Update - Deep Digital Flexor Tendon Injury

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Maclinda

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I posted three months ago as my mare had just been diagnosed with DDFT injury with further issues in the navicular bone and ligaments of both front feet.
Treatment advise from my vet was three months box with graduated heart bars with possible steroid injections. Got lots of feedback and opinions from forum remedial shoeing versus barefoot and wanted to give a little update.

Well after three months where my horses has been an absolute angel stuck in the stable, the vet came out on Monday and was so impressed with her progress that I am now allowed to start bringing her gently back into work :)

It's been a long progress and I'm sure it will continue to be but cross fingers she's on the road to recovery.
 
Hi tallyho, at moment I'm on remedial shoeing. My farrier is definately one of the best in the country and as my mare has always been shod I decided I would stick with that at the moment. If it didn't help I would go down the barefoot route. Keeping my options open.
 
Very interesting to read this. Just about to start something similar, with ponio who's actually been on box rest since last May with severe toxic laminitis, which resulted in gross rotation in all four feet.

Ironically, we've kicked the Laminitis in the butt, but now he has a slight problem with DDFT in one foot. Farrier and vet have collaborated, and he will be getting a graded show on next week.

He had just started walking out, so that is temporarily suspended until the shoes are sorted.

Your story gives us hope :)
 
Maclinda said:
Hi tallyho, at moment I'm on remedial shoeing. My farrier is definately one of the best in the country and as my mare has always been shod I decided I would stick with that at the moment. If it didn't help I would go down the barefoot route. Keeping my options open.
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My farrier was also "one of the best in the country". Sadly that didn't stop my pony getting gradually worse under his care. I stuck with it for 3 years before I finally saw the light and took my pony's shoes off (it involved changing my vet and dumping the farrier and felt like a massive jump into the unknown). My pony is now sound and back in work but without doubt would've been pts if I'd kept his shoes on.

I wish you and your horse all the very best and I'll be interested to hear updates on how she is doing. I really don't want to bring you down just as you are seeing improvements but that is how things tend to go - you get initial improvement and then lameness again (and again). If I could have my time again (knowing what I know now) the shoes would come off on day 1 - maybe then I could've enjoyed some time with my pony (it took 6 long years from initial lameness, through diagnosis and then remedial shoeing and eventually going barefoot). He is now 19 and I have missed the best years of his life :-(
 
My mare had DDFT injuries in both fronts, had heart bars on her for about 8 weeks but after one came off I left them off, she's been barefoot her whole life. So far the vet has been really pleased with her recovery, even after she jumped out to join the hunt just before Christmas.
Will see how she's getting on when the vet checks get this week.

Glad your recovery is going well
 
Dalidaydream, my farrier is definitely open-minded and he is the one who has said if she doesn't improve with shoeing then we will take them off and go down the barefoot route. I am not closed-minded to anything and if one road doesn't work long term we will try another :)
 
Maclinda said:
Hi tallyho, at moment I'm on remedial shoeing. My farrier is definately one of the best in the country and as my mare has always been shod I decided I would stick with that at the moment. If it didn't help I would go down the barefoot route. Keeping my options open.
Click to expand...

Good luck and hope all comes well in time.

I also went remedial for a few years and then ended up barefoot. It's a common theme in navicular/tendon stuff if you read enough on here but you have to go with what you're able to do at the time.

The nub of the problem is always restriction of the caudal hoof area. If you remove the restriction, over time the foot in its whole sense will heal.
 
Maclinda said:
Dalidaydream, my farrier is definitely open-minded and he is the one who has said if she doesn't improve with shoeing then we will take them off and go down the barefoot route. I am not closed-minded to anything and if one road doesn't work long term we will try another :)
Click to expand...

I hope I didn't come across as if I was having a go at you, I wasn't - I know how difficult it is and I hope you have success with whatever you choose to do.
 
Dalidaydream, not at all!!!!! It definitely is a difficult choice to make and I'm keen to hear other people opinions and experiences. As say if one option doesn't work I'll more than open to another :)
 
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