I have a good friend who's horse tore a distal
sesamoidean ligament (part of the suspensory apparatus) in a hind leg several
months ago. This is a hot horse that is difficult to keep calm, and initially
was more calm on small paddock confinement than in a stall (he will startle
easily), but will still jump around from time to time. The owner tried this, and
the vet working with her approved it begrudgingly, and with time, he improved,
and the vet told her to start riding again (at a walk for a few minutes
every other day) when the latest ultrasound showed 80% improvement. I can't
remember exactly what happened, but he reinjured himself during this period and
was back to square one. The initial vet offered nothing in the line of
alternative treatment (wanted to repeat what had already been done which was
basically just Surpass (NSAID cream) and rest.
She sought another vet who uses ShockWave
treatment, and she had heard good results from friends. The horse is between
his third and fourth treatments, and this vet recommended that, if he can
stay calm, she can start taking him on progressively longer daily hand walks (5
min one week, 10 the next, etc) for 3 weeks, and bring him back for another
ultrasound. No ultrasound was done at this time, even upon owner request to have
one done, but the horse was moved in hand at a walk and in gait and shown to
appear sound.
This is now week two, and I was taking care of the
herd, including this horse, while she was out of town. Due ot bad communication
on both our parts, while i was hand walking him, the owner's husband let their
terrier out into the backyard (which shares a fenceline with where i was walking
him, and her barking caused the horse to jump and spin. He didn't appear off to
me, and continued to walk well. Two days later, though, he's now definately
painful in that leg again. Probably will have an ultrasound done today or
tomorrow.
The owner is a wreck, this horse is her equine
soulmate. Has anyone out there had a similar injury? As far as treatment, what
worked, how long, what level of work was the horse able to return to, if any?
