going against vets advice?

C

clairefeekerry1

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 December 2008
Messages
1,602
Visit site
my horse has some random injury that has baffled both my vet and a specialist, i wontgo into too much detail but we are looking at some sort of SI injury, most likely muscle strain or ligament injury. the vets are not sure but prescribed 2 months box rest and 1 month field rest. i had a physio and a chiro out who have spoken to my vets and said they couldn't really give a good explanation as to why box rest is needed and they both think he'd be better off turned out in a small paddock so he can move around a bit. i was going to give him off till spring anyway so they say turn him out in a small paddock till then?? i'm not sure what to do. i'm 3 weeks into box rest at present...help
 
clairefeekerry1 said:
my horse has some random injury that has baffled both my vet and a specialist, i wontgo into too much detail but we are looking at some sort of SI injury, most likely muscle strain or ligament injury. the vets are not sure but prescribed 2 months box rest and 1 month field rest. i had a physio and a chiro out who have spoken to my vets and said they couldn't really give a good explanation as to why box rest is needed and they both think he'd be better off turned out in a small paddock so he can move around a bit. i was going to give him off till spring anyway so they say turn him out in a small paddock till then?? i'm not sure what to do. i'm 3 weeks into box rest at present...help
Click to expand...

I would't recommend randomly going against vet's advice.

They may have good reasons that haven't been stressed very well why they feel rest is necessary and without clarifying the reasons don't undo the rest you've done to date and potentially set the horse back in time.

I would strongly recommend you ring the vet tomorrow and discuss the physio ans chiro exams and their findings and interpretation. The vet may revise his/her regime OR explain better their reasons for the plan in place.

If you aren't satisfied at that stage, or are still confused, then try and make sure the vet knows the end plan. there is nothing more frustrating to a vet, than thinking you know what's going on with a plan with a case, coming to see the horse sometime down the line fore re-exam and find that you'd done you're own thing anyway.

If you want to do that, we sort of feel superfluous to requirement. I'd personally rather keep my clients on board with treatment plans, make compromises to suit, but most importantly be involved.

We know having a horse on box rest isn't fun...we don't do it if we don't genuinely think it's necessary.

Hope that this is useful?
Regards,
Imogen
 
hi, yes that is useful and i would always chat through with th vet and i dont think to be honest he'd have a massive problem with him going into a little paddock as the vet wasn't dead cert on box rest in the first place, it was more lets just try it. is there much difference between a stable and being out in a stable sized paddock for a few hours a day? when the chiro/physio spoke to the vet the vet kind of just said they cant really tell me anything further so feel free for the physio/chiro to do as they wish...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top