In March of this year my daughter's horse sustained a tear to his check ligament, confirmed by ultrasound. He was confined to stall rest, treated with DMSO and had his leg wrapped twice daily. A second ultrasound was taken early July, with improvement and given the okay for controlled walks. The vet just saw him again and said that he still reacts to pressure on his leg, when there is no reaction he will ultrasound again. It's been about six months now. Has anyone had any experience with this. My daughter is getting a bit despondent over it all but, on the positive side, it has given her more time to work with her young horse. Any info or experience that anyone has had with this would be most appreciated.
Posted 2008-09-05 8:13 PM (#91052 - in reply to #91047) Subject: RE: Check Ligament Injury
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 522 Location: Tucumcari NM
Ligaments take a LONG time to heal. It is critical that you proceed slowly with rehabilitation once the vet clears him. One treatment that helps a lot is this: Get a 16 ounce bottle of Absorbine linament and disolve 50 non-coated ibuprophen tablets in it. apply twice daily but do not wrap. This helps with the soreness and increases the blood flow to promote healing.
Posted 2008-09-06 7:57 PM (#91086 - in reply to #91047) Subject: RE: Check Ligament Injury
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Urbana,MD
My mare had a tear to her check ligament several years ago.She was off a good nearly a year.I had it ulrasounded every month to check on the progress.I did not keep her stalled (she would n't have any parts of it) I did keep her in a standing wrap and in a small paddock with a pony. Around 9 months the vet gave the ok to get on her and start her back very slowly.She still did not feel right to me after a few times on her.I then decided to give her and extra month and try again.She is now 100% sound on the leg ,and it looks great,These kind of injurys take a long time to heal.Good Luck
Posted 2008-09-08 11:01 AM (#91133 - in reply to #91047) Subject: RE: Check Ligament Injury
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
Other posters are correct- these injuries take a long time to heal. You daughter will not be so disappointed if she understands that in the long run, allowing the injury to heal, no matter how long it takes, will benefit the horse in the long run.
Posted 2008-09-08 11:04 AM (#91134 - in reply to #91122) Subject: RE: Check Ligament Injury
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Delta, B.C. Canada
Firstly, thank you all for responding. Excuse me if I ramble on .... "Kermit" is 3/4 QH, 1/4 paint, this would have been his fourth year eventing (Training level). We have never had any problems with him. My daughter had a jumping lesson on the Monday night, he was fine, she went to get him on Tuesday and his front left leg was swollen and warm to the touch, however, he showed no signs of lameness. She cold hosed him, wrapped his leg and put him on stall rest until the vet came on Saturday to ultrasound him. He was on stall rest for about 6 weeks or so if I recall rightly, then put into an outdoor paddock (on his own) and has been there since. Have no idea how this happened, the horses are usually kept in large paddocks of 3 or 4, he could have been playing and done something, who knows. My only thought on looking back is that a couple of months prior to this he had exhibited signs of shin splints, he was cold hosed and ridden lightly until they healed. Perhaps this could have been an indication something was going on. By the way, we board our horses, he has been there since he was three and is now 8 yrs old. Her two coaches live on the property and take extremely good care of all the horses there. Luckily he is like a puppy dog, very mild mannered and has been so good during the last six months, I just feel so sorry for him, he loves to work. Guess we'll just have to bide our time, gives him lots of love and hopefully things will improve.
Posted 2008-09-09 11:52 AM (#91181 - in reply to #91047) Subject: RE: Check Ligament Injury
Veteran
Posts: 294 Location: Fort Worth, Tx
A friend with a Grand Prix jumper had a check ligament injury several years ago. With lots of good (and expensive) vet care the horse was sound again one year later, and was able to compete again. I would not count on having your horse back before that length of time, unfortunately.
Posted 2008-09-09 12:17 PM (#91187 - in reply to #91181) Subject: RE: Check Ligament Injury
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Delta, B.C. Canada
As all of you have said, it's so important to have patience and not be too hasty. My daughter would marry that horse if she could, so even though she's getting frustrated, I know she will do what's right. I initially figured we'd save money on eventing entry fees but think we've spent just as much, if not more, on vet bills. Gotta love these horses!!!
Posted 2008-09-09 7:23 PM (#91204 - in reply to #91047) Subject: RE: Check Ligament Injury
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Urbana,MD
Luckily for me my mare is insured.I payed the first $200 they covered the rest!
She came in from the field with a swollen leg,and was lame.The vet said it looked like an over extension and a twist! He said the way it was tore was a bit unusaul.Instead of being "frayed" all the way around ,It was only "frayed" on one side.Which is why he thought she twisted it in the over extension.She can be a bit wild in the field at times.Running and spinning.She is a TB !!!! ,But an awsome dressge mount!
Posted 2008-09-10 11:33 AM (#91242 - in reply to #91204) Subject: RE: Check Ligament Injury
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Delta, B.C. Canada
Lucky you, only $200. Kermit was insured, however, the insurance here covers mortality, colic up to 7,500 and/or major medical to 5,000, or b) mortality, colic up to 10,000 or major medical to 5,000 (not both), both with a deductible of $500. Everyday injuries etc. is not covered. His insurance was due for renewal two weeks after he tore his ligament, the insurance companies need a vet check stating that there have been no issues in the last 6 months and if so, will exclude that area from the insurance, so if we renewed his insurance it would have excluded his leg. With two horses our premiums would exceed 2,000 per year. Neither of them are covered at the moment, perhaps when he is better and our other guy when we insure Kermit.
Posted 2008-09-10 4:54 PM (#91266 - in reply to #91047) Subject: RE: Check Ligament Injury
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Urbana,MD
With my insurance I had to have major medical with colic.I could not have one or the other.She was covered under major medical for her leg.With my insurace as long as I paid the renewel fee when it was due I did not have to have a vet certificate.Only when she was first insured.If you let the insurance laps then you will have to have a vet check and the injury will not be covered.
Posted 2008-09-10 5:26 PM (#91271 - in reply to #91266) Subject: RE: Check Ligament Injury
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Delta, B.C. Canada
Even when we are renewing it, we don't need the vet to physically do a vet check but have to indicate if there have been any problems. Glad to hear that your mare is now 100%, hopefully in due course Kermit will be 100% again.
Check Ligament Injury
