29 August 2008 11:26
My 18.2hh, CB x TB mare, injured herself as a three-year-old and was diagnosed with a fractured left shoulder. After three months rest, it was thought she had OCD and should have an operation. After nearly two months more box rest, she was still lame and another vet advised me to have her put to sleep or turn her away for six months to a year to see if she came sound. She has never come really sound and is on bute, but seems happy in herself. Is there anything more I can do for her?
Answer
By Your Horse
Vet Gayle Hallowell replies:
If she’s happy and comfortable in the field and you’re happy to keep andlook after her, there’s no reason why she can’t live out her life in retirement.
However, it is possible that she may develop arthritis in her shoulder if the fracture affects her joint – or the arthritis may have already have begun, in which case it will develop. As long as this is manageable and she’s comfortable, there is no reason why she cannot continue her life at pasture. Joint supplements might be worth trying, although they are expensive and the evidence suggests that they are not as effective in horses as they are in dogs and humans. Call a variety of feed lines for free nutritional advice on supplements and how they might help your horse. Repeated injections of steroids could be another course of action, but may be quite invasive in a horse who’s living happily at pasture. However, I think it’s important that you’re aware the day may come when she is too lame to continue her days of retirement. That’s when I would consider it unfair to carry on.