Tendon Injuries

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GrofieldAbigail

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Has anyone had any experience with tendon injuries?

Noticed on Friday that one of the mares was slightly lame, no heat no swelling, mainly on the turns.

Turned her back out, and cold hosed her over the weekend, slight swelling and heat developed around the fetlock joint.

The vet came out on Monday (yesterday), didn't think there was anything major wrong with her as not hopping lame, thought she'd sprained her fetlock, and to put her on box rest for a few days and on bute.

Tonight there is more swelling and the swelling is higher up the leg.

Does anyone have any experience of anything similar? If it was a tendon injury, would it not be likely that she would be more lame with it?

Thanks
 
In my own experience and having spent a lot of time researching tendon injuries, firstly after my horse tore her DDFT and secondly whilst writing an assignment on them for my degree, tendon injuries are typically worse when the horse displays less lameness.

Mine was half a tenth lame according to two vets, and only on a turn. She tore a 2cm hole in her DDFT below the navicular bone, and had damaged the cartilage in the area. She was more lame when she bruised her sole a few months previously, than when she tore her tendon. That's why we didn't bother cold hosing and is possibly a contributing factor to why she never fully recovered - she is sound now, two and a half years on, but only with very careful management and lots of cotton wool-wrapping! I wish I would have been quicker in cold hosing and resting her, despite the fact there was no heat and swelling. She was 100% sound one day, nine tenths lame the next and her heel was burning up with heat, then 99% sound with cool feet for the next two years.

If you think it may be a tendon, take it very seriously. It won't hurt to get it checked out, and it certainly won't hurt to cold hose - but it may well hurt not to. I hope it's not a tendon!
 
Echo above, take it very serious if it is a tendon injury. I highly recommend homeopathic treatment for tendon injuries. 1 of mine has just recovered from a tendon injury and i know a few others that have recovered well on homeopathic treatment. I used RRA cream on the leg twice a day under bandage-this is rhea rhus arnica cream and also a course of silicea 200c tablets once a day for 10 days. Dont be tempted to bring back into work too quickly if it is a tendon injury even if looks ok, the rest really is needed! Hope it all works out ok!
 
Leave it 10 days to take to the vets before scanning. It can take up to 10 days for results to show. I had one go lame after galloping and then sound the next day. Slight swelling in legs rush him in for a scan got the all clear 9 days later no better. Rescan MAJOR hole in the tendon and has now had stem cell. Mine are now all scanned 2 weeks after big events.
 
My mare was lame on a turn, sort of "stuttered" around the bend. To cut it short, she went for MRI and was found to have a tear in her DDFT, same as poster above. Lots of box rest, wedge shoes and in hand walking involved. Shes sound now though I still think she feels it a little now and again. That was just over 12 months ago when it was found, and I take it very steady with her. She had to lots of roadwork under saddle whilst confined to her stable and was turned out in May 24/7. So far so good with her but it does take lots of time.
 
Silmarillion said:
In my own experience and having spent a lot of time researching tendon injuries, firstly after my horse tore her DDFT and secondly whilst writing an assignment on them for my degree, tendon injuries are typically worse when the horse displays less lameness.

Mine was half a tenth lame according to two vets, and only on a turn. She tore a 2cm hole in her DDFT below the navicular bone, and had damaged the cartilage in the area. She was more lame when she bruised her sole a few months previously, than when she tore her tendon. That's why we didn't bother cold hosing and is possibly a contributing factor to why she never fully recovered - she is sound now, two and a half years on, but only with very careful management and lots of cotton wool-wrapping! I wish I would have been quicker in cold hosing and resting her, despite the fact there was no heat and swelling. She was 100% sound one day, nine tenths lame the next and her heel was burning up with heat, then 99% sound with cool feet for the next two years.

If you think it may be a tendon, take it very seriously. It won't hurt to get it checked out, and it certainly won't hurt to cold hose - but it may well hurt not to. I hope it's not a tendon!
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My horse has damaged the DDFT very basly - huge hole !! he is on obvious box rest , not had too much experience with this sort of injury the vet has just said rest and cold is it usual for it to be very swollen as the leg is twice the size of the other and it is boiling hot !!not sure if there is anything else I could be doing
 
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