachets of bute and in during the day with stable bandages to bring the swelling down so vet can scan it with his portable scanner on Tuesday.

I'm sure somewhere out there in the "my pony costs more in vets bills that I pay on my mortgage" part of HHO (I know you're out there

) there must be someone who has had experienced of a tendon damaged by IMPACT.

Vet said they tended to heal better than strains and sprains but Merlin is a jumping pony so I am especially worried about damage to this area and how it might affect his career and how long it will take to heal.

Bless him, pony is completely happy living the life of riley and getting two feed a day even if they do have a funny taste

 

[Marnie]

Friends pony damaged the outside of her superficial (I think!) flexor tendon (rather than a core lesion) - think she may have been kicked. It healed really well with shockwave and she is now back in full work.

Hope that helps!

 

[jhoward]

my mare damaged her tendon sheath, originally it was 3 months healing.. then she re twinged it.. then it was do or die so i had her operated on.

my opinion.. get it scanned asap to be 100% certain, a scan doesnt cost much.

if possible due to finances, injury etc if it is viable just get it operated on/scockwave etc.

my mare was back in work 2 weeks after the op and is now in proper work (still building up) she is a bsja mare, and will go back to jumping, so there is hope.

 

[L&M]

Sorry to hear your news but don't panic!
My cob had an impact injury out hunting - he got clobbered from behind by a horse he was giving a lead too over a dyke, which resulted in an inch gash on his back leg, near his tendon.
We managed to hobble him home and the vet came out straight away, but decided the wound was not near a tendon or suspensory, and was told just to manage it as a wound. It took a good 6 - 8 weeks before the wound healed but the pony was still lame. I got a second opinion from a another vet who scanned him and found a tear and 2 core lesions, and gave the pony a 40% chance of being field sound, let alone rideable!
This vet recommened 6 mnths box rest, with controlled walking, and a course of Adequan, which I was allowed to administer.
However, the pony came sound within 3 months of box rest and has been sound now for 18 mnths. We built his fitness back up again slowly over 6 mnths and he is now back in full work - he won 3 sj classes last week and regularly enjoys 5 hr hacks. I am spending the summer doing lots of fun rides also and hope to have him back hunting this season. I have tested him out on hard ground, soft mud, roads etc but nothing seems to cause him a problem and is a sound as he ever was.
I supplement him on MSM and also felt that helped during his recovery period, and also used the Aerborn cool gaiter daily to save cold hosing.
Hope this gives you some hope and good luck.

 

[SouthWestWhippet]

Thank you everyone, that does sound hopeful.

The vet is coming out to scan him on Tuesday so I will see what he recomends.

I just want to ride my pony

I've moved him to a yard with an indoor and outdoor school so I could spend more time schooling him and he was kicked on the first day. Typical

 

[corinnematthews]

Scan is an excellent idea - then you will really know the extent of the damage - cut the feeds right down, just enough to give it the bute (sometimes you have to syringe that, cos they hate it in feed any way) Impact has aways got to be better than a strain - but bad luck - hope it turns out OK

 

[Fizzimyst]

Try posting in veterinary too xx