Our horse injured herself 4 days ago and is still favoring her leg?

Question

4 days ago, our mare, acting silly in the pasture, slipped, fell and crashed into a gate. She got up and was holding up her right front leg and had a torn open wound on the front/right part of her chest. After we walked her to the barn, she started putting weight on the leg again but was obviously hurting. We had the vet out immediately to examine her and stitch her up. We were told to keep her in a stall for 10-14 days & hand walk her 3-4 times a day for 10-15 minutes. The 1st day after her injury, she moved fine. The 2nd day,she was having a really hard time moving and stepping on that front leg when we walked her (not sure if due to pain killers wearing off). She will put weight on it occasionally. There is no sign of swelling or heat in the leg and the hoof appears to be fine as well. 4 days later,she is still hobbling around. Could it be she is still just really sore from her chest injury & the swelling there? Should we wait it out a few days, or ask the vet to take a 2nd look?

Answer 1

Is she on any painkillers? She should be (like bute, 2 grams twice a day). I would continue the program your vet described. Keep her stalled, and let her out to hand graze a few times a day. If she is really uncomfortable walking, just let her stand and graze. Just like with humans, muscle injuries take some time to heal.  If she doesn't seem better in 10 days, have the vet back out.

Answer 2

I would be inclined to phone the vet and ask his opinion. Having already seen her once he should be able to give you some sound advice on what to expect.

Answer 3

Yep!  Just like with people.  After an injury, you are sore, but once you have rested & not moved around much, you get really sore.

That is why the vet has you walking her several times a day.  To keep the muscles from getting tight & to keep the swelling down.  A good deep muscle bruise can hurt for a long time.  Just keep walking her to keep the muscles loose.

I would keep doing the hand walking like the vet said for the 14 days he recommended.  If it gets worse in that time, have the vet back out.  If after the 14 days are up & she is still sore, I would have the vet back out also.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

I'd have the vet come...she may have shoulder damage that needs attention.  Internal injuries aren't always obvious on the body surface, so she may require xray or ultrasound exam to rule out serious injury.

Answer 5

You said "she will put weight on it occasionally" - if that's the case, meaning she is mainly non-weight-bearing on that leg, then you really need to have the vet come back out and take a look at her.  She can not go for very long bearing most if not all of her weight on left leg.  It sounds like ligaments and/ or tendons in the leg may have been damaged.  Usually, if that's the case, they are very sore at the outset.  Maybe the pain meds were masking the injury, as you suggested.

I don't think (but am not sure) that the damage to the soft tissue (muscle) in the chest would cause her to be holding the front leg off the ground, as it sounds like she's doing from your description.  Do let us know what happens.

Answer 6

just keep her in her stall. she could be sore or even just stiff. if you feel you must, call the vet out.

Answer 7

I would phone the vet and ask about painkillers (maybe some Bute?) to keep her more comfortable, but they probably don't need to come take another look yet.  The vet can tell you if they think she needs to be seen again, or not.  

Someone else said to just let her stand and graze if she's hurting.  Don't.  Your vet is right.  Keep up with the walking, even if she's not comfortable, it's important with cutting type muscle injuries.  If you don't walk her, 'adhesions' (basically scar tissue across the muscle grain instead of with the grain) can form, which will prolong her recovery.  If it heals incorrectly, it can take 6 or more months of pain for your horse to get everything right again.  I've been there, bought a horse with an old muscle injury that had been put on stall rest instead of walked, then not ever ridden again.  She went lame the first time I worked her hard.  She had to be worked lightly every day for 6 months, on painkillers, to tear apart the adhesions and re-form scar tisse where it was supposed to have been.  She was sore and on pain killers that whole six months, but the vet said it had to be done if she was ever to be sound.  So it is important that you walk her, but I would also get painkillers to keep her comfortable while she heals.

Answer 8

If the leg is not hot or swollen, she'll be fine. Dont let her stand in the stall, though. (laying is alto better)

She also needs mild exercise and a little walking and  grazing will do her leg wonders.

And every now and then if you massgae her hurt leg it will be nice and heal it faster as well.

The stitched chest is what I would worry about. If it is stitched it will not drain as well and be more prone to infection.

If the stitches tear out I think you hsould let them be. You will have to make sure the wound is clean however and you can do that with warm water and mild soap. Once that is done you can pat it dry with a rag and apply an antibiotic,

If you do this repeatedly you will have more of a chance that the horse will not scar and it will keep the wound soft and alive to heal faster.

Answer 9

you should have the vet have another look just to be safe but I have a 4 year old gelding that was hurt last fall and was favoring his leg for 7 months.  We let him rest for a while and then I started doing some round pen exercises with him and eventually I could get on him and now he's sound but I'd check with the vet