Pony on box rest travelling to vet?

[Treblesallround]

Pony is on box rest, suspected fractured pedal bone. She needs to be x-rayed. The vet wants me to take her to their hospital for this rather than them bringing the mobile unit. I'm a bit dubious at the idea of loading her up and traveling (it's not far btw) when she's on box rest.

Do you think this is ok, is there a good reason to do it at the hospital (other than it being convenient for the vet)? If there are advantages do they outweigh the risks? I should have asked about this at the time and feel a bit awkward ringing to discuss it now (probably just need to grow a pair)

I think it's too complicated an issue for internet advice but you should definitely call your vet and express your concerns. That's what vets are for, you shouldn't feel bad about calling.

Second what booboostoo said. It's fairly easy to do mobile x-rays so your vet must have a reason why they want your pony to go to the hospital. I would give them a ring and tell them your concerns, sure they won't mind. Hope your pony's ok!

Ring them Trebles they are very nice there and it is a reasonable question to ask.If you do need to take her in,are you ok for transport? If I'm not at work I'd be happy to come over with the trailer.

Probably better quality of xray at the vets, but I would ask them to do an initial xray at home to try and establish the situation.

I know of a pony with a broken navicular that was transported to the vets for xray, but that was many years ago. Mobile xray units have improved massively since then.

I'm going to tell you a cautionary tale here. A few years ago a hunter I looked after and who had been turned away was kicked and ended up with a suspected fracture on his cannon bone (he was lame but not hopping iyswim). The vet came out and had a look and then said that I should take him to the clinic, a 40min drive away. Now my instinct was to say no, and I questioned to vet as to whether this would be the best course of action but she insisted and did not want to bring a mobile x-ray unit out (which was my suggestion). The owner was away so the call was mine, and to my eternal regret I agreed that I would box the horse to the vet.

So I got him onto the lorry and set off and within 5 mins he was down and the fracture had bust completely. We tried to save him, but he had to be put down. I loved that horse and I am so cross with myself still that I didn't go with my gut.

So, although your pony's fracture is in a different and less life-threatening place, a journey will put huge stress on an already stressed bone and may well make things worse.

Another point is that if your pony has to stay at the vet it will cost a bloody fortune, and is an extra income stream for the clinic. I'm sure there are plenty of altruistic vets out there, but I've come across more than a few who only see ££££ when they see a horse.

Mobile units provide ish ok images. They will prefer to have the pony in to be sedated and they take and analyse as many images as they like. There's also the option of doing something about it there and then. Having argued twice with vets in the last 6months over unnecessary imaging and investigations I'm probably quite bitter towards them!! You would be best calling them and asking for your options so you can make an informed decision. I know two similar stories to the one told above, but im also in the train of thought that if the fractures going to go, it'll go whether on the lorry or in the stable. Good luck and I hope all is ok !!

Oh Callisto What a dreadful story.

At least in a stable a pony can find its own comfort and control its movements, in a trailer it cannot.

Do update us OP.

Any news Trebles?

If there is no option but to take her to the vets, would it be possible to use a large horse box, take all the partitions out, and put some straw/shavings down and let her be loose in the box? She would be free to stand in whatever position was most comfortable for her or to lie down. And drive really slowly round any corners so that she doesn't suddenly have to adjust her weight.

A more positive story - my pony fractured her pedal bone aged 12 (I was eleven), transported an hour - very slowly - to be XR;d. Confirmed fracture. Box rest for nine months, went on to live to 29 and hunt and event from about nine months after she went back into work.

hope all going well.

I love a story with a good outcome - thanks meg for cheering me up.

(Is your user name from the Meg & Mog books?)

Sorry, I meant nickname

Sounds like a nightmare Calisto! Thanks Meg, it's good to hear about a good outcome. I spoke to the vet yesterday afternoon and she said that as it's just a short trip (about 15 mins even driving really slowly) it's worth it for the better quality x-ray, and also if that's inconclusive then they can do nerve blocks and anything else required while she's there so I'm going to do it.

Thanks for the kind offer Mirage, but we're the other side of the county from you, it would take you an age.

We've put in a claim on our vet insurance and they'll pay for transport so she's going in some luxury, I've hired a lorry for the day, I thought it would be more comfortable than a trailer. They're also paying for the extra livery costs of box rest so I've arranged lots of help from our fantastic yard owner, which will take the pressure off me a bit.

The farrier's at the yard today so he's taking the rest of her shoes off, and I'm giving her comfrey which our yard owner says is good for healing bones. On the positive side she's settled really well to box rest, I thought she'd be a nightmare but she's just got even more affectionate and puts her nose under my arm for a cuddle

I know it's too early to be making plans, but we're resigned to a long period of box rest and then moving her on to a home where she can be a mum's happy hacker.

Thanks everyone for your good wishes.

Thanks for the update.

Your insurance company sound fab. Which one is it?

How did she do the damage?

Sorry, I am very nosey

Not nosey at all Exit, we're with NFU Mutual. They weren't the cheapest, but they do have a good reputation. She managed to do the damage while turned out . I wonder whether she slipped in the mud while running around with her mates.

The one I knew with the broken navicular bone did it whilst turned out too. My heart is always in my mouth when I see our lot galloping around like lunatics, especially when the ground is boggy, well, when it is hard as well, well, any time actually!

Although I do know of one horse that broke its neck (around the withers) in its stable. They just cannot be trusted.

I always remember a lecture by Dr Knottenbelt (or whaterver he is called at Liverpool Vet School) explaining that the horse has a very, very, very small brain in relation to its size, hence its capacity to do bloody stupid things.

Hope your girl is OK.

I'm glad to hear that NFU are looking after you.I'm insured with them as well.I was just reading an old copy of H&H and there was an article about an 8 year old mare who had a year off with a broken pedal bone and came back into work only to have something unrelated go wrong.She has gone on to win a dressage comp.

Great news, there's no fracture, she's weight-bearing comfortably on the foot, even though she's off the bute. Another week of box rest, a couple of weeks of walking out in hand then a steady return to work. She should make a full recovery.

Oh thank goodness! What good news,you must all be so relieved.I'm really really pleased for you all.

Brilliant news! Hope she's back to normal in no time!

Thanks, we are so relieved. She must have just bruised something and have a low pain threshold (pony is a wuss)

Fantastic news Treble

I have a TB mare with a very low pain threshold. People always think she must have broken something when she has only stood on a stone.

Bloody horses!

Very pleased to hear she's well. Had been wondering.

megthewitch