Surgery for pedal osteitis

[soloequestrian]

My mare had surgery today to remove a necrotic bit of bone that had developed as a result of a hoof abscess. It's been horrible, but now thankfully she is through the surgery and hopefully will come home on Monday. I'm just interested in other people's experiences of this - recovery time etc. Also any suggestions for entertainment while on box rest welcome! I know this should be in vets but sometimes you can see the tumbleweed blowing around in there.......

 

[Oliver12]

My 14yr old gelding was diagnosed with pedal osteitis a couple of years ago. He's always had problems with abscesses but interestingly the vet didn't recommend surgery. I often wonder whether we should have gone ahead while the insurance would have paid out.

My other horse was on box rest for four months once. I had an equiball which I'd fill with hi-fibre nuts. It's still his favourite toy. I also tried hanging swedes on a string fastened to the roof and hiding carrots in his bed but he's such a pig they didn't last long.

Good luck with your mare.

 

[soloequestrian]

Thanks! She had been very very lame with what we thought was just an abscess to begin with, but over two weeks and much poking, prodding, sedation and x-rays turned out to be septic osteitis. She's never had an abscess before and she is 18 now. I know very little about osteitis in it's various forms, so perhaps your horse had degenerative rather than septic osteitis? If that's possible? I will look for an equiball!