How is your horse doing now?
Thank you for asking. He is sore. Vet is concerned that he is so sore but he has no fever and hoof has no heat or discharge or odor. I think its because he goes crazy in the stall and he hasnāt been getting any exercise due to rain. Giving him the antibiotics which he hates, with my shoulder that has a rotator cuff injury, has been hard. He is such a good boy, most of the time. Today I covered his foot in a soaking boot, duck taped to secure it, and hand walked him so he could have a little distraction and some grass. Weāll be doing that daily. Fortunately the hurricane isnāt going to be much of a threat to usā¦ one less thing 
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You can ask for a sedative for the first few days. Oral or injectable acepromazine is a good option, although it does have a small risk of penile prolapse its benefits probably outweigh the risks. If he seems to need continual sedation through rehab Reserpine can be a good option.
It is likely bute is recommended over previcox as it a more potent NSAID. The bute protocol your vet has suggested seems very reasonable and is fairly short term. The full bucket and omeprazole (ulcergard) will help decrease the likelihood of having side effects. Again any drug can have side effects, but if your vet is prescribing them they have considered the risks and feel that the benefits outweigh the risks. But always feel free to have that conversation with your vet!
Blood building supplements shouldāt be necessary. Although it is a very bloody surgery you must consider that the horse does have a very large blood volume. Additionally, unlike humans, iron-deficiencies in horses are rare.
Iād recommend cutting back his grain while he is on stall rest. He wonāt be burning as many calories and replacing the grain with more hay will help keep him occupied throughout the day - even more so if you get a slow-feed net. As others have suggested keeping a buddy in the barn with him is great. If youāre able and your vet OKās it, a small āstall sizeā outdoor enclosure can help decrease his anxiety. Most important will be good fencing and good footing in the area - mats would be ideal.
Thank you. He has calmed down after he tried to trot in there. Now he is sore so he is much calmer. There was very little blood, I was told. There wasnāt much with the first bandage change either. In that respect he has been fine. I would like the outdoor enclosure but the rain hasnāt let us be outdoors much. I extended his stall into the overhang which gives an additional 8 ft width and allows the stall door to remain open so there is more airflow.
Last week I brought home a mare and foal to keep him company. They are in quarantine a couple hundred feet away. The colt has begun to call out to him so they have a conversation a couple of times a day.
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Great to hear he is doing so well and also that your area appears to have dodged a huge weather bullet:)
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Wind will happen for us today. 20 mph with gusts under 40 mph. up to 2 inches of rain. Nothing like it could have been with the initial forecasts calling for Dorian to cut right through the middle of Floridaā¦ The biggest issues in this area are usually power outage, which wonāt affect the horses and trees/ tree limbs falling. The trees around them are healthy. Ol Man is in the stall but the mare and foal are in a paddock. They donāt really know anything in terms of refuge. They donāt use their canopy to get out of the rain. Seems like they were never cared for which has a positive aspect: they take everything in stride.
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How much TC Sr? Healing takes a lot of nutrition, especially in the protein area. If heās not getting at least 6lb of the Sr (and heās an average horse), then Iād add 1/2-1lb of the TC 30 balancer. If heās getting 10lb and youāre worried about weight, cut it in half and give the balancer too.
Should I add Red Cell? Iāve heard (and saw a video) it is bloody.
He didnāt lose that much blood, and what he did lose heāll replace quickly. I would not do Red Cell unless a surgeon/vet specifically says to, and then only for a short time. Itās too much iron to give longer term.
Is there a best Biotin supplement for post surgery?
Paragon Biotin Plus is one, itās a 50mg serving to cut it in half. But look at how much youād be giving with the TC Sr and/or 30, and no need to feed more than 20-25mg a day or itās wasted.
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Thank you. He is getting 10 lbs of TC Senior a day and a flake of alfalfa hay, Heās been turning his nose up at alfalfa pellets and soaked hay cubes since he has been getting the hay but I think its better since he is eating throughout the night. Heās putting on some weight so Iām going to cut back on the TC Sr.
Good deal, I would cut the TC Sr to 5lb, add 1lb TC 30. Alfalfa hay is even better than pellets - more chew time, more saliva, more stomach buffering to help deter ulcers.
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