Change in Lucy's Rehab Plan

There's a disadvantage in being able to see your horses out of your office window. It's hard to ignore when one is hurting -- and there's not much you can do about it.

Lucy has been walking comfortably and is only visibly lame at the trot (which we aren't doing). And we've been hand-walking her 30 minutes a day, as instructed. Now she looks like that leg is hurting. You can tell in the way she stands, the way she doesn't seem to want to move. The way she just doesn't look right.

Try writing an article about land development while your lame horse is clearly not herself, right in front of your eyes.

So I called the vet. Lucy's to get another week of rest. Then hand walking twice a day in ten-minute intervals. No bute.  We're backing off, slowing down. There's still no heat or swelling. At least not to my untrained hands.

I said to the vet, "This is really worrisome."

She was quiet, then said, "We're not at the end yet."  I'm afraid we're very much at the beginning.

I wish I knew this vet better. I've heard nothing but good things about her. I wish my niece were nearby, but she's pregnant, has a small child, is starting a new job and is trying to get settled into her new house an hour and a half away. I feel sure she'd say the same thing. Rest! Rest! But it would feel better hearing it from her mouth, and then, when I want to obsess about it, she would tell me what options I have if things don't improve.

It's not like Lucy and I were doing great things. I even have an element of disbelief in this all. How could Lucy, my horse who's really a cat trapped in a horse's body, be lame?

I mean, she can stand on two feet for the farrier with no effort. (One front, one back -- I'm not talking about rearing up. She stands quite calmly while he holds one foot and she rests the other.) I have trouble standing on two feet.

Maybe, like a cat, she'll have nine "lives," and this lameness won't even count. I'm just not used to having lame horses. I guess I should count that as a blessing and be optimistic, since worrying doesn't help Lucy a bit. Or me.

Comments

[Mrs Mom]

I dont know how you might feel about homeopathic remedys Anne, but I have had some excellent luck with adding in one called Musculo-Skeletal Formula from Homeopet. I get it via JeffersEquine.com, and it is $15/ per bottle. I have used it on:
- My old arthritic Appy gelding- results were to make him incredibly comfortable to the point where I could hop on and wander around on him some again

- Several horses in for rehab (including Sonny the Rehab Horse here now) for:
Pain and swelling in the joints (Sonny- off side knee, back pain, hip pain, and wither pain,)
Horses who had laminitic episodes
Navicular Syndrome
Bowed tendons
Old calcified injuries.

It is not a cure all by any means- but recovery time does seem faster when used. The horses have all also seemed more comfortable with out having to resort to as heavy a dose of pain blockers. It was a good "aid" along with the other "therapies" applied- ie: Sonny gets bouts of stretching and hand walking, some long line work, and backing, along with massage. (My arms are tired! LOL)

Just thought *maybe* it would be worth a try there. We sure will keep Mizz Lucy in our thoughts for you! Please give her a big rub from the kids at Oh HorseFeathers too!
Shannon