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Post by lilnagy on Aug 15, 2009 17:40:38 GMT -5
It has been 6 months since Isabelle fell and broke her pelvis. We got permission a month ago to turn her out in the pasture, if she was the only horse in it. So she has had 5 acres of space to move around and graze. Her weight is good, and attitude is good, but she still has a significant limp, and as she has protected the hurt side, it has gotten weaker and weaker, and she looks quite crooked along the spine. The vet was out yesterday, and in doing a rectal exam and feeling from the inside, she thinks there may have been three places broken, by the calcification lumps. But the bones are healed now, and the vet doesn't think the limp is from pain, as much as muscle weakness and shortness. So I started today, longing 5 minutes at the walk, both directions, then we did some stretches pulling the leg forward and back several times, then longing one minute at a trot in each direction. then more stretches, then 5 more minutes walking. I am supposed to call an equine chiropracter and have her seen once a week for 4 weeks., and slowly increase the time longing. The vet wishes I had called her out and gotten started on the stretches and chiropractic a month ago. I was thinking I would see some progress with the pasture turnout, as she was moving all the time, and stretching her topline to graze. hindsight is always better.... She also has a terrible case of 2 year old ganglies, but I know that won't last! I will try to get and post a pic here soon. My vet is still saying that if Isabelle is usably sound, she wants to have her for her children to ride. She is a big mustang fan, and is particularly impressed with Isabelle's quiet temperament. So thats the update. Lil
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Post by kigercat on Aug 15, 2009 20:03:00 GMT -5
Sounds like she's coming along. Wow can't believe 3 places broken!!! Hope the chiro and stretching helps get her muscle tone back.
Would love to see some updated pictures.
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Post by DianneC on Aug 15, 2009 20:57:19 GMT -5
What a nice compliment from your vet! There is a great massage therapist that Pilchuck recommended to me, Megan Aryault. Email me if you want her number.
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Post by kimk on Aug 15, 2009 23:35:08 GMT -5
I stopped by Lil's on Thursday and saw Isabelle, and i thought she looked great for all she has been through. Definitely some atrophy on her hurt side, but hopefully all the work Lil has cut out for her will help!
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Post by kristi on Aug 17, 2009 9:15:56 GMT -5
Oh my gosh! Perhaps it is not the year to be named Isabelle or Isabella! Sorry to hear about Isabelle's injury but it sounds like she is on her way to recovery. Bless you because I know from first hand experience how stressful and time consuming rehabilitating a horse can be. My Isabella also had a LOT of muscle deteriation but being in the pasture with her baby has allowed her to do a lot of her own conditioning. I hope just being turned out will offer your Isabelle a chance to do a little conditioning of her own too. Good luck!!!
Kristi
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Post by lilnagy on Aug 20, 2009 9:12:25 GMT -5
We got some pics of Isabelle yesterday; here is one showing the lack of balance of her hind end.  So we walk for 5 minutes then stop and do these stretches:   I am finding the more I make her walk out briskly, the limp is less noticeable, which is encouraging. Also the vet said to expect some soreness as we started working these stiff muscles, but Isabelle has not complained one bit of being sore! Then we trot; we have worked up to trotting each direction for 5 minutes! Poor thing, she is so out of shape, she can only do the first 5, in one direction, then we have to stop and rest, and I do some mental things like yielding hind and fore, to give her a rest. Also some backing, then we finish the trotting on the other side. Here is the link to a video of her trotting. You can see as she comes around past the camera how crooked she carries her tail. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qubta74AyF8When am longing her, her neck seems relaxed, and eyes and ears soft, so I think the vet may be right that she is not limping from pain so much as shortness of muscle and stiff joints. (Any of you been through physical therapy to get a joint back? I have!) And here is one more pic trying to show how crooked her back is. The Chiropracter starts coming today; once a week for a month. He has talked with the vet, so he has the full scoop.  Lil |
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Post by lilnagy on Aug 20, 2009 9:14:16 GMT -5
whoops! I didn't realize those pictures were going to come up sideways! hope none of you kinked your neck trying to look at them! Lil
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dunbnwild
Yearling
Wild horses can drag me away :-)
Posts: 403
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Post by dunbnwild on Aug 20, 2009 11:14:07 GMT -5
;D Wow, she's doing great! I'm so glad you posted pictures!! And, IMO, she looks really good for where she's at in the healing.
I went through something similar with my mare Lazzy, and know how bad they can look with the atrophy and the jacked up angles. Don't let it worry you. It took a LONG time to get to "normal"--and by normal I mean that Lazzy is, and probably always will be, slightly uneven, but it doesn't hold her back at all. SHe's going comfortably under saddle and has never favored that leg since.
Just have patience and continue doing all the great work you are doing and working with your vet and Isabelle will be well on her way to a full recovery!
Has your vet recommended any sort of joint supplement--Glucosmine or ??
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Post by lilnagy on Aug 20, 2009 14:01:07 GMT -5
She was on a bunch of different things for the first few months, but now it is just Recovery EQ, which does have glucosamine in it. I know from my own recovery from a broken knee that glucosamine makes all the difference for my comfort and mobility! So I am glad to keep her on it. Lil
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Post by stormyranch on Aug 20, 2009 20:12:58 GMT -5
How did the chiroprator visit go?
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Post by fantasykiger on Aug 20, 2009 20:18:56 GMT -5
So glad to see this update and see her on the mend  |
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Post by DianneC on Aug 20, 2009 22:26:45 GMT -5
Oh my neck...just kidding! Well, I was expecting much worse so that was a nice surprise. I think your therapy will do well for her. Glad things are going your way at last, this was a long worrisome time I'll bet.
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Post by lilnagy on Aug 21, 2009 8:23:37 GMT -5
Chiropractor visit was good; he sure gave her a thorough going over; hips, shoulders, everything, not just neck and back. I didn't see a big difference right away, but he thinks that is partly due to the muscle loss. So he encouraged me to keep up the exercise and stretching, get those muscles stronger so they will hold the skeleton better. I am going to ask the vet if I can start ponying her; it is easier for me to get in more exercise that way. Lil
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