Feeling like worst owner in the world...

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montysmum1

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Back in October last year my mare got hit by a car whilst we were out hacking, thankfully by some miracle she didn't break her leg, and i managed to lead her home, as no obvious injuries, spoke to the vet who advised rest and keep a close eye in case of shock, the next day she was ridiculously lame so called the vet again, who came out and suggested deep muscle bruising, ligament tears and a possible fractured pelvis due to the force of the impact, which threw her almost over and at speed.
Vet advised turn out in level paddock as much as possible to keep her moving and to prevent stiffening, and she improved over the next few weeks to 3-4/10ths lame, although anything would have been an improvement from the state she had been in. She's out most days and in over night.
There has been no improvement since then. She has been permanently resting her right hind leg since the accident (the one which took the impact) and has muscle wastage over her quarters. She is now having Physio and is on 1 Danilon a day because she isn't able to stand still comfortably. She's making a tiny improvement in her right hind with Physio but is now looking more lame on her left hind... I am feeling sick with worry over her, she is my baby and I just can't fix her! I am doing her physio exercises religously, and she seems ok in herself most of the time, and is eating normally, but this is breaking my heart.
Sorry this is so long... if you're still reading then any words of advice or encouragement would be massively appreciated, thank you
 
Firstly, I'm really sorry about your accident, horrible thing to happen but at least you both live to fight another day.

Has the vet been back to see her since the accident? What is the physio thinking? Does she/he think it is muscular only or should further investigations be made?

5 months is quite a long time for something to still be uncomfortable standing still, I would make a fuss to your vets about looking a bit further into it.

Hope you get it sorted, it's so frustrating when they are in pain and you can't seem to help.
 
Have you had the vet out again more recently to actually find the cause of her probs with her right hind? As well as physio I would be looking for a cause and possible treatment from the vet so I could have an idea of future progress. While the physio I'm sure will be helping her, it won't be making a diagnosis and it sounds like physio on it's own isn't managing to make further improvements for your mare.

No reason you should feel like a bad owner though! Sounds like you are following vet's recommendations and you are working to keep your mare comfortable!

Hugs for you and your mare, sounds like you've both had a rough few months with this.
 
My Flynn managed to severely damage himself, torn ligaments, severely bruised muscles all up his inner thighs, chunk of bone fulled off spinal process. He too was out during the day and in at night, what made the biggest improvement to him was being out 24/7, firstly with a staid friend and latterly with an active friend. Watching the pair of them bombing around had my heart in my teeth, but Flynn really improved.
 
Has she ever had an x ray on this suspected fractured pelvis and the leg that was hit?

Sometimes ligament and muscle injuries take longer to heal than bones.

Sending you a hug!
 
First, I'm so sorry to hear about your accident. it sounds horrific.

Second, it could be soft tissue damage, muscles tightened up around the original injury and now various bits and bobs in spasms.

October to February isn't a long time. Just thinking, I fell off my horse around 15 Oct, landing on my hip/back on concrete. Hurt like hell at the time and I was xrayed and found pelvis ok. Since then my "piriformes" muscle tightened, I got a big lump over the top which has only disipated very recently, but I now can't sit cross legged anymore because I can no longer put that leg in the cross-legged position cos all the muscles connecting down my leg from that area have become tight. I keep meaning to go and see an osteopath...

So from my human experience, I'd say it's just as likely your poor horse is still suffering the aftereffects of soft tissue damage and possibly needs some investigation and treatment to alleviate the tight muscles.

And you're a good owner.
 
Thank you everyone, I really appreciate your support and comments.

I have the vet visit us every 3-4 weeks to keep a check on her, it's the lack of progress that's gettingme down, and that apart from the Physio exercises I have been given, there's nothing else I can do for her to make her better.

There have been no x-rays/scans as the vet say's the area is too bulky to get a good result, the physio has suggested a bone scan (nuclear scintigraphy) but the vet doesn't think it's worth it...

I'm not even bothered if I can't ride her again (though she is an amazing horse to ride, and i'd miss it very much), i've owned her for 9 fantastic years and she's never been anything but perfect so I just want her to be comfortable.
 
Sounds like it might be worth getting a second opionion. Like you I would feel happier with a feeling of progress or at least an understanding of what the problem is that needs to be treated or simply allowed time to heal. Just plodding on with no real direction or plan doesn't seem acceptable to me.
How about Mrs M's suggestion of Sue Dyson?
 
Suechoccy that's a really good point. Where she was shoved off balance she only stayed upright because she landed against a wall, completely squashing my left leg/knee between her and it, and it is still painful now!! My poor baby girl :(
 
Definately a case of second opinion. I can't believe your vet hasn't wanted to x-ray?! I wouldn't be surprised if there is some damage that will show up on the x-ray, it's a long time to expect your horse to stay lame. Research your local equine veterinary hospital and make an appoint asap. Good luck and I hope you can sort it out :)
 
I would definitely get a second opinion and scans done. Do you have any good practices near by? I agree that Sue Dyson is very good as well as the Cambridge Equine clinic but I think they are also far to far for your mare to travel whilst she is in so much pain, with you being in Wales.
 
montysmum1 said:
There have been no x-rays/scans as the vet say's the area is too bulky to get a good result, the physio has suggested a bone scan (nuclear scintigraphy) but the vet doesn't think it's worth it...
Click to expand...

What a horrible thing to happen to you, I am sorry.

I am shocked at your vet's advice re the bone scan - they are great for diagnosis of large areas like this.

