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View Full Version : Stall rest for 2 weeks!


Sparrk
11-07-2008, 01:30 PM
Yesterday morning, while my guy was walking outside he slipped in the mud on his hind left, and instantly stopped and refused to walk on it. *Don't panic I thought* I tried to coax him forward but he refused and started pawing.

I thought maybe give him a minute, so I let everyone else out and then returned to him. He was standing in the same spot. So I shook his hay and he limped over to me. Then continued to stand on 3 legs.

So I got my neighbour (a horse trainer) to come over and look at him with me. Swelling and hotness in the fetlock. We decided to hose it down and see what happens.

I went to work and he seemed to be limping better. More hosing.

This morning I went in to the barn and he refused to move with his leg in the air. :eek: Managed to drag him out, clean stall and let him back in - with free access to outside. (although I don't think he went out)

Called the vet and he came out a few hours later.

Turns out he has grade 3 out of 6 lameness. He has heat in his stifle, hock, and fetlock. He pulled his ligaments and muscles and has tendonitis/desmititis. the back of his cannon bone is "squishy" instead of "solid".

He's on 2 weeks of stall rest, a week of bute, and 3 days, of domoso gel, with a shot of banamine (which pooled under his skin on his neck). :doh:

All because he slipped in the mud!

On a brighter note (have to say something good), the vet said he was gorgeous and didn't even realize he was a stud until I walked him past the mare and he let out a manly nicker. ( I was thinking how didn't you notice the huge berries when you're working 6" away from them?)

Anyhoo, I'm pretty bummed, and not looking forward to the stall rest. 6 y/o Arabian Stallion cooped up? Yay me.

OH, and I had to wrap his front legs because he is pawing really bad. I don't know if he has ever had wraps on his legs, and all I have is medicine boots (from my barrel racing days). So I put those on him and he didn't bother.

I was wondering will those be too much/hot for him? My mom has shipping boots that I can borrow, will those be okay? Or should I, go out and buy polo wraps?

A little slip in the mud sure has done some damage.

WashingtonBay
11-07-2008, 01:43 PM
Sorry. That's a bummer indeed.

What's your worry with the pawing/need for wraps... that he'll strike himself?

Sparrk
11-07-2008, 01:46 PM
The vet said wrap his front legs because he was banging them against the door and walls.

WashingtonBay
11-07-2008, 01:54 PM
Huh. I've not had good luck with polos myself... not with a fussy horse... they're too easy to pull at when a horse is bored.

I'd think wraps would just make him bang more because it no longer hurts to do it! I guess no matter what you might want to calm him somehow... Maybe Tryptofan. If he's that agitated, none of his ideas on how to express that are going to be good.

FoxFireEMT
11-07-2008, 02:03 PM
Awww sorry to hear that he got hurt. Thankfully it wasn't anythig too serious though. Don't have much of the way of suggestions for pawling. Sorry.

Sparrk
11-07-2008, 02:04 PM
He's not a bad dude, he doesn't have any vices, and he's quite the muffinhead.

If he's pawing, that means something is wrong. We think he is in pain and is doing it out of that. My guy LOVES his stall, and is pretty damn lazy, especially for an Arab.

He doesn't have a mark or scar on his beautiful body, so I don't mind the wrap to prevent any injury.

:)

WashingtonBay
11-07-2008, 02:06 PM
Well good luck getting him through it.

Turn and Burn
11-07-2008, 04:16 PM
That stinks:(
Well at least its only two weeks, one of my horse's had to have 6 months of pasture rest and I didn't even know what happened.

Sparrk
11-07-2008, 04:40 PM
Thanks everyone.

But don't feel too bad for him.

I took him for his walk and he was a jerk...almost walking on 2 feet. :huh:

It's gonna be a looooooooooooooooooooong 2 weeks.

TLC97
11-09-2008, 11:21 AM
Ummm. Try MONTHS of stall rest. I have Cane on Tryptophan and it is working great, better then then expensive stuff from the vet.

PLEASE DO NOT leave medicine boots on all the time as they hold way more heat than wraps. That is why you see most barrel racers, or anyone who uses them taking them off at a show to give their horse a break. If he is pawing that much polo wraps with duct tape just around the velco should work fine.

I still have 2 weeks of stall rest left and then 2 weeks of light turn out to go. If you can hand walk him that may help, especially if it is more than once a day.

Good Luck.

Sparrk
11-09-2008, 11:47 AM
WOW, months of stall rest? I'd be doing this >:rant: haha.

Actually he's doing aright, we're on day 3. He's only allowed hand walking for 15-20 minutes a day. I've been breaking it up to twice a day for 10 minutes.

And the way I have my barn set up, he can walk in his stall and across the aisle to the opposite stall, so he has room to move around.

I thought the medicine boots might be too hot. Its alright though, he already tore them off with his mouth. :doh:

He doesn't seem to be pawing anymore though, I guess his meds are doing their job and he's in less pain.

I've decided to bring my other horses in earlier to keep him company. So instead of them coming in at 10PM, I bring them in 5-6PM, and do a pee break around 10PM. Since we got our first snowfall yesterday, (and it's still snowing) it seems to work out for everybody.

lisakaye
11-09-2008, 01:43 PM
oh I wish you luck. Maybe leaving one of your horses in with him during the day might help keep him calm?

alittleoffkey
11-09-2008, 02:13 PM
Poor guy. I pray the time goes by quickly! Legacy's lazy... but if you stick him in a stall he'll be climbing the walls or otherwise attempting to dismantle them within the hour. Stall rest with him is not fun. :doh:

shewasmyshadow
11-09-2008, 07:47 PM
So he's pawing because he's in pain? Yickes. Does he play with toys? Maybe you could distract him? Shadow's daddy LOVED traffic cones and jolly balls. I've had success with the hanging lick-it's too.

Were you on the horse.com forum? Could you put your old name in your siggy line? That's would help my poor little brain out. :)

Sparrk
11-12-2008, 02:42 PM
Well it's been one week, and no improvement.:(

I'm starting to get ultra worried.

I heard that stall rest isn't the right choice?

Any one have any experience with this?

Sparrk
11-16-2008, 10:24 AM
Update: After his condition worsened I called the vet back out - it was a week to the day. My horse was now holding his leg up and hopping on 3 legs.

The vet checked his lame foot again........and abscess! We all were relieved.

He drained it, cleaned up the foot, and wrapped it, etc..

Since then I have been soaking his foot and changing his duct tape boot twice a day. Man do they ever stink. Good news is he is walking on all fours!