A horse that limps is a major concern for the owner, and knowing how to treat the lameness can promote both timing and successful recovery. From physiotherapy to medical treatments, this article considers several aspects of how to treat lameness in horses. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Reduce Inflammation
Step 1. Let the horse rest a lot
Letting it rest in the box is the main aspect of the treatment. Depending on the nature of the lameness, horses need a few days for a simple sprain, up to weeks or even months if the injury is more serious.
- Rest allows you to put less weight on the injured joint, the prolonged use of which could cause further inflammation. If you keep working a lame horse you can potentially cause him greater physical damage, such as chipping the cartilage lining of the inflamed joint and other permanent damage.
- Also, getting it to work causes the release of more prostaglandins and thus the inflammation becomes worse. Rest allows you to break this vicious circle.
Step 2. Wet the horse's leg for 20 minutes a day with cold water from the garden hose
Cold water is a simple form of hydrotherapy used to reduce swelling of the limb. Just "water" his lame leg with a garden hose for 20 minutes once or twice a day. The benefit is given by the cold which disperses the heat associated with swelling, while the flow of water massages the tissue and helps eliminate the accumulation of liquids.
- The ideal temperature should be quite low and the garden hose allows you to keep it constant without heating the water (as is the case with the ice pack). Sessions of 20 minutes are recommended because this is enough time to disperse the heat, but not too long to compromise blood circulation to the limb due to the cold.
- It is a good idea to smear some petroleum jelly or grease over the horse's heel before getting wet. This prevents the spur fabric from softening too much due to the constant flow of water thus avoiding cracking and infection.
- Unless your horse is very well behaved, it is wise to do the work in two people: one bathes him with the hose and the other holds him in place. Depending on the nature of the lesion, the vet can tell you how many days it is advisable to continue wetting the horse's leg in this way once the swelling has resolved.
Step 3. Try bathing with warm water to treat lower limb lameness
This treatment is used if the cause is a suspected abscess or there is a foreign body in the hoof, because warm water softens the tissues and helps drain the infection. You can soak the horse's injured leg in a bucket of 38 ° C water containing Epsom salts to soften the sole of the foot and help drain the infection.
- Always clean your hoof before submerging it in clean water. If necessary, use an awl to clean the iron and the hoof, wash it before soaking. It is advisable to remove the handle of the bucket to prevent the leg from being accidentally trapped.
- Fill the bucket with hot water and add a cup of Epsom salts. Place the horse's leg in the bucket and allow it to soak for 15-20 minutes. When the water cools, remove the paw while refilling the bucket with more hot water. After this time, place the hoof on a clean towel and dry it well. This procedure can be repeated 3-4 times a day.
Step 4. Use a warm compress to treat abscesses and infections that develop on the top of the legs
The compress plays a similar role to bucket immersion (suspected of infection or abscess), but is applied to higher areas of the limb that cannot be immersed in a bucket.
- To make a warm compress, soak a clean towel in warm water and Epsom salts and wrap it around the most swollen or inflamed area of the paw. Place a second towel in the bucket with the water and Epsom salts.
- When the towel wrapped around the limb cools, replace it with the other in the bucket of hot water. Apply 15-20 minutes, 3-4 times a day.
Step 5. Apply a poultice to reduce swelling after exercise
This remedy performs several functions, as it can reduce swelling after strenuous activity and drains the infection from an abscess. Bran packs were traditionally popular, but with the commercial availability of many pre-prepared and effective packs (such as Animalintex), the custom of preparing packs at home has been reduced.
- Commercial packs consist of an impregnated sheet with a shiny side (to be kept away from the animal) and an absorbent side (to be applied to the lesion). First, cut the poultice sheet to the desired size so that the injured area is completely covered. You can apply it dry (great for reducing swelling) or wet (to absorb the infection). In both cases, the application procedures are the same but, for a wet compress, the pre-cut sheet must be previously immersed in hot water and allowed to cool to 37.7 ° C.
- The poultice is applied against the wound or swelling and held in place with a self-adhesive bandage. Tighten the bandage so that the compress is held in place and does not slide down, but not too far to block circulation in the limb.
- Never leave it for more than 12 hours and preferably change it 2 or 3 times a day.
Part 2 of 2: Relieve the Pain
Step 1. Use pain medication to help your pet
Pain relief plays an important role in treatment. Modern pain relievers (analgesics) that perform the dual action of reducing pain and inflammation belong to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- NSAIDs work by inhibiting the action of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and COX1 enzymes. It is these COX enzymes that release prostaglandins which in turn cause inflammation and pain. By blocking COX, the inflammatory mediators (prostaglandins) are reduced, thereby decreasing pain.
- The most frequently used NSAID drugs to relieve bone and joint problems in horses are aspirin, flunixin and phenylbutazone.
Step 2. Give your horse aspirin if the pain is mild
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is effective for moderate pain, swelling and general discomfort. It can be found easily in pharmacies without a prescription and is the first option for treating a mild lameness.
- Aniprin contains powdered acetylsalicylic acid mixed with a pleasantly flavored molasses base, designed to be combined with horse feed. The dose is 10 mg / kg once a day.
- For a 500 kg horse this is equivalent to 5,000 mg (or 5 grams) of Aniprin. Generally two measuring spoons are supplied with the product: one 28.35g for the larger sizes and the other smaller 3.75g. Thus, an average 500kg horse requires a 1.5-scoop serving of Aniprin once a day to be placed in the food.
- Do not give aspirin to a horse who is taking other medications without consulting your vet first, and be sure to ensure that they always have a plentiful supply of fresh water.
Step 3. Use phenylbutazone to reduce pain and fever
Commonly known as "Bute" among horse owners, this drug helps reduce fever and pain. This is an NSAID that must be prescribed by the veterinarian. It cannot be given in combination with other NSAIDs, steroids or on an empty stomach.
- Phenylbutazone interacts with some medications (such as phenytoin, sulfonamides, warfarin, barbiturates, and digoxin), so always consult your veterinarian before starting treatment.
- A typical phenylbutazone preparation for horses is Butazolidine. The dose for a horse of about 450 kg ranges from 2 to 4 g once a day with or after meals. It is available as 1 gram tablets, oral paste or oral powder containing 1 g of phenylbutazone in a 10 g sachet. The pharmaceutical company recommends not to exceed 4 g per day and to administer the lowest effective dose, if possible.
Step 4. Get a prescription for flunixin to reduce pain and inflammation
This is another NSAID that must be prescribed by the doctor, sold under the trade name of Banamine.
- This drug is a potent cyclooxygenase inhibitor that blocks prostaglandins and thus reduces inflammation. It is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine, each dose is effective for 24-30 hours.
- Banamine dose is 1.1 mg / kg once daily orally. Therefore, a 500 kg horse needs 550 mg (0.5 g), which is equivalent to a 20 g sachet that contains 500 mg of flunixin.
Step 5. Know the possible side effects of NSAIDs
These are drugs that can reduce the blood supply to the stomach and kidneys. While this should not be particularly harmful when the horse is healthy and well hydrated (especially when the drug is given with food), NSAIDs should never be given to dehydrated animals, as this would result in too much concentration and could amplify the damaging effects on the kidneys.
- Other side effects of NSAIDs include gastric ulceration and possibly worsening of pre-existing kidney disease. This can manifest itself as a loss of appetite and increased thirst. Treatment involves stopping NSAIDs and taking medications such as activated charcoal to protect the stomach lining.
- A horse diagnosed with kidney disease may require intravenous fluid therapy to clear the normal build-up of toxins that the kidneys have failed to excrete from the body.
