is he too skinny? (pics) and also more itching advice please!

He looks fab- it's muscle lost that's making him maybe appear 'poor'. Lighter is better when they aren't moving about. Apart from the rather obvious, he's not in bad shape at all! Pity they don't make a vibrating pimple rug version of the Equissage... Plonk it on, switch to vigorous scrub setting and 'Hey Presto!' - automatic happy horse!
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brighteyes said:
He looks fab- it's muscle lost that's making him maybe appear 'poor'. Lighter is better when they aren't moving about. Apart from the rather obvious, he's not in bad shape at all! Pity they don't make a vibrating pimple rug version of the Equissage... Plonk it on, switch to vigorous scrub setting and 'Hey Presto!' - automatic happy horse!
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ok totally nuts idea... but what about the human type massages, ones with rollers on them? maybe nice to give him an all over massage aswell as helping with the itching/circulation?
 
hey all! thank you for all the fabby ideas. i had to nip out to collect small snotty people from nursery so i'll see to the plop filled nappy/snotty noses and read through the ideas properly.

thank you all again for your helpful and lovely comments. xxx
 
I never saw the original posts. Bless him, and here’s hoping for a speedy recovery! I can't imagine how stressful the past few weeks must have been for you, but well done to you.

I think he looks in good condition considering, and you wouldn't want too much weight on him now anyway. Muscle loss will also make him appear to have lost weight, but that will come back. As said before, you can give him a daily massage, which will help boost his circulation. (Be warned this is exhausting!)

My shire cross, is a very greasy, itchy horse, who seems to attract flies more than the others. All I can suggest is to give him a vigorous grooming as often as you can, and regularly give him a hot sponging down to keep him as grease free as possible. If there are flies or midges in his box then use fly spray's and you could try a fly rug. The best spray I have used is Phase Out. It is very potent smelling and didn't irritate my horses skin.
I have noticed some brands irritate my TB. The Net Tex fly spray caused my TB to come out in pimples.
If there are no apparent midges in his box causing the itch, the next time the vet comes, it might be an idea to ask them for advice and they might be able to give him something like an antihistamine?

Good luck with him!
 
All things considered I think he looks fine, he is bound to lose loads of muscle tone. Having been through cross tied box rest with our very stressy mare I think you are doing a great job. Re the itching, I have been told nettles are good for generally detoxing. When our cushings pony is on box rest with a lami attack I feed her as many as I can pick. You need to pick them and leave them to wilt until they are dry. Just something else for you to do with your time, sorry.:p
 
Time flies - I can't believe that its almost five weeks already.

My mare broke her leg the same day as yours - but I was not so lucky.

I wouldn't be worrying about weight - condition is something you can easily do something about, and will return very quickly once he is well again.

Glad to hear he is on the mend
 
cronkmooar said:
Time flies - I can't believe that its almost five weeks already.

My mare broke her leg the same day as yours - but I was not so lucky.

I wouldn't be worrying about weight - condition is something you can easily do something about, and will return very quickly once he is well again.

Glad to hear he is on the mend
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oh my god. i'm so so so rry to hear about your mare. how truly awful for you. i hope you're okay. xxxx
 
Hi my goodness sorry i have not been following your recent posts but i find this amazing. Your horse does he have to stay tied up 24/7?? I was recently at liverpool horse hospital and saw a horse been led out for a short walk with full lenght cast on his front leg. So how is your horse coping?? I dont think i could tie my mare up for all that time, she would smash out im sure she just wouldnt be patient enough ! He looks great by the way his weight i think is fine considering the circumstances. What a good mum he has :)
 
lulataluna said:
Hi my goodness sorry i have not been following your recent posts but i find this amazing. Your horse does he have to stay tied up 24/7?? I was recently at liverpool horse hospital and saw a horse been led out for a short walk with full lenght cast on his front leg. So how is your horse coping??
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yup, he's cross tied 24/7. a short tie from either side of his headcollar. and he has a chain running down the side of him so he can't swing his quarters out. basically, he can take one step back and forward again. and that's it.
if he were to lie down (esp at the start) the bone would snap properly and he'd have to be pts.

he's coping exceptionally well. he's bright, happy, and spoilt. as long as he has hay he doesn't mind standing there. he's been there for nearly 5 weeks and has another 8 weeks left. horses come in and out. sometimes we tie them up next to him, thinking he might want to say hi... but he doesn't care at all. he's perfectly happy. he's managed so far without sedation, so i'm hopeful he'll get through it fine.

he has his headcollar changed/sheepskin washed etc to stop it from rubbing, but it is starting to rub a bit. he has at least one good groom a day, sometimes more. he has his door open in the day so he doesn't feel locked up. and he has 3 meals a day to break his day up a bit. he's had one evening when he's looked a bit grumpy, but got over it very quickly.

we had to bring him out of the stable into the barn for his last set of xrays and he stood still as a lamb. in fact, he was more keen to get back into his stable than out of it! i think he feels safe in there. i guess he knows his leg is broken, and he knows that in the wild he'd be eaten. so perhaps he likes the safety of the stable.

also, he's never left for long. i spend many many hours down there (much to the detriment of the rest of my life :( ) and he genuinely seems content. otherwise i wouldn't put him through it.

xxx
 
Boy does your pics bring memories back. My horse fractured his radius in his LF and was also cross tied for 12 weeks. He coped brilliantly too, the fun started when he was un cross tied :D.
I think he looks well, my horse put on weight whilst cross tied but he was fed adlib haylage 24/7. I was told to untie him twice a day but keep him on a leadrope to feed him a bucket feed as its unhealthy for a horse to not be able to lower its head, something to do with the gutteral pouches and drainage??
I would be loathed to change your horses feed for fear of sending him over the top as he has to remain calm. I used to pick grass and put it in a hay net, that was the highlight of his day although it was difficult to find much in November! I also tried readygrass but he turned his nose up at it!
I also had a manger over the door facing outwards with his water in. My horse did lie down somehow twice whilst cross tied which scared me to death but thank fully came through it alright.
It is still chilly so as you have clipped him I would rug him to keep him warm and help keep his weight on.
Time does fly, in anothe couple of months you willl probably be faced with limited turn out, walking in hand (a chifney saved my horses life and mine lol) and soon it will be a distant memory. Keep up the good work.
Oh, my headcollar ws padded with cotton wool and vet wrap over the top and he never got rubbed.
 
Ah your amazing for what your doing for your boy. And he looks fab considering the circumstances. I havent followed your previous posts (only ever pop in and out of here) could someone give me think link to catch up.

Well done to you xx
 
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