Horse lame help please people?

Question

my horse got kicked in the field by another horse yesterday, he took a good few blows to the chest but has no pyhsical injury,

althought when i got him out of his box this morning was extremelly stiff through his sholders, it appears his muscles seem very tight.

i have put him on bute 1sachet twice per day for now,

if his no better by monday ill call the vet out.

anybody have any ideas that will help speed his recovery?

Answer 1

if his muscles are stiff, you could try doing some light stretches if he seems up to it but ask the vet, otherwise the vet can administer some muscle relaxant to give his muscles a break....poor buddy!  Maybe move him out of the field with the meany horse for a while until he is ''up to snuff'' again!    

Also bute may not be the best thing as it is an anti-inflammatory and he isn't inflamed he is just sore and stiff

Answer 2

just like with you if you get a bruised muscle it takes time to heal and feel better. however. just like you if you don't move the muscle it will get stiff and build up lactic acid. gentle walking for just a few min should loosen it up some. this will help release the muscle and reduce swelling.

   DO NOT KEEP HIM STILL this could cause it to swell and bring more pain.  

Answer 3

I would buy some muscle relaxing shampoo. It helps with stiffnes, and relaxes the musclies.

I saw that today, and was going to get it for my horse but i had only 15 dollars, and i had to buy the basic shampoo.

But i think it would help alot, along with warm cloths.

Answer 4

Actually, I'd increase the butte to 2 tabs AM and PM, take him out and hose off the areas where he got kicked, a couple of times a day...

If he's no better by Monday, call the vet.

Answer 5

keep up with the bute (very helpful)

also u could try leading him around jut a little bit each day and see if he becomes less stiff it might not work but he will only get stiffer sitting in his stall.

Answer 6

there is no way to actually speed it up. but in the mean time i would not make her/him walk around as much as possible because it might make strain in the leg.  

Answer 7

Rub him with linament.

Answer 8

You are doing the right thing by calling the vet.  Suggestions of hand walking and cold hosing are the best thing.  One suggestion, if you are giving bute make sure you give him some malox or mylanta to protect his stomach.  I am not a bute fan and I had a vet tell me to give him 2 ounces of malox or mylanta to protect their stomach.  His muscles are probably tight because he has some severe bruising under the skin with inflamation.

Answer 9

It sounds like he's just sore. As long as he's not really lame and is just stiff, I would try to keep him moving as much as possible. If you can keep him outside as long as possible. Inactivity will cause his muscles to stiffen more, only by light activity will he stay loose. Also cold hose him for about 20 mins in the area that seems most sore in order to bring down the swelling and spray some kind of liniment on him afterward. you could also try massaging him in the sore areas to try to keep him loose and supple. Good luck.

Answer 10

Even thought he may not have an obvious injury you can see, he still may have one. The bute is a good idea, but be very careful. If he is no better by Monday, call the vet. Do not just continue to give him bute indefinitely. You could get into very serious trouble.

Answer 11

well think of it as if u had been kicked in the chest n shoulder u would be very stiff and sore for a few days too!plenty of rest in the stable away from other horses but with a little bit of walking just so he doesnt stiffen up too much! try a deep heat pad that u stick in the microwave might help?also id watch giving bute cuz your horse will probably feel completley fine and might do more damage!plus if your gonna feed it anyway only give 2 for acouple of days and reduce it to one at night.but i would call the vet if its still no better in a week or so, these things take time to heal!hope he feels better soon!

Answer 12

I agree with just about everyone who has offered their suggestions to this question, keep up with the Bute, and get him outside where he can have free exercise to shorten the time of recovery.  If he stands too long out in the field, lead him a little so the he knows that he can without hurting.  This is important, keep him moving, not working, but moving.  Now, regarding administering Bute without calling a vet.  One cannot acquire Bute from anywhere other than a vet or with a prescription from a vet, and they don't just pass those out like theater tickets, they have to know you and have confidence in your ability to know how much, when and for how long to administer it.  I would venture to say that there aren't too many horseman that would be caught low on Bute, Banamine, Absorbine, some for of antihistimine and Pennicillin in some form and a few other personal favorites.

Answer 13

Try massaging his chest,other whys call a vet.

Answer 14

I am going through a very similar thing with my horse right now also. I have had a vet come look at my horse and they said to put her on bute(which you are doing), to ice the area, and keep her moving so she doesn't get sore and stiff.

I let her out into a roundpen and just let her walk around on her own or if she doens't want to walk I made her just so she wouldn't get too stiff. After a couple days of walking we are doing light trotting and more walking.