Surgery Q

[Lif Strand <fasterhorses@gilanet.com>]

Hi gang - a friend sent this email to me, and I am forwarding it to you,
since I have opinions but no experience in this area.  Thanks for your
help!  Lif

Question from Steph peckwine@cruzio.com

> Well I have a question for you and hope you can steer me in the right
> direction to educate myself about my horses lamness and possible
> SURGERY.  I think I told you that while ponying, 6 weeks ago our
> Morab stepped on our arabs foot, and pulled her shoe off.  Sara has
> been on stall rest ever since.  She has a sprain down near the anular
> ligament on her hind leg.  There is some inflamation at the distor
> flexal tendon  and there is thickening and enlargement of the anular
> ligament.  Chuck K said surgeons would want to cut the anular
> ligament right away to releve the pressure, but if it was his horse
> he would keep her on stall rest for at least 3 months, put DMSO daily
> on the sprain, keep the leg wrapped for support, put an aluminum bar
> shoe that hangs 2 inches off the back of the hoof to eliviate
> pressure and give her bute and cosequin, which has glycosamine in it.
> We have done all this for 6 weeks and there is no sign of
> improvemtn,. she is still just as swollen as when she was first
> stepped on.  He has tried to drain it twice and there is no fluid in
> there.  Now he thinks maybe we should do the surgery and he is sure
> that the surgeons will say "why didn't you have this surgery done
> immediately".  Besides the cost being somewhere near $2,000.00  I
> don't have any info on recovery time and what I need to do on a daily
> basis for her care.  I asked Chuck if surgery meant that she would
> never be the same and he said that the ligament grows back, but he
> has a horse with a similar problem that just had the surgery and is
> not doing too well.  Chuck gives us a better than 50% recovery for
> her but it could take 3 months to a year.  By the time I pay board on
> my horse for a year and can't ride her, i have more than what the
> surgery would cost.  Where should I go to discuss this and gather
> more information?
> Thanks for your reply, Steph
>
--
                                     ____________
Lif & Paul Strand   STRAND ENTERPRISES   http://www.fasterhorses.com
           Arabian Horses for Distance Riding
         Internet Research * WebArt * Fine Art
    Nutrition and alternatives for self-reliant people
                     Quemado, NM  USA



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