How to cool down a splint?

horseluver4eva

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Vet was down yesterday and my horse has a splint, it looks like he had done it years ago because there was a scar, and now hes redone the injury. anyway hes completely sound no change in character just a sore splint thats hotish, was thumping two days ago but not anymore. vet said to ride him to loosen his muscle or something and hose it down. any other ideas? i feel really bad riding him:(
 
Vet was down yesterday and my horse has a splint, it looks like he had done it years ago because there was a scar, and now hes redone the injury. anyway hes completely sound no change in character just a sore splint thats hotish, was thumping two days ago but not anymore. vet said to ride him to loosen his muscle or something and hose it down. any other ideas? i feel really bad riding him:(

Cld hose three times a day, or use the ice packs.... Splintex is another good product although there are two types (silver and gold I think) they work on different types of splint injuries, old and new if I recall correctly.
 
I wouldn't ride him if there's heat in the splint and I wouldn't bother hosing either. Don't think it makes any difference, the only thing that helps is rest.
 
Thanks i think i might get some ice packs because i flooded the yard just then! i might order some of that do you know how much it is? i do feel bad riding him but the vet said when its hot i have to put him out in the field and/or ride him so im stuck on what to do?
 
Personally I would turn out I too have had the ride if they are not lame advice for splints from vets but it's never worked well for me so I tend to turn away, unless there is an " extra " reason the vet wants the horse ridden , I don't understand the muscle bit, spints occur below the knee horses have no muscle below the knee.
Just spotted your last post definatly turn him away use ice packs at least twice a day ,if you have a river you can ride him down to and stand that would be worth the effort if it's not too far.
 
hmm i think ill just turn him out then. Im not sure if it was to do with the muscles she just mentioned something like that but i couldnt understand a word she was saying she was talking so fast!!she said she was not worried at all but i still do
 
The cold hosing/ice will be there to help bring down any small amount of swelling there may be and this stress on the ligaments surrounding the area. If you are using ice packs make sire you have a pad between the pack and the skin.

Turn the horse away for a week or so, see how it is then start work, if it heats up again back off again until it is settled. It is possible for a horse to bash a splint and thus activating it again, you just need to keep an ever watchful eye on it.
 
OP was the vet perhaps worrying about the horse getting azoturia standing in ( thinking about the muscle comment).
 
If he has a scar, are you sure he hasn't broken the splint bone previously and has now aggravated the old injury?

Cold hosing is really the best thing and no work until it settles.
 
Hmm it might of been thats a good point! see the thing is ive never noticed this lump before nor have i noticed the scarring and hair loss. so im wondering if it is new? i didnt really speak to the vet much i wish id spoke to her more...
 
The lump is very obvious, and looking at all old videos and photos of when i first bought him he defiantly had no scar or any lump! so it does look like he has just done it, which does explain why it is quite sore. So new question! how long does it take to heal a newly formed splint if it is new?
 
Thanks i think i might get some ice packs because i flooded the yard just then! i might order some of that do you know how much it is? i do feel bad riding him but the vet said when its hot i have to put him out in the field and/or ride him so im stuck on what to do?

my ipad was being dodgy earlier so my reply was short, the advice off my vet was box rest for a week until sound then for another week following this with a gentle in hand walk a couple of times a day. I used the packs primarily when mine got heat in his leg... I activated it, then wrapped it round and secured in place with vet wrap.... ben had quite fluffy legs so it wasnt too cold... I could then leave him to his treatment whilst i mucked out... He was sound in a couple of days and never had a problem since.... I personally think cold hosing/ice packs do help... it is important to do what you can to get the heat down asap, clay is also excellent. i think the main advice re box rest was because he was a baby and hooned around the field... they wanted to keep this to a minimum!
 
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Thank you! Thankfully he isn't lame or at least not yet! I'm going to hose down 20 minutes each day and do the ice pack idea, just hoping it works!
 
Thank you! Thankfully he isn't lame or at least not yet! I'm going to hose down 20 minutes each day and do the ice pack idea, just hoping it works!

maybe worth bearing in mind that ben was an unbroken baby in no work, rest period may be different if you want to start working, this was never a consideration in my case.
 
Thanks ive had a quick look ill have a good look through them now! However because im a complete worrier and the vet didnt prescribe anything and basically said to leave it do you not think i should get another vets opinion if it persists? the amount of throbbing, pain and heat on Wednesday was awful and he did need bute in my opinion but the vet said no.. i mean i know im not a vet but i just want the best for my poor boy.
 
