Positive vibes please, and a question....

[L&M]

Further to 'I broke my son's pony' at the weekend, I had the vet out first thing monday morning. The outcome is a stifle strain, possible from a slip in the field as they were all pratting about in the wind on Sunday......slippy wet grass and mud on a slope - you get the picture.

The vet seemed to think it was more muscular than the joint and has advised a weeks box rest and 2 sachets of bute a day, to be reasessed at the weekend.

Questions:

The pony is no sounder today despite having been on bute since sunday night - is this normal, as though the bute would have a quicker affect (even if just masking the problem)?

Also has anyone had a horse that has been through a similiar injury, and if so how long was the recovery period?

Thanks in advance.

(ps have posted in 'vetinary' but looking for more response hence posting in Nl!)

 

[JanetGeorge]

The vet was being a bit optimistic (an unusual trait in vets!) I had a 2 year old filly strain her stifle in a fall in the field in January last year. She wasn't 100% sound until June, was on TOTAL box rest for 2 months. She WAS exceptionally lame - to the point where in the first few weeks I was having to check her overnight and get her to her feet as she couldn't get up without assistance if she laid down for more than a few hours.

The GOOD news is she did come 100% sound and x-rays taken in June showed NO joint problems as a result. But don't get TOO optimistic that it will be a quick recovery.

 

[L&M]

I must admit I thought that too!

She thinks the strain is quite mild and he is sound at walk, but about 3/10ths lame in trot and very uncomfortable turning.

Poor lad is only a 5yr old and hunting fit, ready for the new season - think that will have to be on the back burner for now.....

 

[Arizahn]

My boy did something similar at the start of September, and was on box rest and danilon for five days, then small paddock for six hours a day and stabled/walked in hand. He was very stiff and sore until about the beginning of October, when he suddenly started to try trotting and cantering of his own accord He was able to be out 24/7 in the nice mild spell, still in a small flat paddock with sensible older mare as nanny.

He is not 100% better, and vet has said it will probably be May/June of next year before he will be fully mended. He hasn't needed invasive treatment thankfully, but it did scare us at the time, as he was unwilling to move at all to begin with As he is just sixteen months old, we are balancing resting the joint with the importance of turnout, and are trying to sort winter grazing that will suit him...

Best wishes to your chap, OP.

 

[JanetGeorge]

She thinks the strain is quite mild and he is sound at walk, but about 3/10ths lame in trot and very uncomfortable turning.

That's certainly a LOT milder than my filly had - she struggled to walk at all! But stifles are funny bits (funny peculiar rather than ha-ha!) I would want her sound in trot and turning easily before turning out - however long THAT takes, I'd give the same period of rest AFTER she shows sound.

 

[L&M]

Scary stuff but thanks to you both.

Thank god he seems to be accepting box rest - the main thing is to get him sound again, however long it takes.

A few years ago I had a horse on box rest for 6 mnths due to a tendon injury, with another 6 mnths controlled excercise before even contemplating full work, so am no stranger to being patient!