injury to deep digital flexor tendon

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Locket

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My friends horse had a nail injury in her hoof in July which has severly damaged her deep digital flexor tendon. She went to Newmarket and was treated accordingly and progress was good. However, the last few wks she has been 'toeing it' and now using her other hind to compensate for her weight. She is on maximum strenght bute, cold water hosing of leg, box rest etc

We are desperate to try and help her. If you have any suggestions please help! I have heard re stem cell therapy and homeotherapy - any more details and what type of homeotherapy?
 
what does the vet say is causing it? i presume from what you say, she's getting worse after getting better?

also, has the vet advised box rest? is it worth asking them if horse can be turned out in small paddock next to/in view of other horses? i'm a great believer in turning out to heal... the body needs blood moving to heal itself... a horse in a box takes 20x less steps than a horse turned out... and it's the steps that help get blood mving round the leg.

ask the vet's advice, many are happy to recommend 'alternative' therapies. and ask if turnout is possible. x
 
Mine has this injury, it happened in feb.
We had matt smith from newmarket operate on him, we had 8 months of complete box rest, during that time we did do controlled exercise, right from the beginning, it started at 5 mins of walking in hand.

If it is in the hoof, cold hosing the leg is not much use, buy magnetic boots, they draw the blood to the leg - premier equine ones are good.

I'd need more information from you to help, give more ideas
 
we have had her on complete box rest except for x2/day of 15mins grazing on the lead rope. Yes you are right she was getting better but has had a relapse for the last 3/52. We have discussed with the vet various options and one was to put her in a box size field space but she occassionally will still mess around in small space. She is bright inherself at the front end v much so. She has remidal shoes insitu and did have bandages on up until weekend. Now her fetlock area is swollen. It has been suggested PTS but we dont want to give up until all options have been used up. She is 12yrs old. Our vet is v supportive and keeping in contact sometimes daily.
 
so so sorry to hear what has happened to your friends horse. I lost my mare in august as a result of a nail injury where the nail perforated her DDFT and it reached into her coffin joint, sadly on my vets advice due to extent of the injury she was PTS, my vet felt the risk of recurrent infection was too high and the likelyhood of a positive outcome was 30% with best case senario 2/10 sound :( she was 10yo and was my best friend. After the vets had told me what was wrong and how bad the damage was i just sobbed my heart out to her, i felt as though i had let her down some way, also my mare sustained this injury while i was having a lesson with a BS accredited coach in his arena! I carried a horrific amount of guilt as i felt we should have tried to do something for her, but she would never of tolerated box rest and the spesis would of made her suffer.

is it possible that the horse has infection and that is why she has become lame? what does the vet think is wrong? i know this was stressed excessively to me at the time as a major complication of operating. i wouldnt of PTS if i thought my mare could of had some quality of life after the surgery as i have a friend with land and she could of lived out her days there but sadly it wasnt meant to be.

big hugs and vibes to your friend and her horse i really hope she can be saved.
 
Hi Kez - so sorry to hear about your horse my heart goes out to you!!!! We have farrier coming out tom to see if there is an absecess under the remedial shoe but there is no heat in her hoof etc. We know she will never be ridden again but like you did we are hoping that we can keep her comfortable and in the field but it isnt looking good at the moment. It is amazing how much damage a small nail can do.
Take care x
 
I'm afraid I too know of a horse who had this injury who suffered a similar setback. I'm sorry to say he was PTS as he could no longer weight bear on that leg after having had about 8 weeks box rest.

It's worth checking the abcess theory though, at least you will know then. I wish you good luck on behalf of your friend.
 
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