Sedalin for Travelling – advice please?

[joelb]

My mare is off to hospital on Thursday for x-rays etc following a field accident, vet suspects she has a fracture. She is an inexperienced traveller so I’ve booked a professional transporter but I'm still worried sick about her travelling. The journey will be at least an hour and mostly along hilly/windy country roads. Vet and transporter have both said it’s ok to give Sedalin but I’ve never used it before and understand results vary. Does anyone have first hand experience, would you give it to take the edge off or leave her fully alert?

 

[Bubbles]

I'd use it in your position, given the risks of the suspected fracture I'd dope her and ensure the journey was an extremely smooth one. Fingers crossed for a good outcome

 

[mightymammoth]

tricky as sedalin doesnt touch some horses but others it really makes them dopey. Is it the journey thats worrying you ? In case shes unsettled?

 

[Finn]

Hi

My mare had to go to horsepital in Oct for surgery and she doesnt load/ travel very well at all. The vets told me to give her 3mls of Sedalin to take the edge off her. I also booked a transporter who did everything for me including loading her. She was really good compared to normal and loaded after 15 mins but she wasnt rearing or anything like she would of done if we hadnt of gave her any Sedalin. She also travelled fine as he has CCTV in his lorry so he could see how she was and how she travelled, the only thing is she was sweaty by the time we got to the vets. The vets told me to squirt it into her mouth but shes funny about that so they said put literally a handful of feed into her food bucket and squirt the Sedialn on the top of the feed. The less feed the better and then to wait between 30 to 45 mins for it to take effect. The horse is still fully aware of what is going on around them, all it does is take the edge of them a bit.

Hope your mare gets on ok on Thurs and its nothing to serious

xxxx

 

[Vetwrap]

Years ago, I had to move a horse that I knew was a very bad loader, but we had taken him to Kelly Marks at a demo and she had done amazing work with him, getting him self loading. However, when the time came to load him to take him to another yard, I knew that I would be nervous that the bad behaviour would return, so I asked the transporter to load him. He had no preconception about the horse's loading - and the horse loaded perfectly first time.

If your horse is not an experienced traveller, but has never had any issues on the few occasions that she has travelled, then I would leave off the sedalin. If you are worried about loading her, then ask someone who is calm, quiet and very experienced to load her.

Where is her suspected fracture? Is there a risk of pain? Is so, would considering bute, rather than sedalin be a good move?

I hope that it all goes fine on the day.

 

[Bubbles]

Vetwrap I disagree with you, OP please don't use bute to help with the pain unless your vet has prescribed it, the horse needs to know that leg hurts so she doesn't use it unnecessarily or is tempted to throw herself around.

 

[joelb]

Thanks for your responses so far and your good wishes, much appreciated.
Answers to your questions, definitely the journey that is worrying me, what if she panics or falls etc. She was imported and I know they almost came without her as she wouldn’t load in France. She loaded first ask after the overnight stop though. She’s travelled twice since and loaded and travelled ok apart from a bit of rocking. That has all been on good roads and large lorries and this is a smaller 2 horse low loader so I’m concerned she might feel claustrophobic. She will also be alone. I will leave all the handling to the transporter as I have very limited travelling experience.
Vet suspects a pedal bone fracture but it could be as high as the shoulder where she went through post and rail, nerve blocks so far have been inconclusive.
We have just withdrawn from bute over weekend to assess lameness and vet didn’t advise to start up again so I guess I stay off it unless told otherwise.
Thanks again. The more I think the more I’m inclined to give her the sedalin and hope it doesn’t inhibit her balance or wear off half way .

 

[Britestar]

Years ago, I had to travel my then 2yr old to a Vet School for xrays on a suspected fractured tibia.

She had only been in a trailer once i her life, 15 miles down the road for a show. The Vet school was a 5hr drive (nearest one). I just loaded herup in the morning and set off down the road. She was diagnosed with a tibial fracture, but they agreed to let me take her home, so loaded her up again and set off home!

She loaded both ends without a peep, and she was none the worse for her trip.

She's 17yr this year and never been lame again!

 

[Bluecat]

i have to travel my boy using sedalin.he throws himself on the floor and panics when travelling otherwise.i only travel him if absoloutly essential.he is much better with the sedalin and has travelled when we moved house from north yorkshire to devon 8 hours and was fine so i would use it.my horse has a whole tube as it doesnt touch him otherwise.

 

[McNally]

Vetwrap I disagree with you, OP please don't use bute to help with the pain unless your vet has prescribed it, the horse needs to know that leg hurts so she doesn't use it unnecessarily or is tempted to throw herself around.

Totally what i was about to say. I'm surprised the vet wants a horse with a suspected fracture to travel at all? Mine wasnt allowed out of his stable for about 5 months.

 

[McNally]

Can they not xray in her stable at home?

