Best therapies for healing torn tendon?

[Rusty15]

Took my new horse that I’ve only had for a month to the vet yesterday for a wound on his leg that wasn’t healing quite right…turns out he tore the superficial digital flexor tendon and slightly damaged the deep digital flexor tendon too. He wasn’t even lame on it so my vet and I were both surprised. I know the odds are against us but there’s nothing I can do other than try my hardest to heal him up.

My vet did a shockwave treatment and gave me some oral and topical anti-inflammatories and gave me the normal spiel (stall rest, icing/cold hosing, wrapping, etc). He goes back up for a follow up and another shockwave treatment in 2 months. I’m going to get some back on track wraps, per her recommendation as well.

My barn has a theraplate I can use for free and I have access to a PEMF machine for cheap so plan to use those as well. Are there any other supplements or therapies worth trying? I was thinking maybe red light therapy?

[Foxglove]

Wow! Sounds like you are doing everything right! Only suggestion I would have is to take ultrasound pix often to track healing. Secondly, and up to you —consider buying your own shock wave “machine” --you may find it is cheaper than having your vet do the treatments --our event horse who competed successfully for 15 years ultimately bowed all four legs --he was sound --rest, Surpass, and shockwave brought him back each time. What finally took him out of competition at age 22 was arthritis.

[IPEsq]

I have had good luck with biologics (IRAP, stem cells). PEMF wouldn’t hurt.

I did really like the BOT no bows for the beginning phase, until my horse ate them. He won’t eat the $12 normal kind, of course. But eventually, you will need to stop wrapping. How long since the initial injury?

[Rusty15]

Initial injury happened about 2 weeks ago. I sent pics to my vet and had 3 people at my barn look at the injury and nobody thought it was that serious, just a few cuts and scrapes. Then one of the cuts got a little infected. It was only after we finished a round of antibiotics and the leg swelled up again after that I took him in, thinking it might still be infected. My vet ultrasounded it just in case and was surprised by how much damage he did.

My other horse has had a lot of chronic issues so is half retired and I refuse to have the same fate for this guy! I don’t care what I have to spend (within reason, I’m not wealthy) to get him right. It helps that I’m the manager of the barn my horses are at so I have time to do whatever rehab/therapy is needed.

[RedHorses]

Does the etc include handwalking? That’s the only thing I see missing from your list.

[tipzythegreat]

I’d also throw in some cold hosing and poulticing. Get the inflammation under control.

I have also heard good things about IRAP and Stem cell… .but $$$

I had great results from shockwave on old suspensory injuries. Just expect it to be a couple months before you can fairly assess healing.

[Natalie]

@Foxglove --is there a Shockwave machine you recommend? I’ve seen the ArcEquine Therapy one but have trouble imagining it’s as good as what the vet might use…

[Foxglove]

Natalie --There was a young woman at the stable where Hail Caesar lived while in competition who had a horse with a bow --she bought the machine and we paid her when we used it on Caesar —cheaper than the vet and no hauling. However, that was 10-15 years ago. I would ask your vet --and maybe ask someone who is a physical therapist about the different machines. I frankly don’t know if there are good ones/bad ones/horse ones or human ones. I do know that where I live, a few Amish who have trotting horses offer “shock wave therapy” at their lay-up barns. Also might put this question out on the racing forum . . .

[IPEsq]

ArcEquine is microcurrent, right? This is quite different from shockwave.