Doesnt anyone bandage anymore?

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Rosehip

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Im a bit confused to be honest! One of the TB's on the yard is now on box rest (till Friday) following diagnosis of a torn tendon sheath...both his back legs from mid tendon to pastern are hugely swollen, but not hot, and Im just wondering why on earth he isnt bandaged to the nines?? Another mare on the yard has done a rear check ligament and she isnt bandaged either??
My old lad tore his superficial flexor tendons several times (he was very elderly!) and was bandaged 24/7! Is it not the 'done thing' now, or is there some actual medical reason for it?
Sorry for sounding thick, Im not, honestly!!
Thanks x
 
Personally, i would not stable bandage over the topd of a tendon or ligament injury as the heat generated can actually damage the tissue.

However, if the injury is on a fore leg then i will bandage the hind legs when the horse is stood in.

In my case, Ted my TB has done his tendon on his near fore, he also suffers badly from Lymphangitis which means he is ALWAYS bandaged behind when stabled.

A girl at the yard calls them his socks.

Lou x
 
Oh right, you see when the old lad 1st did his tendon, my vet advised gamgee (or whatever its called now!) under elasticated exercise bandages right down the leg and under the fetlock to support the tendon - like a sports medicine boot - and thats what Ive always done. I dont use brush/tendon/whatever boots, I always bandage. Am I old fashioned?
I couldnt leave a horse with a torn tendon unsupported, surely its like trying to walk on a sprained ankle with no support on it??
 
When bandages are on the legs the heat caused by the legs which is unable to escape through the bandages reduces tendon elasticity greatly!
I would never wear bandages anymore personally, prefer medicine or support boots with air flow
 
I bandage my lad at night or use magnetic stable wraps depending on how I am for time, as his legs swell horribly when stood (the remains of a nasty accident last year), there his slippers!
 
Unrelated to injury but I bandage every night after clipping to ensure she stays warm, along with plenty of rugs so I only have to dope and clip twice at most.
 
When my girl did her tendon I was advised bandage over gamgee as described while on box rest. It worked as she has come back completely sound.

I don't bandage or use boots for exercise. I don't believe they support the tendon, there is a risk of overheating and in my sport (endurance) risk of rubs from mud and grit working their way in over a long period.

A
 
TBH I wouldnt bandage either due to the heat build up. You want to cool a hot leg, not keep it cosy IMO! I might use them for support but wouldnt for anything which was hot. One of my horses picked up an knock at the weekend eventing and has heat in one front leg - he's out 24/7 moving about on it and I do no more than just cold hose it daily.
 
i banadage every night with my maare as she has taken to taking chucks out of her legs in the box. as for injurys i do whats the vets tell me so not to risk making it worse.
 
I've got 2 horses on box rest at the moment after they had a bust up in the field and are both in 3-layer bandages which need changing every 3 days, so I feel like I spend my life bandaging!
frown.gif
 
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