To turnaway or boxrest????

[kezza24]

Hi sorry this has probably been asked a million times... pony came in really quite lame on the front few weeks ago and a fat leg next morning(in inside and outside, not the back - so maybe a suspensory?). As on maternity leave can't afford the vet so kept her in for two weeks. Leg went down and heat went lovely so started in hand walking, completely terrifying! Haha! Did this twice a day. I say walking it was quite a lot of sideways jogging to be honest. Anyway, I have a small baby and was really really struggling with keeping her on box rest as well and trying to get someone to have the baby (especially with coronavirus now and isolation etc) whilst I walked her out so decided to give sedalin and turn out. All went well. Came in sound, phew. This morning, swelling came up slightly but not heat. Lame in trot. Could have cried. Anyway decided it was do or die and have given sedalin again and turned out. Kind of want some reassurance that if I just decide to turnaway she will eventually come sound for hacking and light unaffiliated competition and I havent just completely ruined my pony???

 

[be positive]

No one can give you an answer as you do not have a diagnosis so it would be unfair to give you reassurance but I think in the circumstances it is probably the most viable option to turn out 24/7, keep an eye on it obviously as if it really flares up you will have to do something, most vets will be sensible about how much they need to do and many will offer payment plans, keep your fingers crossed it is something that will improve with rest, that she will not charge about too much and when you do bring her back into work do it extremely slowly to give her the best chance.

 

[bonny]

In your circumstances I would just turn her away for a few months, knowing what’s wrong wont make any difference to the outcome but I would leave her out 24/7 and not bring her in and out.

 

[HeyMich]

Yes, as BP says above. Without knowing what the original injury actually was, it's impossible to advise.

As a horse owner, it is your duty and obligation to call a vet when needed. They may offer payment terms during these difficult times, but I would still suggest you speaking with a vet and getting an examination carried out.

 

[Sail_away]

I don’t think I can give advice on whether to turn out or box rest - it depends on the injury, and you’re not sure what it is.
You do have a duty of care to make sure your horse is not in preventable pain. I would call your vet out and explain that you can’t afford expensive treatment at the moment. They might offer a cheaper solution, or let you pay off your bill later. Good luck and I hope she comes sound.

 

[kezza24]

Yes, as BP says above. Without knowing what the original injury actually was, it's impossible to advise.

As a horse owner, it is your duty and obligation to call a vet when needed. They may offer payment terms during these difficult times, but I would still suggest you speaking with a vet and getting an examination carried out.

Thankyou for the response. I would certainly find the money if I felt the vet the pony was in real trouble, I would never let my animals suffer. But having had a few instances with soft tissue (tendon/tendon sheath etc) injuries, I just can't justify the money for a scan to be told here is some danilon, box rest for 6 weeks, hand walk and then re-scan. So my initial thoughts were to skip the vet fees, give a bit of bute that I already had and go on box rest for 6 weeks with controlled exercise. However due to my circumstances I have turned out much earlier than I normally would. I just wanted to hear from other people who had turned away following a soft tissue injury with success.

 

[kezza24]

I don’t think I can give advice on whether to turn out or box rest - it depends on the injury, and you’re not sure what it is.
You do have a duty of care to make sure your horse is not in preventable pain. I would call your vet out and explain that you can’t afford expensive treatment at the moment. They might offer a cheaper solution, or let you pay off your bill later. Good luck and I hope she comes sound.

Thankyou for your reply. Just to reassure you, I would certainly find the money if I felt the vet the pony was in real trouble, I would never let my animals suffer (and I had some anti inflammatories which I was able to give her to take away the initial pain). But having had a few instances with soft tissue (tendon/tendon sheath etc) injuries, I just can't justify the money for a scan to be told here is some danilon, box rest for 6 weeks, cold hose, hand walk and then re-scan. So my initial thoughts were to skip the vet fees, give a bit of bute I already had, cold hose and go on box rest for 6 weeks with controlled exercise. However due to my circumstances I have turned out much earlier than I normally would. I just wanted to hear from other people who had turned away following a soft tissue injury with success :-(

 

[bonny]

In my opinion boxrest is rarely the answer to anything with horses or humans ! I’ve turned horses away without knowing exactly what’s wrong and they have all come back fine.

 

[hopscotch bandit]

Thankyou for the response. I would certainly find the money if I felt the vet the pony was in real trouble, I would never let my animals suffer. But having had a few instances with soft tissue (tendon/tendon sheath etc) injuries, I just can't justify the money for a scan to be told here is some danilon, box rest for 6 weeks, hand walk and then re-scan. So my initial thoughts were to skip the vet fees, give a bit of bute that I already had and go on box rest for 6 weeks with controlled exercise. However due to my circumstances I have turned out much earlier than I normally would. I just wanted to hear from other people who had turned away following a soft tissue injury with success.

I don't blame you, i said i wasn't going to give my mare her second scan as the result was the same, it was another five weeks of box rest. Don't think the vet was impressed but I genuinely hadn't the money and it was the first time I'd refused her anything in nearly 16 ears. In any event she had her second and final scan three days ago (update on check ligament injury post) and she can go out (although I'm holding back till drier conditions) and I can ride again which I did last night!

If she's quiet in the field I'm sure that a very small paddock where she can't run around would be fine. At the end of the day you can only do so much.

 

[kezza24]

I don't blame you, i said i wasn't going to give my mare her second scan as the result was the same, it was another five weeks of box rest. Don't think the vet was impressed but I genuinely hadn't the money and it was the first time I'd refused her anything in nearly 16 ears. In any event she had her second and final scan three days ago (update on check ligament injury post) and she can go out (although I'm holding back till drier conditions) and I can ride again which I did last night!

If she's quiet in the field I'm sure that a very small paddock where she can't run around would be fine. At the end of the day you can only do so much.

Thankyou, and so pleased you'll be able to ride again now!

 

[irishdraft]

My horse has a soft tissue injury in his hoof vet said 10 days danilon and leave out . He came sound after this but is now turned away for several months . Obviously I don't know what injury your horse has but this was my vets advice for mine . I don't have insurance and my vets are always mindful and don't suggest lots of tests before we go down the cheapest most practical route first.