Her symptoms sounds very similar to my boy after he fell over with me (back in October). Yesterday he had an arthroscopy and it showed that he has torn his meniscal ligament. We are looking at 6 months paddock rest.

I think I would be getting another vet out for your mare - are you insured? It could well be a tear in a ligament; and just cleaning & tidying it up will make a big difference.
 
Any whack to the hock or twist to that area can bring on spavin. Maybe she's starting with that? I also think it's 'relatively' early days for a horse to recover from such an impact. If she's been holding herself due to pain in any region, musle soreness will manifest itself elsewhere.
 
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Thank you for all the advice - Believe it or not I am an experienced horse owner and a qualified instructor, but when it comes to my own I just fall to pieces!!

I will definitely get another vet's opinion/input and push for the bone scan/further investigation, and have her hocks looked at, and not give up hope yet.

Thank you again, i'm feeling much more positive now, you've all been really supportive xx
 
Glad you're feeling better. I think normaly sensible level headed people can go to pot when their beloved horse could be feeling pain and the 'experts' aren't helping like we feel they should or could.
Keep us posted on your progess!!!
 
Ligament damage does take longer to heal than a straight fracture. I believe it is between 3 and 4 months for a non surgical fracture and 6 months for ligament damage to heal. If you have the costs covered then you could ask for a second opinion but if happy with your vet's experience then it is just about sticking with the plan.

It sounds like you are doing everything right, lots of level (non stress bearing) movement, physio to encourage the range of movement and time... the time is the hardest when looking after someone close to you, take the time to maximise your bond by learning about massaging techniques, lots of grooming, clicker training and anything else you would like to do.

Fingers crossed that she is back to gentle walks out by May xx
 
if you arn'nt happy with her progress, ring up the bristol university equine dept and ask for advice, they are really knowlegeable, although they can't consult per se on the phone they may be able to advise you re: length of time since the injury in relation to if you need to investigate the injury source in depth to diagnose any injury that can be treated.
if it was my horse and muscle wastage was happening and discomfort i would do everything possible and investigate every avenue, because the physical distortions taking place can become a permenant obstacle to her recovery,
i would want a vet to do more as who can really say what's going on here and what might be injured that we can't see.
 
You need a referral for definite. I would be demanding one. My mare (pictured in my avatar) broke her shoulder in the field a year ago. Like you, I had had her 9 years at that time and think the world of her. The local vets were unable to xray that area effectively and she was too bad to travel so I waited 2 months until she was comfortable (with pain relief) to travel. I was referred to Sarah Boys-Smith at Rossdales who I can highly recommend. Xrays showed bone fragments in the point of shoulder at the front (a result of a collision), but the most devastating find was the damage to her biceps tendon. It was bad news in that the joint was so unstable that it was certain she could never be ridden again. There was also doubt over whether she could even retire and cope with being in a paddock. Though bad news, I am glad that I was able to learn the extent of her injury and know for sure that she would never be ridden again. It also told me that she could not just be turned out as many vets would advise, and that she needed an extended period of box rest. I actually was able to make her a tiny paddock in the field and gradually enlarge it over the course of 6 months. She is now coping with half an acre. She did have one set back and had to return to box rest for a week, but generally, the way she gallops, bucks and rears, you would not think there was anything wrong with her. What I am saying is, if I didn't have that referral, I would not have known how dangerous it would be to try to ride her. She looks fine, but that tendon could collapse at any time.

So get referred to make sure that your horse's condition is being managed correctly. You never know, you could be doing the opposite of what she needs. Good luck. She is lucky to have such a loving owner.
 
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I'm really sorry to hear about your accident. I'm having a similar problem with my boy. In October he panicked when I was trying to get on him and managed to lose his balace and fall over. The stirrup iron got caught under him (he managed to bend it!) caused a massive heamatoma to come up on his shoulder and he went lame. Since then we've had several vet and physio visits. I had the physio out again on Tuesday and I was hoping she would see some improvement in him but no! He was treated as he was very stuck and i've got to keep going with his poles, streatches and long reining. To be fair he did have 3 weeks off during Dec/Jan due to me being unable to in from the field due to the snow and then the ice but he's had a good 4 weeks of work since then. The vet keeps telling me that becuase it was such a bad fall he had it will take time for him to become his old self again so i'm crossing every thing and pony is in physio bootcamp! He is sound now, he just doesn't move well. Like some people are saying i'm going to give him more time and if he doesn't improve the way he's moving by May i'll have to look at getting him investigated further. Good luck and big hugs.



Jude
 
UPDATE...

Well, following all your advice previously, I had another vet from my practice come out to give me a second opinion and shake things up a bit, and she booked her in for a complete lameness evaluation as she wasn't happy at all with the lack of progress in my poor mare.

Lameness evaluation was worse than I expected, she's lame on all 4 legs now, vet thinks suspensory strain in front due to her much altered way of going, and still very questionable behind, literally hopping after flexion tests. Was a very upsetting day, and worse was to come...

She had to go on 4 danilon/day to recover from the work-up and we're now 2 weeks after this awful day and are only just managing on 2/day, it's awful and seeing her like this is breaking me. But the upshot is she has now been referred for a Scintigraphy and this is booked for the 11th...

I'm still hoping for a miracle... please keep your fingers crossed for us to find something fixable...
 
Really do feel for you (((hugs)))

All the best with the next stage, hope there is a good outcome, least it's been looked into properly now, so it's a way forward.
 
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