Prognosis for young horse with suspensory damage

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Ionadiamond

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I sent my 3 and 1/2 yo warmblood off to be broken 3 months ago, and after going really well I'm picking him up this week because he has damaged both his front suspensory ligament :(

The yard's regular vet has seen him and put him on a strict box rest, hand walking, turnout regime for the next 3 months. Is this fairly standard or should I get my own vet to check him out too?

Has anybody had experience of this type of injury in a horse of a similar age and what was the prognosis? The vet just said it depends how good at healing he is!

Is there any benefit in magnets, compression therapy, hydrotherapy, heat therapy? I want to do everything in my power to make sure he has the career he was capable of!
 
Sorry to hear your news. You may be interested in the MicroVet unit - it is a micro current therapy specifically developed to speed the healing of tendons and ligaments in people and then horses. I have been in correspondence with the manufacturer as they are half the price of the Arc therapy unit - which is highly spoken of on here and there is a thread about. I am assured it is one and the same technology - the Microvet is £200 and I plan to get one to try on my WB who has chronic SI dysfunction.

www.microvet.co.uk
 
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Can I ask what they thought the cause might have been? I'm not casting aspersions, it's just one of those things you'd like to know the root of in order to optimise the rehab regime and prevent future issues.
 
That micro vet looks promising!

Yes the vet said it was either caused by him doing something stupid in the field (although he's a stallion and I didn't think he was being turned out very much) or through being overworked or spinning and bucking while being worked.

My usual vets are saints so I think I will at least describe what the other vet found and see what they say to avoid the costs of another lameness workup!
 
Meant to add after looking on internet controlled walking and restricted turnout is advisable.My horse is out during day in small paddocks have made a maze using electic tape and posts and he is being very well behaved.Vet said 12 mths for full recovery but return to light exercise is beneficial which will prove difficult with lightly backed horse.:rolleyes:Im giving him winter off and hopefully restart in spring :D
 
One of mine did both hind suspensories. Had the neurectomy 10 weeks ago, and since he is such an idiot, I cant trust him in a small paddock (he would just run round and fall over or jump out). Much safer just keeping him boxrested, I walk him out out twice a day depending on the weather and how stupid he is going to be. Sometimes he happy grazing in hand for hours, other times he pings and bucks and rears so is just doing himself more damage.

I think if you can keep them quiet, the vets are happy for them to have small pen turnout.

I think the basic level is rest, then in hand walking. Then you can try shockwave and then finally surgery. My vet (Sue Dyson) said that she thinks surgery has the best success rate so we went with that.
 
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