Well, do or die. Vet been

[doodle]

Robin is not settling to box rest. 2 days a week he is ok the rest of the time he is terrible. Yesterday he was ok. Today he was the worst I have ever seen. I have tried everything but 7 weeks in it is not working. I gave him extra sedative, he should have been horizontal. I had asked for the head vet to come. He turned up, I burst into tears, he took one look at robin and said this cannot go on. He iv sedated him, told me to make a pen in his field before he woke up fully and turn him out. We are under no illusion and this may well go wrong but he has also dealt with horses having to be pts due to injuries sustained while in box rest. He also said robins cortisol levels would be through the roof and this is known to slow down healing.

So he was booted and rugged up and turned out! He has had a roll but hasn't moved out of walk and is eating.

Blood was taken as he is being very slow to heal and has repeated infections and that will be run today to check everything.

 

[McFluff]

Good luck, as someone with a horse that will not box rest I feel your pain. If it helps, we found that turnout in a small area worked for mine (and I had prepared for PTS if it didn't work).

 

[doodle]

Yes I am prepared for pts. I have a list a mile long that can go wrong. I have always been lucky with box rest, Minto seemed to prefer it and never quite understood how hard it could be.

 

[ester]

Sending my best zen vibes! Hopefully the cortisol is the issue healing wise and this will resolve it.

 

[McFluff]

Keeping fingers crossed for you and sending healing vibes. Hopefully he will feel better outside and allow his body to start healing.

 

[Rowreach]

What a sensible vet. Hopefully both you and Robin will be much happier in your new routine, and I hope he starts healing properly now.

 

[doodle]

Thanks all. I will continue to bring him in at night. That is his normal routine and his 2 friends come in also so I hope he accepts that.

 

[doodle]

I am also impressed at vet. He became very difficult at the vets to get ivs. I have. When working on raising a vein and he will now relax his neck when I do it. He was so wound up I thought we had no chance. Vet stroked and cuddled him while I gave him his lick. Then took hold of his neck and needle was in and blood out , sedation in all without bother. He then went back to stroking and cuddling him.

 

[Fiona]

That's good news kamikaze....

Best of luck with the restricted turnout x x

Fiona

 

[KM-R]

Fingers crossed for you! I've sent you a message about slow healing - but I know there's nothing worse than people chiming in with opinions when you have a poorly horse, so take with a pinch of salt and lots of healing vibes!

 

[DabDab]

So stressful! Best of luck, really hope this compromise works out for you.
Your vet sounds absolutely fantastic

 

[MyBoyChe]

Ive successfully box rested a TB without using a box. He had a pen in his field, with his favourite tree in the middle for shade and snoozing, he could see his usual friends and he was totally chilled. We started with a 12 x 12 and made it a little bigger with each positive vet report. Dont know your boys story so no idea how long this may continue, mine was about 6 weeks, but it was either PTS or try it this way. Good luck, I think at this time of year it must be much nicer and more relaxing for them to have a restricted area outside x

 

[rosiesowner]

Good luck, I don't think my horse would cope with box rest and I've often wondered what on earth I would do if it ever came to it. Best wishes, you really have my positive thoughts right now xx

 

[doodle]

Well he is back in and totally knackered. He managed to eat his tea but can't manage his hay! His wound was dirty but no ripping or disasters. Really helpfully another livery was there all afternoon (I stayed all morning) and reported he never lifted his head.

 

[Sukistokes2]

Wishing you luck. My old vet ( many years ago ) used to say " when in doubt turn them out"

 

[zaminda]

One of mine recently returned from the hospital and was supposed to be on box rest for another week. She was seriously unhappy at the vet's and not eating properly. They tubed fluids into her on more than one occasion. I put her straight in a pen with her bandage on. After the first bandage change done by a vet she ended up with a pressure sore so she was out without a bandage almost immediately. Luckily she heals very fast even at 21 so we seem to have got away with it. Good luck it's really not fun.