Feeling down...

[Halfpass]

As I am sure you are all aware OH's horse Spike had a Kissing Spine Op 10 weeks ago. He was initially doing really well and after 6 weeks of walking in hand we started the long process of daily lunging in the pessoa. This started 4 weeks ago and over this time we started to notice some quite marked muscle wastage which I have posted about in Vets.

Anyway so we are now up to 30 mins lunging with walk trot and canter and over some raised poles. All in all with warming up and cooling down this takes 1 - 1 1/2 hours. We are also under the eye of the physio, so after lunging he has 15 - 30 mins of ice therapy then a series of carrot stretches (and thats just the morning!!!)

He also is having electronic muscle stimulation to the wsted area which takes 1 hour and needs to be done at the opposite end of the day to lungeing.

To top this all off we are struggling to turn him out. We have the opportunity to turn him out in a small paddock that the YM uses for his horses but generally speaking we can only turn him out in the middle of the day when we are at work and there is no one around to turn him out or bring him in for us.

I spoke to the vets today and they are not happy about us turning him back out witht the herd just yet so poor Spike has at least another 2 weeks with very limited tunrout (probably about 2 hours per week) this is causing problems with the muscel wastage and his stiffness as he box walks aswell. Physio wants him out and vets want him in!!!!!

Also the physio isn't 100% sure that the muscle wastage will ever correct itself so even though we are trying Spike may never end up being able to be a horse at his full potential.

Poor poor baby has been through so much, OH and I were talking yesterday and its getting to the point twhere we just feel like turning him away for 6 months to let him heal naturally, its also just such hard work for us. All this treatment and a full time job for both of us really is such a strain!!

To top it all off my mare came in from being turned away hoping lame with an absess so that 2 horses now on box rest needing our TLC.

I knwo there will be a light at the end of the tunnel but right now I just can't see it. Having horses is supposed to be fun and enjoyable

A Vodka and Coke for those that got this far................

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

You have my utter utter sympathy.
As you might know we're still struggling with Sidney after he broke his leg in January. He hasn't been worked really since, has lost masses of muscle, is miserable in himself as he's in a small paddock on his own. He can see his mates but thats about all.
He goes back to hospital next week and I think both OH and I are resigned to bad news.
It is so hard to do whats right for them and hold down a full time job. You must both be physically and emotionally drained.
I can't offer advice as i'm no expert but if turning him away for 6 months is an option and the vets agree maybe that would gve you both a break for a while?

 

[dianchi]

TBH if you have the ability too why not just turn him out for 6 months???
My mare had a year off in the end as she was miserable being in getting more exercise in her box than if she was out!
But she is right as rain now!

 

[CBFan]

You have my complete sympathy!

My 11 month old filly is 9 weeks into god knows how long of box rest after being diagnosed with DOD. I'm having to re-bandage her legs daily, now take her for grass in hand, and deal with other complications that have arrisen along the way - like some mystery hair loss, her constant itchiness as she is moulting like crazy and can't get rid of it herself. Our morning routine starts at 6 am and takes nearly two hours! I feel your pain! If I could turn her away, I would but unfortunately in my Filly's case, the free excercise will do her no good at all.

I still have 5 weeks to go untill we re-assess with more xrays and even then I'm not sure there'll be a light at the end of the tunnel!

As you have the option to turn away and if all concerned agree, I would. BTW an hour + of lunging seems rather excessive - particularly for a horse recovering from an op...

 

[Alibear]

eeeek no , proper post surgery care and work has a mega important factor in their recovery post kissing spine surgery.
Throwing him out for 6 months will not help you one little bit.

I'm also certain I've seen other posts about muscle wastage problems post surgery and with the continued work and effort they came right in the end.

Is you Physio one recommended by the vets who did the surgery?

 

[kit279]

This might be a bit controversial but my dad was a vet and he always used to say that horses are innately designed to get better. In the wild, they either heal or die so although it might not seem like that, they do recover naturally. If there was a case that didn't look good and the animal wasn't in pain or suffering, he always recommended 6 months turning away as a trial period to see what happens. He was a big believer in letting the horse be a horse, 24/7 turnout and not interfering! It worked for a lot of his patients, if that makes you feel any better! Why not give it a go and see how things turn out? You'd be amazed how many horses perk up with being turned out and I think they heal better if they're not so stressed!

 

[cellie]

Well I hope you have some luck I wont bore you with my horses injuries but sometimes it seems to be 2 steps forward and 5 back.At least we know we arent alone.Ive forgotten the fun side as well I put mine out last night for the first time and feel better knowing he is out in the fresh air.

 

[Halfpass]

[ QUOTE ]
eeeek no , proper post surgery care and work has a mega important factor in their recovery post kissing spine surgery.
Throwing him out for 6 months will not help you one little bit.

I'm also certain I've seen other posts about muscle wastage problems post surgery and with the continued work and effort they came right in the end.

Is you Physio one recommended by the vets who did the surgery?

[/ QUOTE ]

I know tunrout out for 6 months will do him no good but it does seem like a good idea sometimes!!!

Svend Kold at Willesleys did the surgery and Sarah Barnes a vet recommended physio is also treating him.
Svned has seen just 4 cases of the muscle wastage in his last 250 horses 3 came out ok (didn't want to ask about the 4th

) so I guess we were just unlucky!!