Shes broken :(

RubysGold

RubysGold

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Roo has had nerve blocks last week and scans yesterday on her fetlock.
The scans showed that her fetlock is a bit of a mess.
Alot of what the vet told me went straight over my head, but shes had a tear along time ago (I think in her deep flexor tendon) and now she has a thickened annular ligament and lots of adhesions and some gaps.
Apparently she has it in both front legs but it is much worse in the left one.

The vet wants to send her to be operated on :( He says she would go to one of the best orthopaedic vets, they would go in with a scope for a look, and then would go in properly and cut the annular ligament and maybe even take it out :eek::confused: to get to the tendons properly :S

The other option was to inject her with steroids and try "controlled exercise" to see if that makes a difference. Thats what I've asked them to do, as I don't want to put her through surgery really. So in 2-3 weeks I'll know if thats helped at all.

I asked if she could go without surgery and retire, he said no not without painkillers as she is lame :(

I can't believe how bad it is, when shes near enough sound on trot up, its just on the lunge on one rein when its REALLY obvious she's lame.
 
Poor you. (((hugs))).

If she's in pain you have to do whats best for her. The surgery sounds really scary - but if it will give her some releif then you have to go for it. Good luck!
 
Don't be rushed in to anything by your vet. Certainly not surgery if it's not the option for you and your horse. I'd be looking at longer than two weeks for improvement before remotely considering surgery. At least a month if not two.

If she's near enough sound (not on the lunge) then this is certainly not an emergency, and is what I would consider a field sound horse.......
 
o ****! sorry to hear this. I love Roo. I agree with Amymay. If it were me I would try and turn her away for 6 months and see how she is. I dont personally have any experience of this but when my horse was told she needed an op I wanted to wait and turn her out to grass lo and behold 2 years later she is compleatly sound and we are jumping again.
The vet is the proffesional, ask him all your options, if you dont agree then see another vet.
 
if you dont agree then see another vet.
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I'm not sure that you have to get another vet, just because you disagree with what they are advising (after all that is there job - to give their professional advice and opinion).

I most certainly have disagreed with my vet before now - amicably. It doesn't mean they are wrong, however.
 
speak to the vets and ask all the questions you have and speak to your insurance company and see what they are prepared to pay for before you make any descisions.

Maybe put a post in Vets on here and see if anyone else has direct experience of this and the how their horses coped.

You will make the right descision for her.:)

Hugs for you both.:)
 
Lol Poppymoo, you will have done, she's right at the top nearest the gate :)
Did you go and say hi to her, she likes people lol

Thanks for the hugs, I think we both need them now :(
 
Oh hun I'm sorry to hear this (((hugs))) but don't loose hope, personally I'd go with the steroid injections and plenty of Dr Green, possibly a second opinon to make sure and see how things progress, thing is only time will tell, it may come turn out that she'll only be sound enough to be retired though and it depends on if you can afford or want to keep a horse that you can't ride, either way I don't think now is the right time to be thinking about that as yet and worrying over it all, just take one step at a time and see what happens.
 
I didn't mean it like that, I meant if the vet she is seeing says the only route is surgery it may be worth while to see another vet to see if there are any non surgical routes that will help. sorry if that did not come accross in my post.
 
oh this is terrible, i feel so sorry for you and your horse xxxx

good luck with whatever you choose to do, just take your time and give her plently of time to recover. x
 
Oh hun.

I was looking it up last night after you sent your text. I need to read up more, but the field rest and Dr. Green and steroids are worth a go; the operation could be the back up option.

As others have said, speak to your insurance company. Write down all your questions and speak to your vet, have someone with you if that helps. I know that Friend and I have needed each other a few times as our brains have not been in the right state to take in the information.
 
Sorry to hear that RG, hugs for you and Roo. I don't know about such problems but I wouldn't rush into surgery just yet without exploring less invasive possible solutions for a short while first to see if any improvement.
 
RubysGold said:
Lol Poppymoo, you will have done, she's right at the top nearest the gate :)
Did you go and say hi to her, she likes people lol

Thanks for the hugs, I think we both need them now :(
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Yes! I was right, it WAS Roo:D

She is lovely hun. Don't despair.....I would agree with paddock rest, steroids and time initially......keep the surgery for a possible option- you never know, you might not need it, she might just come good. Fingers crossed hun.
 
Oh no! That's so sad for both of you.:(:(
Really hope the controlled exercise helps and you don't have to consider surgery, but if it does come to it, maybe it will help and she'll become sounds again.
It seems strange that the vet says you can't leave her to retire without surgery and painkillers, yet she's barely lame on the trot ups.:confused:
My mare is quite stiff on a right rein, and I often worry she might be lame but I wouldn't notice asa we don't do much schooling or tight circles and she doesn't know how to lunge.:(
 
Don't know anything about the condition, but if its not degenerative and she's field sound (sounds like she is) then I'd be inclined to agree with others and try steroid injections and paddock rest for a couple of months then re-introduce controlled exercise to see if that helps before resorting to surgery. However, if you claim the cost of injections through your insurance make sure you check how long the claim can remain open for in case you need to go ahead with surgery, otherwise they may not pay out. Also, if your insurance is due for renewal they will exclude her front legs so make sure you know all the facts up front.

Fingers crossed, I've always enjoyed Roo's posts :)
 
My mare tore he DDFT a year ago after lots of guesswork as to what the problem was she was referred to Hird & Partners, Shelf, Halifax. The problem was found by MRI and we took it from there. Box rest, hand walking etc, then ridden exercise but stabled and eventually turned out 24/7. Shes doing very well at the mo and I put my trust in Peter Scholefield at Hirds. He is a fabulous vet and very experienced. Notice you are in Yorkshire so wonder if you use them? I had to follow his advice due to the time constraints of the Insurance and to be honest would have done whatever he advised. He has been proven right in what he said was wrong with Izzy and the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We did our first W & T dressage in August and go again this month. I did my own research too and asked Peter lots of questions, I cant praise him enough. Do hope things improve for your horse, its very stressful when its a problem you cant seeif you know what I mean. Izzy problem was within her hoof.
 
My horse had a similar injury it was absolutely heartbreaking (hugs).

Your vet will give you the worst possible case scenerio. Ask him what will give Roo the best chance of being pain free and able to lead a normal life (be out in a field with other horses). Take into consideration what she will be like on box rest etc then decide the best course of action.

Please keep us updated, I have everything crossed for you both.
 
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