Thanks ive had a quick look ill have a good look through them now! However because im a complete worrier and the vet didnt prescribe anything and basically said to leave it do you not think i should get another vets opinion if it persists? the amount of throbbing, pain and heat on Wednesday was awful and he did need bute in my opinion but the vet said no.. i mean i know im not a vet but i just want the best for my poor boy.

In my opinion, it is a fine line with bute... on the one hand you want the inflammation to go down and as bute is an anti inflammatory it will help with that, however, it will also take the pain away... not always a good thing. sometimes the horse needs that reminder to stop them haring around like an idiot and doing more damage. As Goldenstar (I think) said, the muscle in that area is minimal and as such, combating inflammation with cold therapy is the best and most recognised form of treatment with fresh splints. The lump, whilst not nice, is cosmetic... some go down, some dont. Splintex and also comfrey are your best bet for tackling the calcification and keeping it to a minimum. If it were me and my horse was lame, id possibly consider no bute/ devils claw... but if you are in any way in doubt, and especially since you say your vet was talking so fast you kind of lost the gist of what he/she was saying... then yes, ask to have another vet out... if only for your peace of mind.
 
Ah right, see i havent dealt with bute much in the past and dont know a whole lot about it. But i knew it was anti inflammatory and pain relief and a few people mentioned it which was what got me thinking. But your right about the idea of maybe being a bad idea to use bute so that he doesnt make it worse. I think i will get a second opinion just as you say for my peace of mind. Yeah i need him in work asap as hes just turned 6 not even a week ago and needs lots of work. Have finally been getting him listening and getting his striding etc right to poles and stopping him rushing so i dont want him forgetting it:( i think ill leave him the weekend and on monday see what its like. if its still bad ill ask for another opinion. This may sound a bit stupid but what type of ice packs do you put on? like ones we would use?
 
Something like this will do, you squeeze it to activate it and throw away... This seems like a decent price too and if your treating three times a day should last you a week.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Large-Instant-Packs-Pack-Disposable/dp/B001P5E6KO

He won't forget, infact I've found that a break of a few weeks when learning helps them digest what they have learnt and if anything they come back even better. If you want to keep his young brain working to stop him getting bored there are still lots of ground work things you can do or even a bit of clicker training.

These are the ones I buy... Quite a bit more expensive at this link but I think they both do pretty much the same job.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001XFTMRS/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001P5E6KO&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0Q9Y75ZKJWTDYSHPF6QV

You can also get vet wrap on amazon in bulk although I buy mine at the pound shop... Much cheaper!
 
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Vet needs a smack!

The best thing for a splint is turn out and rest- while the splint is hot it means that the body is depositing calcium onto the damaged area and the splint will just get larger.

Cold hosing does help as it reduces the inflammation and slows down the bodies attempt to repair with more bone.

What also works is to rub lemon into the splint - cut into sections and rub well onto the area - something to do with the acid in the lemon.

Cold water bandages are better than flooding the yard and can be easily made.

Fold a hand towel in half so the sewn edges are together, dip in cold water and then squeeze out and place inside a plastic bag and then put in the freezer - the best bags are the sort that are resealable. When you go to the yard remove from freezer and put in a chiller to keep them cool.

Then wrap around the injured leg and bandage in place - you can leave them in the plastic bag so long as they don't slide out from under the bandage.
 
Sorry ive just seen these posts now. Thanks everyone hes been getting his leg hosed twice a day for 20 minutes and turnout and rest. Today the heat and pain has completely gone however there is still slight swelling, and the lump looks awful :rolleyes: is there anyways to reduce the appearance of the lump? as it is a big splint. oh also just got some vet wrap and ice packs
 
Sorry ive just seen these posts now. Thanks everyone hes been getting his leg hosed twice a day for 20 minutes and turnout and rest. Today the heat and pain has completely gone however there is still slight swelling, and the lump looks awful :rolleyes: is there anyways to reduce the appearance of the lump? as it is a big splint. oh also just got some vet wrap and ice packs


Yep, keep up with the hosing/cooling for at least a week. With regards to reducing the lump, splintex, lemon or comfrey application. Glad the heat has gone, sounds like you are on the right track
 
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