Tendon injury

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xrobynswx

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Here's the situation, anyone got any advice?
My horse is 15 years old, has been a very keep showjumper and really enjoyed his work. Recently he got a tendon injury, already costing us £300 in vets Bills excluding the ultrasound the vets want him to have. He already has sensitive legs due to previous homes so I don't know if he would even come back into work again. Do I keep him, go through all the vets treatments and hope he comes back to where he was or do I rehome him either to the blood bank or as a field companion? Anyone have any experiences of blood banks?
Thanks in advance :)
 
Personally, it would depend how bad it was. I'd be tempted to box rest and keep it cool/ danilon etc, then If you don't want to go the thorough vets route turn him away to Good ol Dr Green after box rest, and reassess in 6 months.

If you don't want to do that, you should still try your best to patch him up before you fob/ throw him off as a companion or into the blood bank.

Just my 2 pennies. Personally, I would give him a chance,but it all depends on what you're willing to do really.
 
What about something in between? Would he suit a hacking home?
I have just gone through 6 months rehab with my 17 yo ex-racer who injured his tendon. He is now sound but due to tendon, age and arthritis is now definitely only a happy hack, which is fine with me any way. He would probably become unsound and in pain if he was just retired living out 24-7. But I am lucky that I have a 2nd younger horse I can do more with and a cheap yard, so I will keep him for ever, he is also useful to escort friends green youngsters on hacks.
Given age and history of lots of jumping, how positive have the vets been with future work load? I followed my vets advise of 3 months box rest, other than grass in hand, then built up from 5 mins walk in hand to 40 minutes over a few months, then after 6 months started riding. But because of my horses age, his tendon is still double that of the other due to scar tissue, although he is tecnically sound and has been for months. But his tendon will always be weak now.
 
Get the ultrasound scan then at least you know what you are dealing with. They aren't as expensive as you would expect, roughly £70.

You would be surprised at what horses can come back from. Your horse may or may not come back to competing. If he does it will be at least 12-18 months down the line.

At 14yo my tb put a 50% hole in his sdft in his off hind round the fetlock joint taking out the tendon sheath in the process. We were looking at field sound at best further down the line. 6 months complete box rest prescribed - 5 months down the line he escaped and galloped round the fields jumping the fences between them.for a good 40mins before he was caught. Upon rescan he had 95% fixed the tendon with tendon fibres - not scar tissue! 3 years down the line he is still faffing about doing all he ever did before.
 
Without scanning, you won't know the extent of damage or the likely prognosis. As EKW says, ultrasound scans are not that expensive, and are well worth the money to find out exactly what you are dealing with.
 
Use cold treatments on the leg and keep using them for at least three months .
This cheap and only requires time and effort from the owner .
There's no way I would be dumping an old friend without even finding out what's wrong by having the ultrasound .
The ultrasound will give you a diagnosis and a prognosis then you have the knowledge to help you make a decision.
I would never ever let one of my precious horses go to the blood bank , the thought of it makes my blood run cold .
I have nursed several teenagers through tendon injuries and back to work and as to the vet bill , it just comes with the territory you have a horse you get bills .
 
Get the ultrasound done to see how bad the damage is and then be guided by your vet. It is possible that with correct rehab your horse could come sound.

I think the blood bank has an upper age limit and not sure if 15 is too old.
 
xrobynswx said:
Here's the situation, anyone got any advice?
My horse is 15 years old, has been a very keep showjumper and really enjoyed his work. Recently he got a tendon injury, already costing us £300 in vets Bills excluding the ultrasound the vets want him to have. He already has sensitive legs due to previous homes so I don't know if he would even come back into work again. Do I keep him, go through all the vets treatments and hope he comes back to where he was or do I rehome him either to the blood bank or as a field companion? Anyone have any experiences of blood banks?
Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...
Mine did his tendon sheath 1 1/2 years ago had one lot of steroids in sheath started walking for 10 minutes in hand ---------------- zoom along then up to 1 hr walking ridden had another steroid in Feb but becasue I broke my humerus I could not ride so a livery did just walk. We got to 3 .. 1 minute trots . Then had a twinge had another steroid 1 month ago still in walk and 2 trots, we are taking it slowly vet really happy on last visit.

Work out how much this horse means to you as to wether you proceed with recovery - IMO I would not pass mine on willy nilly I am sticking it out and hope we get him cantering one day as its been 1 1/2 years since I have cantered (illigal stride on a ride once).


Its all down to you and yours really. I certainly would not use danilon with tendon injury
 
Its all down to you and yours really. I certainly would not use danilon with tendon injury[/QUOTE]

Bute is usually used for the first week to ten days of the injury occuring to help reduce inflamation. After that it is a bit pointless and will make the horse feel well enough to do things it shouldn't be doing. Same as cold hosing is a bit pointless after a certain period of time.

If you dont mind me asking - what type of steroids do you have injected and where abouts? Ive not known of a horse that has had that treatment before.
 
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