Articles on Horses | Topics: horses, horse, equestrian
by Okelani Tyler
Years ago, when a horse broke its leg, it was an automatic death sentence. No matter if the horse was a thoroughbred or a family pet, vets typically gave no other option. When the break occurred, the owner usually only had time to call in one vet and almost always, the vet would explain how horse bones don't heal, or that the horse would never walk again, or one of a few other explanations. However, today there are more options than ever for horse lovers around the world.
Today horses are not always put down when they break their leg. Keep in mind, there are still thousands of vets out there that still believe the only humane thing to do is to put them down. There are many emerging vets who think that a horse deserves better treatment than that however, and owners are backing them up.
The most qualified horse for a situation such as these is a young and healthy horse. Typically in addition to being young, the horse must also have only a simple fracture. Sometimes the bones will heal completely and the horses can go back to their normal routines of being ridden or working. Some will heal and can only be put to pasture, without any extra stress on their leg. This innovative healing process is very slow however and not too many owners are willing to put out the cash or the time and effort to help their horse heal. Putting them down not only saves money, but also requires much less energy.
Some of the therapies offered for horses are TENS therapy, ultrasound, active magnetic field therapy, and laser therapy. These therapies can work for young horses with small breaks. An older horse or a horse with an extreme break just won't be able to deal with the therapy at all. Horses are large animals that stand on four small legs. The proportions are not in their favor if they have a wounded leg.
Therapy can also be stressful on a horse. They are very sensitive mannered animals and the healing process can leave them extremely restless indeed. However, there are things that can be done to help a horse get through these things. Owners should be prepared for these things when they make the choice to use therapy instead of putting their animal down. Therapy should only be used when the horse has a good chance of maintaining a normal quality of life. If they will need to be locked up for the rest of their life, it may not be a good choice to keep them alive.
| Historical Quote |
When I was young, beautiful ancient statues were castrated, so that the eye might not be corrupted.... Nothing was gained, unless horses and asses had also been castrated.
| —Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) |
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There are other things to think about as well. Sometimes vets will tell you that surgery is possible if you are prepared to keep your animal on pain medication for the rest of his or her life. This is not always a good choice. A horse's stomach is very sensitive and pain medication can really create a miserable life for them when taking on an extended basis. Pain medication causes ulcers and other stomach irritations.
Many vets are starting to think about using water training as a way to help a horse's broken bones heal. This is a new process that is still being discovered however there is reason to believe that it is extremely helpful. If you can afford to check out options like this one, you should. In reality however, these treatments can cost thousands of dollars and are not guaranteed to work.
You may be wondering why anyone would be willing to spend a ton of money to save the horse, when nothing is guaranteed. Unfortunately, owners don't typically do so for the love of their pet. They almost always do so because they have financial interests in the horse. Maybe the horse has a great stud fee and the owners want to take advantage of that before the horse is put down. Maybe the horse has been a great racehorse and the owners really want to keep their financial investments alive and well.
Overall, the important thing to remember is that your horse does not necessarily need to be put down when they have broken their leg. They may however still need to be put to sleep if the break is severe enough or if they will not be able to live a regular life. Although it is noble to want to save your animal, it is not always the best choice. You must consider what the experts are telling you and make a decision that you can live with.
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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "No Need to Shoot – Healing a Horse's Broken Bones with Ease" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by DogsPetsCats.com. |
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