Page 315 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

who will recommend a programme of walking exercise to be done twice daily depending on

the severity of the injury.
VetBooks.ir moving in a circle puts extra strain on the damaged tissue. Later on, the owner or trainer may
For the first 4–6 weeks of healing the use of a horse walker is not recommended because

find the horse is easier to manage on a walker than in hand.

At 8–12 week intervals the tendon is usually re-scanned and according to progress the
walking may be increased or a short period of trotting introduced. The vet will be able to

advise on each individual case. It is generally accepted that turnout in a large field puts the
horse at serious risk of re-injury. Ideally the horse should be kept on a controlled exercise

programme as advised by the vet for up to a year. If the horse is turned out, it should be into a
small paddock where it cannot canter or build up speed.

Prognosis

This depends on the severity of the initial injury and the subsequent healing response. The
appearance of the tendon on the initial ultrasound scan and at the start of canter work may be

helpful in predicting whether or not the horse will stand up to fast work. Early recognition
and appropriate management will influence the final outcome. In racehorses and three-day
eventers, there is a high risk of recurrence but this is reduced with the use of platelet rich

plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapy.

Prevention

As treatment only has limited success, the key to this type of injury is prevention and early
detection.

Attention should be paid to the following.

• Any early warning signs that might indicate tendon damage, e.g. slight heat or swelling
in the metacarpal region behind the cannon bone.

• Training surfaces and exercise programmes.

• Avoiding fast work on hard, soft or uneven terrain.
• Not working fatigued horses because a stumble or uncoordinated movement can lead to

severe injury due to asynchronous contraction of muscle while the tendon is taking the

strain.
• Controlled exercise of growing horses less than two years old; there is evidence that this

helps to develop good quality tendon tissue.
• Detection of early changes that are not clinically apparent by the use of routine