Sedaline / acp for walking out in hand

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My TB is recovering from a fractured leg. He is on his 4th week of normal box rest after being cross tied at the vets for 10 weeks.

We are hoping that after the next set of xrays in 2 weeks we can start walking out in hand -but I am really dreading that bit. He is very likely to explode and is probably going to be more difficult on box rest once he has tasted freedom! He's already started getting a bit unsettled / bucking in his box after being a saint for the past three months bless him.

We will sedate him but wondered about sedaline vs acp. I have iv acp that the vets showed me how to use that I will give him the first few times as it is so effective, but we have also been given sedaline. Am I right in thinking they can't eat after being given sedaline? If so that will be no good as his nut ball is a life saver in keeping him calm!

Any other tips for walking out would be good. We will use bridle & lunge lines, hats and bp for us and possibly another pony to walk infront to help him stay calm. Really not looking forward to this part. :(
 
It's a very long time since I did this but my old boy who died a few years ago had an op about 25 years ago, he was one of the first at the Liphook Hospital to have an arthroscopy using keyhole!!

Anyway after some time on box rest I gave him ACP (they didn't have the pastes then) to walk out, first day I got it wrong and he walked back down the drive on his hind legs!!! We walked him one on each side with hats and body protectors, another pony is a very good idea though so he doesn't get worried unduly, after H got a bit better I rode my other horse and led him for a while to strengthen up the muscles before riding again.

I would if you can try out the ACP at the vets so you can work out the dose you need to take the edge off and how long it takes to work and more importantly how long it lasts, so you can get him back to the stable before the effect wears off.
 
As far as I know ACP tablets and Sedaline gel have the same active incredient, but only the latter is licensed for horses so some vets tend to prefer it. I am not sure about IV ACP, my vet has never left IV medication with me as I think there are some legal implications at least in the UK about injecting it.

I have heard that there are some long acting sedative injections that vets now use that sound ideal for coming out of box rest (might help him keep a bit calmer in the box as well), so might be worth calling your vet before you do anything.
 
I would definately sedate him with something!! I was in the same position not too long ago but my boy only had 4 weeks box rest. To turn him out again I used sedaline as advised by the vet. I had never used it before and the dose the vet advised knocked him out!! As far as I know you cannot get ACP from the vet any longer, so your only option may be the sedaline. Whatever you choose good luck and stay safe xx
 
I actually have the acp already from my vet - in iv form. They showd me how to inject it before we left the vets (He is now home)

Because he had such a bad fracture we couldn't move him for 10 weeks, and any sign of him getting distressed they sedated him straight away. I assume thats why they have given me the IV option as by the time we wait for oral sedation to work he would have done serious damage.

I'll talk to my vets about the two options.
 
I'm an experienced owner & have injected many animals with IM injections, no way would I do IV. So many things can go so wrong.

As for the question I used Sedalin very successfully when my boy was on box rest & started walk.
 
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Perhaps I have explained it wrong. Its the injection that goes into the muscle (not a vein) - they called it IV, but I literally have to inject into his neck or bum.

I would prefer sedaline anyway (have had to inject once and would prefer not to have to again) - so needed to know if horses can eat after having it?
 
My TB was on box rest last year after ungoing a op to remove a chipped piece of bone in his foot.He was on box rest about 3mths. I was given Sedalin to take the edge off him when I could start walking him out and must admit on the dosage I was told to give by my vet I didnt think it made a great deal of difference, maybe it was because he is a slightly scatty ginger TB. I also found sedaline was pretty expensive. If you wanted to try a cheaper alternative I found Global Herbs Supercalm was amazing stuff, I fed as instructed and he was like a different horse. It takes a couple of days to get into the system, but works, he was a dope on a rope :)
 
I have had this in experience at both ends of the spectrum - With Mums TANK of a CB, and more recently a flightly little TB stroppy monkey.

Take a field mate/stable mate for company, Definatley sedate - This has to really be played by ear - you dont want to use too little and have an accident -where as too much might just leave you witha big dope! (but one effect wears off, and more injury might take you back a stage)

I would say 2 people, enclosed space, lunge lines and hats, GLOVES! - And Good luck! :D
It helps if the Patient is so busy worrying about eating grass they dont worry about pratting around!!!
 
I found that following another horse made things worse as my boy got so excited by being out with another after box rest (he wasnt alone whilst in!) He was much quieter alone.
 
Ask your vet about a sedative gel that goes under the tongue via a syringe, its called Dermosedan. Anyway, its the same drug that they use to sedate a horse for example for clipping.

We've got to do the same as you, sedate to lead out in hand after 8 weeks box rest before and after surgery. This starts tomorrow and yes I'm dreading it too, but the vet has left us a syringe of the paste to try, hope it works.
 
I had to give Sedalin to my newly gelded 18 months old Shire boys, after they had been on box rest for 3 months, two and a half years ago. I was dreading walking them down to the field. Between their enthusiasm being out, the damp ground (vet wanted them moving after the gelding), and their very sore bits, it could have been a recipe for disaster. I gave them each barely 3ml of Sedalin in a small amount of wet ReadiGrass and Hi Fi Lite. After about 30 minutes, we walked them down to the field gate with much trepidation. They were beyond reproach, as well-behaved as any horse could be. They did have a short, well-contained jag, and then settled down to graze for a few hours. Bringing them back in was just as easy. Neither boy exhibited any symptoms of sedation. They were just reasonable and biddable, and it lasted for several hours.

I believe Sedalin is the paste form of acp.

I, too, wondered why a vet would allow a client to administer an IV drug...quite relieved that the drug is to be given intramuscularly, if you go that route.

There is no problem giving the Sedalin paste with food.
 
You can still get acp tablets they are just smaller as they are dog ones. I am lucky to still have a good supply of the old ones. I found that 8 on an ID worked nicely.
 
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