Deep flexor tendon cutting for pedal bone rotation?

[emmachiro]

Help!

My old mare is at the do or die stage of founder/cushings/laminitis, and has contracture of the DDFT. Such a horrible disease. The question has been raised about cutting the deep digital flexor tendon to relieve the stress on the pedal bone and aid remedial farriery....Has anyone had any experience of this? Did it work? How long was the recovery stage?

Any thoughts hugely appreciated!

 

[LucyPriory]

Don't - not until you have read Founder Prevention and Cure

and http://barefoothorseblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/lameness-case-study-8-weeks-6-days.html This laminitic horse is now working 5/6 days a week

x-rays at start showed 'rotation' and a ski tip pedal bone

and

http://barefoothorseblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/which-one-has-laminitis.html

This horse had been under conventional treatment for very many months and was still crippled lame. It took two weeks to get him to this (and sound).

 

[Lainey123]

As LucyPriory said, go take a look at the Pete Ramey hoof care heals founder in horses, please don't do anything drastic until you have read these.xxxxxxxx

 

[amandap]

My interpretation of a barefoot approach is allowing and encouraging (through diet, trim and movement) the hoof to grow correctly around the bone and sole to build under the coffin bone to lift the tip rather than dropping the back half of the bone to 'match' the angle of the front/tip. In the cutting tendon option things like thin sole are not addressed and the pulley system of the hoof and leg is damaged.

 

[AmyMay]

How old is the mare, condition and recent quality of life?

 

[amandap]

I have a cyber friend whose horse had got to this stage and the surgery was booked. Vets and Farrier felt it was necessary. She took the decision to delay and got an experienced Equine podiatrist to give an opinion. She decided to give this option a go and the horse is doing well nine months on. His feet still have a way to go but he is being ridden lightly now.

 

[soloequestrian]

Ditto re Jaime Jackson's 'Founder, It's Prevention and Cure'!!!

 

[amandap]

I have sent you a message.

 

[emmachiro]

Thank you all for your thoughts and help! Her diet has been changed thanks to the team at Top Spec, and have treated her with chiro and massage to help all the tension in her back and hind legs which has helped...we think some bruising on the front feet may have made her look even worse as a result of the snow and ice. She seems much happier in herself and is back to bossing us all around. It's amazing how much resilience these wonderful animals have. Have gone from fearing the worse to hoping we can help her.

Have Svend Kold and his farrier coming to see her on Friday, they think she may have a 'false sole', which they are going to investigate first.

Thanks again, will let you know how we get on!

 

[amandap]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed she continues to improve.