Posted 2014-10-13 2:00 PM Subject: digital flexor tendon … experiences
Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
What is everyone's experience with this injury? Short version .. horse to vet to see if it was time for injections. After evaluation, vet says no hock injections but horse showing signs of lameness in front. Blocked and determined the issue to be possible coffin bone issue and/or digital flexor tendon. Injected coffin bone and advised to watch .. if no improvement in the next few days … may have to do MRI for possible digital flexor tendon issue which I was told could take a year to heal.
Mare slightly pulled her SF digital flexor tendon. Was told Two months and full recovery turned Into a year that ended with calcification above the joint and was sound. Legged up six weeks made an easy run three days later off again ended up retiring her as a trail horse. Was told her situation was a freak deal and she "should have" made a full recovery no issues. Just bad luck on our part. She was x rayed, injected, ultra sounded. With stall rest and wrapping then into a small pen for months before turning her out. I think most of her issue healing stemmed from her being so hot in the stall/pen constantly bouncing around. She never settled enough for it to heal right.
Based on my experience do the MRI. Don't wait. We injected my mare's coffin joints and navicular bursas for over a year for navicular. She went to two different reputable vets during this time. Both suggested MRI as the only definitive diagnostic tool. I didn't want to spend the money as the injections were keeping her sound. As it turned out I finally did the MRI and both the right and left deep digital flexor tendons were damaged. Maybe if I had done the MRI in the beginning and stayed off of her she might have had a chance. She is a broodmare now.
You may search for related posts, there have been a lot in the last 10 months. All I can say, and do repeatedly, find a LAMENESS vet. If it truly is a DDFT injury, I wholeheartedly believe in stem cell. The benefits far out way the cost.
digital flexor tendon … experiences
