Tendon sheath injury

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5 year old gelding with a laceration wound to his LH. Also has infection. Noticed Saturday with Tuesday (today) being the only vet able to get me in.

Was quoted 6k for surgery and 600 a day aftercare (for who knows how long) or other option was have him treated daily/every other day with tendon flushing etc (probably not the right wording)

Called another vet who would give us a 2nd option and this vet just did the same surgery today. About 2k cheaper and closer to home.

Has anyone dealt with something like this? Was your horse still lame? Lots of unknowns and I’m still in shock.

[skipollo]

My horse punctured a tendon sheath years ago and it developed an infection. We didn’t catch it until he spiked a 103 fever, so it went a few days from initial injury until we caught it. Initially it just felt like a little crusty weepy patch of scratches on the back of his pastern (plot twist….it wasn’t scratches….)

At the time I didn’t know how serious this kind of injury was, but I did spend most of the vet appt crying because I was very young and very stressed. We put him on penicillin and gentamicin 2x daily with a specific kind of wrap (I can’t remember exactly what, but there were multiple layers). He was on stall rest for weeks and eventually graduated to hand walking around the barn before moving to a paddock. We didn’t do surgery, tbh early 20s me didn’t even know something like this could potentially require surgery. I don’t think we did any kind of flushing of the tendon sheath.

He’s 100% sound and in full work. I got extremely lucky. At the time I didn’t know that the injury was as severe as it was or that it could have been fatal.

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Lol. Or not lol if I didn’t laugh I’d be crying. Posted on FB saying gosh I just love horses. Had 20+ people saying oh it’s probably just scratch’s. I said making a horse this lame?! Turned out to be worst case scenario.

Just medicine/antibiotics/flushing is an option. My bill for that would be 3k just for 4 days.

[Huntin_Pony]

I don’t think I understand your thinking from your posts. Your focus seems to be on the cost, which I realize is an important factor. But the horse is in serious trouble. So sorry.

I hope it’s clear that this is a life-threatening injury and it will take aggressive veterinary care to resolve. The veterinarian should be able to explain the options clearly and then you get to decide what to do, but whatever you decide needs to happen soon.

I also hope you are not faced with a purely financial decision.

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Horse is getting surgery today.

[Huntin_Pony]

Jingles from here.

So sorry you and your horse are going through this trial.

[sheltoneb]

I had a horse puncture a tendon sheath. No tendon involvement. He was non-weight bearing on that leg getting on the trailer. It was a while ago, but I don’t remember it being that expensive or taking that long to recover. I think it was about a 3 month recover period including being handed walked 3x per day. The sheath was flushed via surgery and then he was on antibodtics for a while. I think smzs. He came sound on that leg. Only indication was the seath remained enlarged.

600 days is almost 2 years. That to me indicates there was tendon involvement.

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600 $ a day for the after care. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.

Hauled him elsewhere for a 2nd option. 2nd option was completely different. They are still doing the tendon flushing etc. this Dr. thinks we caught it plenty early. Horse looks sound, or as good as one could with a deep laceration.

I guess I’ll know more in a couple days. If it ends up needing surgery that’s a go. Just depends on how the infection goes.

[Fiesta01]

Jingles for a good outcome. Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. Please update us tomorrow when you get a chance.

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Thanks everyone. I’m guessing no news is good news today.

They are keeping him through the weekend. This is a surgery center and they had two horses in the same day with the same injury. Go figure.

This vet is also an hour and a half closer, I’m right in the middle for both. The vet who got us in Tuesday doesn’t have a surgical center. Their main office is 2 1/2 hours away. Thankful that they got me in as quick as they did.

The vet he’s at now gave us a good prognosis (you still never know, it’s horses) he said as long as I’m not trying to college rodeo off this horse