I just want to cry

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Hovis_and_SidsMum

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Following my post last week ref Sidney and his possible fracture we've suffered a set back today.
He has been a nightmare all weekend. He's stressed out of his brains on box rest, won't eat, is sweated up - to the extent we had to dope him on saturday to calm him down.
The vet has been back today and he's made no progress. The leg is still really swollen and he's hopping lame on it. So much so thats the vet is now convinced she missed something and he has fractured it. He went beserk the minute he saw her and she's had to trank him again to change the cast etc. He's now back in cast and has to be cross tied. He's going to destroy the stable.
She won't re xray him til next week now so we've got another week with still no answers. We're trying to speak to our normal vet but he's not back til tomorrow.
After feeling really positive last week I just want to sit and cry. I know many of you are coping with far worse but we've got no answers and he's so distressed - its horrible.
 
Oh poor you
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and poor Sidney
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That's bad news. Has he got a companion or is he in on his own? Poor chap - it's so hard when they are like that. If he's been charging round his stable though it's not surprising his leg is no better. Tomorrow isn't far off - I'm sure your usual vet will come up with something...
 
Her view is that if they treat it as a fracture and it isn't well thats ok then isn't it. Which has a degree of logic but he's so distressed i don't want to do this to him unless we have to. Plus if its not fractured what has he done?
 
Can i make a suggestion?

That you call your vets and demand a referral to an equine hospital.

Couple of things.

Firstly, I dont care what her reasoning is, x raying next week is not good enough. At the very best, find another equine clinic in the area and get them out. But personally, id be gunning for a referral.

Secondly, hes clearly not going to take well to the box rest if, after just two days, hes in this state. Sweating up can be pain related, particularly with fractures so thats just something to keep in mind - although if hes as stressed as you say, it could also purely be that. The nurses and specialists at a hospital will be able to cope with this much better than you. He'll be around other horses on box rest, if he needs sedating, they can do it and he'll have 24 hour care.

Ive been in your position and looking back (my horse was PTS) and knowing what i know now, id demand that referal (and yes, you are well within your rights to do this) and have him boxed off to the closest equine hospital. Where abouts are you based?
 
Poor you
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A friend's horse which was so loopy on box rest that she chucked herself over backwards in the stable
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apparently did very well on Tempralax - spent most of the time asleep. Might be worth trying as I know how horrible it is to see them so distressed. My mare was really good on Global Herbs Boxrest calmer, but then she wasn't as upset as yours sounds...
 
She wanted to take him to York to the hospital but they've said not too. If it is a fracture they're worried he'll do more harm than good. They'll bring the portable unit back out to him on monday.
 
Could you get a stable mirror? That might help to calm him down.

Be careful how you introduce it though, you don't want to frighten him.

Poor you, this is a terrible situation.
 
[ QUOTE ]
She wanted to take him to York to the hospital but they've said not too. If it is a fracture they're worried he'll do more harm than good. They'll bring the portable unit back out to him on monday.

[/ QUOTE ]

Surely throwing himself around his box isn't doing him much good, either?
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That's ridiculous - it's too long to wait if he's this upset
 
Could it be that they wont xray as it wont show any more till the bone has started to heal, and will then show the ossification round the (poss) fracture. Also with the swelling its going to be harder to see anything.

I have no experience of this, its just something that I have previously read.

Sending vibes to you and horsey {{{{{{{{{{{{vibes}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
 
Moving him would indeed not be ideal, although i think id be most concerned about actually loading. However, if hes as bad as you say, id be really considering it
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Is there any chance you could speak with the vets at York and at least explain to them your concerns in regards to his current behaviour?

Has the vet given you any reasons why she wont x ray again until next week?

Not sure what to suggest in regards to keeping him chilled... Has his hard feed been cut? Is he refusing to eat absolutly everything? Hows his drinking?
 
I agree wih Tierra.

If he is behaviing like this its going to do him no favours to stand and wait, IMO its no more risky moving him to where someone can actually do something.
Im amazed you havent had a referral.
 
Merlin's Quest is right. I think this fact should be publicised more...

The reason for x-raying next week is that with certain hairline fractures they are IMPOSSIBLE to see until some bone healing has started, forming a visible (to x-ray) callus on the bone tissue. It isn't a question of quality or ability, it's a limitation of the technology. If there's nothing visible on the X-rays done acutely, and the vets are satisfied that they've taken all appropriate views and with the quality (could get a 2nd opinion on the existing x-rays, ask your usual vet when he's back...)

Same applies to scans, you cannot get any meaningful results from a scan (tendons or ligaments) before about a week after injury.

Also applies to humans, even with the greater flexibility in views availble.
 
Chin up, I know exactly what you're going through as I went through it last summer. I agree that you should get him into an equine hospital asap. My mare came in hopping lame from the field on her hind. I called the vet and she came out and said straight into the nearest horspital(1 hr away). The mare was not putting any weight on the leg and she had a 6 week old foal at foot. It was a nightmare loading her but the I bandaged the leg really well so it was well padded and supported and thankfully she loaded ok but the foal was then charging around the yard. Eventually got them both in and the journey took twice asl ong as usual cos I went so slow. The staff in the hospital were brilliant with her and the foal. They xrayed her straight away (I don't see why your vet won't? Swelling shouldn't matter for xray) She had fractured 2 bones in her hock. They then bandaged and splinted her and had to wait for 5 days until the swelling went down so they could scan the leg and see if there was any tendon or ligament damage. Luckily there wasn't. My girl had to have 4 months box rest which thankfully she coped fine with.

I really think you should find the nearest equine hospital to you and try and bring your horse there. Get a few experienced of people to help load him, bed the box down really well with straw and make sure his leg is very well supported and padded. Ask your vet to come in case he might need a mild sedation to help him load. The staff there will be well used to dealing with horses in his condition and the sooner you can find out what the damage is, the better. Good luck, these situations are very stressful but you do get through them.
 
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