 

[coloured_c0b]

I always use Sedalin on my boy after he jumped the breast bars in a trailer and damaged his hip as it stressed him out when he got stuck. I only travel him in a 7.5t trailer now but give him a couple of ml to take the edge off. It usually only takes about 15 mins to work and it works better if you give it to them then just leave them in peace for 15mins. I would definately recommend it if she is a nervous traveller. It has been a life saver for travelling my boy. Hope that helps

 

[angel7]

I agree you should use the sedalin but dosing can be tricky.
What type of horse is she- heavy or lightweight, and is she stressy or calm natured- these may help determine how effective sedalin will be.

I often give a quarter of the tube and leave for 20 minutes in stable to see affect. If still neighing, pacing about or generally bright I give the full tube a while to work and load up. Don't give anything to eat incase of choke and bandage her up well.

 

[joelb]

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and advice.

McNally I too am surprised she is having to travel but my vets portable machine won’t be sufficient despite them being equine specialists. The transporter sounds lovely and she has taken quite a few with fractures to the same clinic so fingers crossed.

Dosage is a worry. She is 16hh medium/heavyweight, generally very placid but she is full Cob Normand so hugely powerful. If she goes off on one it’s spectacular and I can’t have that in transit. Vet says give three quarters of a tube eek!!

 

[nikkinoo]

I am really suprised by the amount of people that have used sedalin for horses for travelling, I was travelling a friends youngster and she was given sedalin against my wishes (as driver) she did perform quite a bit going on the trailer, travelled quietly but on arriving at destination the poor horse was actually sitting on the floor, this was on 2mls of sedalin and a 15 min drive,
she now has problems with her hips that my friend swearsthat it is from the incident in the trailer.

On saying that I have used sedalin for many years on one of my horses when being shod and this horse was also not a very good traveller. I never gave him sedalin for travelling but recently I had to drive 5 hours to get him (this is another story) and I didnt want him to fret as it was a long drive I only gave him 1ml to take the edge off, and he didnt even sweat up.

what I am trying to say is the doseage has a different reaction with different horses and unless you know how much you need for travelling I would just use the minimum amount,
I really hope your mare is ok and like someone else has said get someone who is not stressed out to load her as she will pick up on your nerves,

 

[milesjess]

OP - I'd say yes to giving sedalin before the journey. It'll help reduce the stress for her and take the edge off. Give her it approx 45-30 mins before she travels (this might not be exact to the instructions but I found it works better when I used it for my horse). I gave my horse half of the tube as instructed by the vet (he's 15.3hh ISH) but obviously do it to suit your horses size etc... Your vet will advise you on the correct amount.

As for the bite that's been mentioned I'd definitely not give her that. Only as it'll mask the pain and when she's at the vets they won't be able to assess the injury as accurately. I'm sure your vet might advise you not to give her it within 24 hours before she attends.

Speak to your vet but I know when I had to take my boy to the vets then didn't hesitate when I asked for it. He normally travels well but due to the discomfort of an injury he wasn't playing ball. The sedalin worked a treat and we both got there safely.

 

[milesjess]

Sorry should say 'bute'!! Damn iPhone!

 

[foraday]

I am both shocked and surprised at both the vet and professional transporter in this situation!

The WADT 2006 is VERY clear on sedation! It has to be administered by a vet into the vein. The transporter must also have paperwork for the vet to sign to say:-

How much given, at what time and what was given

The vet also needs to put on the practice stamp and their details and mobile phone contact for the rest of the day.

Also you as the owner should have been signing paperwork to say that you understand the WADT 2006 regulations for sedation for your horse and a disclaimer for the Horse Transporters Insurance Company

Should the most awful thing happen ie a road traffic accident involving the horse lorry, the attending emergency people including the vet on call, they can look at the paperwork and know what the horse has had and what they can top up with and use.

I work in my friends Newmarket Office for an international horse transport company so I know what you can and can't do!

It is surprising that vets and professional transporters STILL do not know the laws!

Good luck with the xrays

 

[PolarSkye]

Another vote for no Bute here . . . it will mask the pain and could a) cause the mare to injure herself further; and b) will make the vet's job harder at the other end.

Personally I wouldn't use sedalin - I'd use a more mild, herbal calmer and if you're that worried about how she loads/travels get the transporter to do it so your mare doesn't pick up your vibes.

As long as she's properly tied and secured with bumpers, she should travel just fine.

Good luck with the x-rays and please let us know how she gets on.

P

 

[joelb]

Just a quick update for those who asked. Gave sedalin for journey out but it wasn’t sufficient and bordering dangerous (thank god I booked a professional and didn’t take up the kind offers of a freebie lift), given an IV cocktail to come home on Friday and travelled well but was way more drowsy than ideal.

Sadly they found a fracture in one of the small bones in her knee which writes off this year but at least she is still with me. My vet is hopeful of a return to light work but we await more accurate prognosis from Liverpool.

 

[Dizzle]

Sorry to hear they found a break

How much sedalin did you use in the end?