Pictures Sound after broken vertebrae in neck?!

[TwyfordM]

So a couple of years back my little welshie who is a magnet for life threatening injuries/illness went lame on her back end overnight after escaping the field and getting in with the group of boys. She had a few bites but no obvious injuries so we assumed just sore from the running around.
After a couple of weeks she still wasn’t right, and started to get some neurological issues with her back end. Had vet out and she seemed to not quite know where any of her legs were or be totally in control of them, was reluctant to trot/lie down and just generally uncomfortable.

We did a bute trial for a few weeks alongside box rest as assumed when she jumped the fence she had fallen/rotational fall onto her back as soreness seemed to be more along spine. By the end of this we had no option but to X-ray as zero improvement, vet suspected wobblers potentially brought on by an injury or brain injury. Generally things looked bleak.

X-rays showed a healing hairline fracture in one vertebrae in her neck and several misshapen with corners gone and not right. Only advice vet could give was continue with anti inflammatory and box rest for as long as she’s coping and wait and see if any improvement. She had beaten the odds with colic, laminitis/rotations in all four feet and Cushings so I gave her a chance.

After another months box rest I popped her in the school to see if she would willingly move by herself. She bronked her way around the school at a flat out gallop, rolled and was absolutely full of it. Still lame on her back end but coping on just devils claw.

She’s been neurologically unsound since, but happy in the field with her friends and essentially retired (even though she never really had a job beforeI worked her to help with lami etc)

Ive been watching her lately and thinking - you look sound ? she’s back to running rings around the youngsters even in the mud, turning on a six pence, airs above ground etc. I’ve slowly taken her off the devils claw to see if she stays sound without anything and so far so good.
I’m honestly shocked, she was a literal write off and let’s give her as long as she’s got left to enjoy life before the problems catch up. But she’s thriving ?

Im going to start hand walking her out again and see if I can build up her fitness a bit, then try a bit of lunging.

Photos are her today, just wanted to share in case anyone finds themselves in a similar position with an injury to the neck the vets can’t even understand how it happened let alone if it will ever heal - it’s been a long road, but you’d never guess that it all happened now ?

 

[Red-1]

I know one who had a neck fracture and still a long life, working hard.

Apparently, as a youngster they were tied to the bars in an indoor stable area. The horse was normally good but on this occasion reared up. The rope slid up the bars until it tightened up, at which point it stuck. The horse dropped down, but the tight rope stayed stuck near the top of the bar. The horse was suspended by the rope, had to be cut down and was odd. X Rays showed the fracture.

I knew it years later, but didn't know the story. The horse often cocked his head to one side and always had his tail to one side. He schooled up well though. A man approached me and told me about the incident. The horse was in a commercial setting, so as a precaution, we X rayed the neck, and yes, you could see where the damage was on a vertebrae. The horse was fine though, had space for the nerves. Worked until he was old, died of a different issue.

 

[Melody Grey]

I know of a horse who fractured vertebrae going under the breast bar of a lorry that braked suddenly. The horse did come sound and back in work after a few months off, box rest and bute. Was brought back into work and sold on shortly after so can’t tell you about long term result, but did come back into work with Vet’s approval.

 

[TwyfordM]

I know of a horse who fractured vertebrae going under the breast bar of a lorry that braked suddenly. The horse did come sound and back in work after a few months off, box rest and bute. Was brought back into work and sold on shortly after so can’t tell you about long term result, but did come back into work with Vet’s approval.

Thats amazing, I honestly thought after 2 years there was no hope of her ever coming sound. Figured by this point whatever damage was done would be permanent, but she’s really surprised me recently. She still has her stiff days but she’s turning 17 this year and after an injury like that it’s to be expected I guess.

 

[Melody Grey]

The horse I refer to was younger, but around 8 or 9 I think, so probably skeletally mature still like yours.

 

[poiuytrewq]

We have a racehorse in training who came sound after a neck fracture.... at least we did he’s currently off with something totally unrelated but has run since the neck injury.

 

[Cowpony]

When I saw the title I thought it was about hearing difficulties in a human who had broken their neck She looks great now! Hope she continues sound.

 

[ycbm]

Did she think she's a cat? How many more lives is she hoping for, that's 4 gone?

 

[TwyfordM]

Did she think she's a cat? How many more lives is she hoping for, that's 4 gone?

I think she’s approaching 9 to be honest ? I only covered the big ones, she’s had colic twice, two serious bouts of lami with a few smaller episodes in between, liver damage for some unknown reason. She’s tough as anything!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

We have a racehorse in training who came sound after a neck fracture.... at least we did he’s currently off with something totally unrelated but has run since the neck injury.

We have had 2 or 3 that have come back from neck fractures to race again too.

Time is always the besr healer to be fair.