Horse racing medical question from a newbie.

CHOPTALK · May 21, 2006

All these horses that have to get put down because of a leg injury has me puzzled. They say the reason that you have to kill off the horse is because you cant keep a horse stable for the period of time that it takes for him to heal.

I dont understand that. Whats wrong with knocking the horse out for 6 months and feeding it with an IV until the injury gets better? You cant tell me that could not be done. I know it would be last resort but it sure as hell beats killing the horse over a broken leg.

chiefssth · May 21, 2006

CHOPTALK said:
All these horses that have to get put down because of a leg injury has me puzzled. They say the reason that you have to kill off the horse is because you cant keep a horse stable for the period of time that it takes for him to heal.

I dont understand that. Whats wrong with knocking the horse out for 6 months and feeding it with an IV until the injury gets better? You cant tell me that could not be done. I know it would be last resort but it sure as hell beats killing the horse over a broken leg.

Especially a horse that is going to make it's owner as much money as this one will from people paying to have him breed.

valueman · May 21, 2006

How do you propose the horse would be able to stand after those 6 months whilst its muscles had wasted?

Iceman · May 21, 2006

CHOPTALK said:
All these horses that have to get put down because of a leg injury has me puzzled. They say the reason that you have to kill off the horse is because you cant keep a horse stable for the period of time that it takes for him to heal.

I dont understand that. Whats wrong with knocking the horse out for 6 months and feeding it with an IV until the injury gets better? You cant tell me that could not be done. I know it would be last resort but it sure as hell beats killing the horse over a broken leg.

chop, do a serach I asked a very similar question 6 monts ago. Their were some good answers

dmmd98 · May 21, 2006

The leg is so small compared to the rest of the body that it wouldn't support the horse and if bloodflow can't happen in its legs it will clog the horses heart. Also if the horse can't stand up it cant exactly lay flat on its back either so laying on its ribs would also do major damage. As for the 6 month thing again it all relates to the strength of its legs. You are not doing anything for 6 months every part of your body is going to get weaker due to not being used, so the weight wouldn't be supported.

CHOPTALK · May 21, 2006

valueman said:
How do you propose the horse would be able to stand after those 6 months whilst its muscles had wasted?

Physical therapy.

I know the horses racing career would be over. Im just talking about saving the horses life.

valueman · May 21, 2006

Horses are not humans - they panic when they can't do things like stand which causes further injury. For not so major injuries they can put the horse in a sling. But do a search here - there was a very good thread about 6 months back.

CHOPTALK · May 21, 2006

ice man said:
chop, do a serach I asked a very similar question 6 monts ago. Their were some good answers

Can you post the link to that thread?

valueman · May 21, 2006

http://forum.therx.com/showthread.php?t=315354&highlight=horse+sling

koidog · May 21, 2006

CHOPTALK said:
Physical therapy.

I know the horses racing career would be over. Im just talking about saving the horses life.

Physical therapy? 6 months of IV a Human would waste a ton, nevermind a horse.

Now Barbaro show up for your PT appointment 4 days a week, also make sure you do the exercises at home to get stronger.

What you suggest is impossible.

MrsCheater · May 21, 2006

koidog said:
Physical therapy? 6 months of IV a Human would waste a ton, nevermind a horse.

Now Barbaro show up for your PT appointment 4 days a week, also make sure you do the exercises at home to get stronger.

What you suggest is impossible.

perhaps they should also get some OT(occupational therapy) to relearn how to eat and saddle up and all too?

CHOPTALK · May 21, 2006

valueman said:
http://forum.therx.com/showthread.php?t=315354&highlight=horse+sling

thanks

CHOPTALK · May 21, 2006

We can walk on the moon. There has to be a way to save a horse from dying with a broken leg.

dickiesmiles · May 21, 2006

equine castastrophic injuries

With cutting edge surgical equine technology the cost of Barbaros' 4 hour surgery(and post op care) at New Bolton will cost 70-80k and counting.....There are no guarantees as to the outcome...the equine hoof is susceptible to infection and other maladies such as laminitis...When the hoof is gone a horse cannot survive..The world famous Bret Hanover was put down because of the latter..And of course age plays a major factor...The post operative care involved with Barbaro will be staggering....If this horse was a $4000 claimer what would be his fate? Lets call a spade a spade....I applaud the great team of surgeons that brought this horse to where he is now..and I think everyone knows there is a long haul ahead.....

Italianole · May 21, 2006

This is mindnumbing to me. Along the lines of what chop said, we have satellites in space, put a man on the moon 30+ years ago, can fire missiles and have them hit with pinpoint accuracy from hundreds of miles away yet we can't save a horse's life who breaks a leg. This story is truly saddening.

Horse racing medical question from a newbie.

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