How Do You Handle a Fractured Horse?

Historically, horses that acquired a fractured leg will be put down to sleep. We've now been made aware that there are choices to save these horses from such dreadful fate. I want to briefly share things that you may consider if you're faced with a decision on what to do if your horse suffers a major breakdown.

There are a few very basic differences to take into account when managing leg fractures in the horse. We can't really tell if a horse will need about 3 months of bed rest with no weight-bearing on the leg. We can't teach him to make use of crutches, either. When there are fractures, the horse's lower leg can have limited supply of blood, and often what it has is damaged with the injury. Should there be an open wound, such as in the case of a compound fracture, infection is quite a challenge to prevent or treat due to the environment of the lower leg of the horse. In managing leg fractures in the horse, specialists say if there is a break in the skin with the injury, the prognosis for success is so poor due to the infection, that euthanasia will be considered. Another very significant threat is catastrophic functionality failure of the opposite leg because of constant weight-bearing. When a horse is non-weight-bearing on the damaged leg, the blood supply to the opposite foot is affected. Eventually this may result to severe laminitis.

Another thing that affects outcome in the horse with severe leg injuries is the life-threatening impaction colic. An injured horse will, of course, be restricted to the outdoors, will not get the required amount of exercise and generally, changes in routine would apply. As a result, colic in horses will develop. The stress, changes in routine and the administration of medications will also contribute to the development of impaction colic. It would pose a problem to administer equine colic treatment in this case due to the horse’s temperament. You might want to consult your veterinarian on how to initiate colic treatment for horses in these situations.

The things discussed here may appear so negative, but it could be the reality. In the heat of the moment, we tend to make a decision solely based on our emotions. Every case has different components, so heed the advice of your veterinarian or the specialist you're referred to prior to coming up with a decision.