Laser treatment- is it very successful

[bkneil]

Hello. Our 20 year old pony has torn the maniac flexoria in her left hind. One thing attributing to it was a thickening of a ligament it’s attached to which has also started in the right hind. I’m not prepared to put her through surgery at her age. She has always lived out and hates being in more than just overnight. A family member has her on loan (got her just before this happened) and wants to use laser therapy. Has anyone used it before? Did it work? Did the injury recur?
I’d happily have her home to keep her in retirement if she was field sound but from reading about tendon injuries and the risk of recurrence etc I don’t want to put this dear little pony through months of rehabilitation only for it to happen again. In 8 years, I haven’t had the vet to her except for routine appointments- I’m worried we are prolonging the inevitable and making the pony miserable for what’s left of her life. If there’s a good chance of success with laser treatment and she’s not going to be limited to the box and sand school for 9months plus, I’ll give it a go. At the moment she’s having ice wraps 3 to 4 times daily , is on Bute and still not sound. Any experience/ advice would be appreciated

 

[Goldenstar]

The chances of tendon and ligament injuries healing well plummet as horses age .
That aside I have had good results from using lasers on all sorts of soft tissue injuries over the years .
However on the bare bones of what you say I would probably call it a day with a twenty year old .

 

[bkneil]

The chances of tendon and ligament injuries healing well plummet as horses age .
That aside I have had good results from using lasers on all sorts of soft tissue injuries over the years .
However on the bare bones of what you say I would probably call it a day with a twenty year old .

Thank you. This is my feeling too if I’m honest. The loaner is looking after her fantastically and is very much into alternative therapies. I worry though that she’s not seeing the big picture, just thinking of now. She’s family and a good friend so it’s tricky. She thinks the pony seems bright enough - this is true but I popped over Saturday, she’s not quite herself and is obviously in pain. I’ve agreed to consider the options as she is so keen to but I have my doubts and I want to do right by the pony not me. I love her dearly but I don’t want her to suffer

 

[ihatework]

I’m very supportive of laser for more superficial stuff.

Significant ligament/tendon issues for me it’s more complimentary and alone I wouldn’t be pinning too many hopes on it.

An old horse, I probably wouldn’t invest in laser. If the horse was sufficiently comfortable I’d Bute and field rest. If not comfortable enough I’d pts

 

[Goldenstar]

Thank you. This is my feeling too if I’m honest. The loaner is looking after her fantastically and is very much into alternative therapies. I worry though that she’s not seeing the big picture, just thinking of now. She’s family and a good friend so it’s tricky. She thinks the pony seems bright enough - this is true but I popped over Saturday, she’s not quite herself and is obviously in pain. I’ve agreed to consider the options as she is so keen to but I have my doubts and I want to do right by the pony not me. I love her dearly but I don’t want her to suffer

Sometimes it’s about being strong and doing the hard thing telling the loaner how it’s going to be will be very difficult but the last thing you can give a much loved horse is an easy end .
Your horse is very very lucky it’s so easy to ignore chronic pain to put of the day follow your gut .

 

[SO1]

Sorry to hear your horse is injured.

My 20 year old had a tendon injury and I did the vet prescribed box rest and rehab with controlled walking. They offered lazer and it was going to be thousands of pounds and I was not convinced that it would have worked from the science. It would have been covered on the insurance as alternative therapy but I choose Ice spa treatment instead also covered on the insurance. We have an ice spa at the yard.

My pony came sound again it took nearly a year and he was on box rest and controlled walking and trotting for 7 months before starting small paddock turnout. He came sound again and was moving really well and then I lost him to a gastric impaction just before he was due to start herd turnout again nearly a year after his injury. His legs were fine it was just his stomach that was broken. .

One of my friends with a younger horse did not go with the box rest and just did small paddock individual turnout and also had a good outcome.

Another friend with a 20 year tried shockwave and steroid injections did not work only option was operation and she operated and horse has been fine ever since and that was 3 years ago. If I remember right the op was about 5k and there was a substantial period of box rest and controlled exercise before turnout again.

 

[clairebearnz]

My old boy did a hind tendon when he was 20-ish and recovered sound. He's now 28 and hasn't had a recurrence, as sound as a 28 year old with hock arthritis can be. I just did small paddock rest until he was sound/leg was firm and hard then turned him out for about 6 months. He did come back to ridden work but had laminitis/Cushings diagnosis not too long after.

 

[bkneil]

Thank you for your replies. After many conversations and having seen our pony (who definitely wasn’t quite herself but not miserable either and cheeky as ever) we went down the laser therapy route. We’ve got one of the best in the uk working in her who’s friends with my sister-in-law who has her. We were fortunate to get a heavily discounted rate and the people seemed confident they could help her. Nothing is guaranteed and will take time but she has a chance and my in-laws have a great set up in that she can be restricted to just stable, stable and yard and / or sand school too and still see her friends over the fence. The pony is coping well so we are keeping our fingers crossed. At the moment, light hacking in future looks to be a possibility.