tendon problems box rest or turnaway?

I turned away a 3 year old with a hind tendon injury - it had a small bow but she wasn't lame or sore at all. She had a year out then was broken and ridden away. It didn't cause her a single problem throughout her ridden career. The bow never went mind. The mare in question was a nightmare as a youngster and would never have coped with extended box rest so I didn't feel I had much choice, the vet was happy as the mare was sound and not in any obvious pain
 
We turned out our pony mare who had a serious hind tendon injury following a kick. It was against vet's advice but she wasn't coping with box rest, spinning and rearing. Put her out with one gentle gelding, started back in work after 6 months and never had a problem with it in 6 years.
 
It depends entirely on how much internal damage has occurred to the tendon, for which you would need ultrasound to assess.
As others have mentioned, turning out can work but there is a lot of research evidence to suggest that restriction with controlled exercise (based on ultrasound results) helps optimise the tissue healing and the final alignment and type of collagen fibres.
 
Box rest with controlled exercise probably in a within a criss cross system in a tiny paddock .
And cold therapy for months .
 
Goldenstar said:
And cold therapy for months .
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why do you say this GS? :) Only as my vets tell me that after the initial heat and swelling has passed then there's no need to continue ice/cold hosing.

Going though this again at the moment myself OP, though it's check ligament rather than a tendon for me. I've opted to do pen rest in the field rather than put her in the box again, so she's in approx 2x stable size pen outdoors and pottering about quietly. I've had the leg scanned and vet agreed with this option. I wouldn't let her have the whole field at this stage as I want to prevent any hooning around.
 
milliepops said:
why do you say this GS? :) Only as my vets tell me that after the initial heat and swelling has passed then there's no need to continue ice/cold hosing.

Going though this again at the moment myself OP, though it's check ligament rather than a tendon for me. I've opted to do pen rest in the field rather than put her in the box again, so she's in approx 2x stable size pen outdoors and pottering about quietly. I've had the leg scanned and vet agreed with this option. I wouldn't let her have the whole field at this stage as I want to prevent any hooning around.[/QUOT

Because the vets caring for one of ours who had a what was described as catastrophic suspensory injury told us over and over again to keep going with the cold therapy we did going eight plus times a day for eight months and twice daily there after .
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I think its horse for courses depending on temprement & facilities, but the best practice for tendons is a period of box rest & anti inflams to take down swelling & allow initial repair followed by further box rest and controlled exercise, though the "controlled" part can be a bit hairy !!! The exercise would take the form of hand walking initially followed by ridden walking for a period of 8-12 weeks then introducing small bursts of trot and building up slowly depending on what scans show. Straight lines and firm surfaces only.

Cold therapy is excellent but most tap water in this country isn't cold enough to have any real affect other than a soothing effect. the best way to apply cold therapy is by way of a spa, where the water is very cold (it needs to be a min of 4 degrees) and the bubbling effect of the spa is very good at helping to break down any scar tissue that might be forming within the tendon. Plus the salt and chlorine in the water act as astringents & keeps things clean. We have a spa and its brilliant for all sorts of things from tendon injuries to cuts and bruising, thrush, lami to just relieving tired legs after hunting, jumping etc etc.

Field rest can work but the risk is the horse running around and therefore not allowing the tendon to repair and if this happens the collegen formed within the tendon is the wrong type. it forms horizontally across the tendon and therefore prevents the tendon from stretching in its normal function, rather than vertically. I cant recall off the top of my head if its type one or type four collegen that's required for healthy tendon repair.
 
For cold therapy I use bonner bandages cooled in very iced water .
We keep a cool box out side the patients stable and buy bagged ice .
Bonner bandages really are a great simple thing to use for lower leg cooling .
 
KautoStar1 said:
I cant recall off the top of my head if its type one or type four collegen that's required for healthy tendon repair.
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Gosh, super sounding facilities! (green with envy here).
Agree with what you have put. It is Type I that is stronger, and found in normal tendon. Type III occurs after injury, but is not as strong, so the less type III the better.
 
Bonnar bandages are excellent but sadly the art of bandaging properly seems lost these days (like a lot of things :( ). But yes if you have and can apply then they are great. I've got one somewhere too, wonder where it is.

The spa is excellent and my horse loves it, just for a treat sometimes :) he seems to like the bubbles and will doze off while he's having a 'treatment'. We are really lucky to have it on site and have access to it whenever needed.
 
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