What Are the Treatments for Deep Digital Flexor Tendon Injuries in Horses?

The horse can weigh over 1,200 pounds and run at speeds of 35 mph and greater. Its size and strength make it one of the more overwhelming and majestic of the animals we have domesticated for our use. Despite their size and strength, however, horses can be quite fragile. The old saying "no hoof, no horse" can apply to the leg as well. When a horse's leg gets injured, the long-term effects can be devastating.

  1. Tendon Injuries

    • A horse's leg is made up primarily of bone, sinew, tendons and muscle. There is very little flesh on the legs, especially the lower legs. They endure tremendous amounts of stress and pressure, and the deep flexor tendons are critical in proper flexion of the joints of the leg. When these tendons are injured, it cripples the horse, and this can be permanent if the tendon is not allowed to heal properly. One of the first things to realize, when dealing with deep flexor tendon injuries, is that it will take a long time to heal, at least 12 to 18 months.

    Veterinarian

    • One of the most important assets in your treatment of a tendon injury is your vet. Without a good vet to help you monitor the progress of the healing, you are making dangerous guesses. Your horse will need to be seen by your vet every 30 to 60 days to have his progress monitored. The vet will be able to tell you how the healing is coming along, and what changes to make in the therapy.

    Rest

    • One of the main treatments for any tendon injury is rest. The leg will be wrapped for support, with both ice and heat therapy being applied, and the horse will be stalled for at least 60 days, with very light exercise allowed. Every day the horse will need to be hand-walked, but any more vigorous activity needs to be avoided. The horse needs to be restrained so it does not worsen the injury. Usually, the horse feels better within the first week, and it wants to run, buck and play. Don't make the mistake of thinking it's O.K. to let him out to play. Any progress you may have made can be undone or actually worsened in minutes. Even when the first 60 days have passed, turnout must be tightly controlled and space to move limited.

    Pasture rest

    • After six months of careful monitoring, your vet may give you the O.K. to turn the horse out for pasture rest. You will need to have a sheltered place for your horse, and a pasture mate that will not rough her up or get too rambunctious. An older horse is a perfect choice for this. Turn your recovering horse out and allow her to rest for the remaining time the vet has specified. Keep her fed, happy and healthy, but do not ask her to exercise or do any work.

    Constant Care

    • Even after the horse has been cleared to return to light and then progressive work after he has recovered, it is important to remember that a tendon injury can very easily recur. There will need to be precautions taken on the injured leg for the remainder of the horse's life.