4-6 month stall rest

[IPEsq]

Rest and stabilization is needed for a fracture especially somewhere like P3 where the bone is just suspended in the foot. You need it to be immobilized as best as possible to heal well without secondary issues. That’s why a plate is used to keep the digital cushion from doing its thing as much as normal.

Signed, horse owner who dealt with a scapula fracture while next door neighbor horse also went through rest for a nondisplaced P3 fracture.

I would definitely listen to your vet about how much movement is allowed the first few months and on what type of surface.

[fanfayre]

Yes, dealing with one right now, although not in foot, but below the hock. Been ongoing for 12 months (as of today, actually. Happy anniversary, us 🙍🏻)
Stall rest was a complete bust. Trazadone and then fluoxetine did absolutely nothing but ramp up the anxiety.
So I tossed him out into the paddock to graze quietly which, for the most part, he did.
Will reassess sometime in the early new year, and if there’s no improvement then he will be formally retired, since he will be 20 and I don’t want to aggravate his injury even on a walking trail ride, not that I want to restrict myself to walking trail rides anyway.

[Demerara_Stables]

Lots of good advice here. I’d echo discussing different drug options with your vet - every animal (just like people) reacts differently to each drug.

Second, do you have fence panels you can use to build a stall outside? My horse was much happier “turned out” in a 12x12 fence panel stall next to the pasture with her buddies rather than inside. She got some grass (we moved the panels daily for fresh grass), and sunshine. The only thing to consider is your soil/grass - if she needs to be on a hard surface and your soil is soft or muddy, it probably won’t work.

[No1]

I’ve seen horses get way more traz than that. And one who was getting dosed 3x/day.

I’ve also rehabbed a fair number of horses from various injuries and I hate ace. It’s not a reliable sedation. You’ll think they’re ok and then they blow through it in seconds. If your vet will dispense Zylazine to you, that’s much more reliable and doesn’t make them wobbly like some of the other sedatives. You can give some in the vein and some in the muscle at the same time and, by the time the IV dose wears off, the IM dose is kicking in. If your vet won’t dispense Zylazine, you could try the IM/IV dose with ace. It might work a little better. No matter which sedative you use or how you give it, make sure you are waiting the appropriate amount of time for it to kick in before you do any moving around. Like, give it and leave your horse in the stall for 20 minutes after if you are only giving it IM.

Also, what blankets you are putting on can really make a difference to some horses. One mare I rehabbed only kept it together if she was blanketed similarly to the clipped horses, despite being unclipped. Not enough to make her sweat, but enough to keep her from feeling any type of chill.

As lots of other people have said, please, do listen to your vet about footing. It can be very important.

[hail]

thank you for the reply. good luck to you and your boy <3

[fivestrideline]

@No1

If your vet will dispense Zylazine to you, that’s much more reliable and doesn’t make them wobbly like some of the other sedatives

Or you have a horse like mine that gets the Zyla-Meanies and has a note in his chart that he CANNOT have it . Turns out it’s somewhat common. Sweetest horse in the world starts trying to kill people with calculated intent on zylazine .

Dorm is a good options for some, as well as upping the traz. I’d ask the vet. And stick to the hard footing, you don’t want to be undoing all your hard work!