Dusty’s Final Treatment

"Glad that's over with, how about a treat"

Our vet was here this morning and Dusty had her third and final shock wave treatment.  She’s out in the side paddock by herself today so she can recuperate without being annoyed by the boys.  She doesn’t mind; she’s got a hay net all to herself.  The paddock where the boys are congregating to keep an eye on her is frozen into hoof cups of mud. I felt that putting her there to navigate the moon craters wouldn’t be helpful after her treatment.

The diagnosis is good.  The vet palpated her suspensories and with just two treatments he seems to think that she’s doing really well.  After this treatment she should be good to go.  Color me surprised that this worked in such a short time.  I remarked that I should have done it months ago, but he said that it wouldn’t have worked then.  Apparently, a fresh injury doesn’t respond to shock wave therapy, it’s better to wait until the injury has calmed down, and seems best suited to chronic conditions rather than acute ones.

He suggested starting her back slow, but she’s ready to start back!  He said we could begin right away under tack, but I’m going to begin in hand.  I’ll be hand walking her for ten minutes and increasing each day gradually.  Once she’s used to being in a routine again we’ll start to add a little walking under tack.  When the time is right and she has built up her muscle and endurance through regular walking, she can do a little trot interspersed with walking but nothing too strenuous—about five minutes per session to begin with.  And we’ll just have to take it from there.  Her progression in getting back to her old self is going to take as long as it takes; we’re in no hurry.  There’s no way I’m going to risk a re-injury of those suspensories.

Dusty’s laminitis is also doing really well and growing out perfectly.  I owe my farrier and our vet a big thank you for working together to make her well. When all is said and done and her hoof grows out the coffin bone rotation should be a thing of the past.  Fingers crossed.

So right about now I’m feeling really good about this diagnosis.  Truthfully, I wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to be ridden again.  And that would have been okay too, but this is so much better for her.

I’ll keep you posted on her progress.  I’m going to give her the weekend to heal a little from her last treatment and we’ll start her exercises soon after that.

Until next time
Quote for Today
I love my horse from hoof to head
From head to hoof and tail and mane
I love my horse as I have said
From head to hoof and back again
    - James Whitcomb Riley

Dusty’s Shock Wave Treatment

" Was that really necessary "

Our vet was here this morning to administer Dusty’s shock wave treatment.  I did ask a few questions and now understand a little better how it works.  He actually had a brochure from the company whose machine he was using.  If you’re interested in this sort of treatment for one of your horses the company is www.PulseVet.com.  The technical term:  VersaTron, Non-Invasive Regenerative Extracorporeal Shock Wave technology (ESWT).

The following is directly from the brochure addressing frequently asked questions. I’m only taking a sampling otherwise this would be too long.

VersaTron (ESWT) What is it?

• ESWT is a non-invasive, high-intensity pressure wave regenerative medicine treatment.  It helps the body in relieving pain, speeding healing and improving quality of healing.

• “Shock Wave” is a physics term to describe a rapid increase in pressure, such as the energy from an explosion or thunder resulting from lightening.  “Shock wave” does not refer to electrical shock.

• VersaTron ESWT is a much higher energy and can penetrate to deeper areas than many other types of energy modalities.

How does it work?

• ESWT provides a high energy, focused, pressure wave that causes a biological response in treated tissue, which will stimulate and accelerate the healing process.  The pressure wave acts as a mechanical force at the cellular level causing various biological reactions including the release of proteins associated with decreased inflammation and increased blood vessel formation.  ESWT has also been demonstrated to recruit stem cells, and positively regulate inflammatory proteins associated with osteoarthritis.

There is much more in the brochure about the different uses this treatment is helpful with such as:  tendon and ligament injuries, wound healing, bone healing and degenerative joint disease.  It can be used with other treatments, so it might be worth asking your vet.  Anticipated results can be seen with 1-3 treatments.  It is important to note that it takes time for the biological responses to take place and healing is seen over a period of time, not immediately.  If it works I’m willing to wait. 

In the following pictures you can see that Dusty’s legs are shaved; that was from the ultrasound.  They disinfected the area to be treated, and then put gel on it and did the shock wave treatment.  I can say that it’s pretty loud and sounds almost like a controlled banging or hammering.  She was sedated for this and didn’t mind it a bit she was resting her head on my shoulder and was half asleep through the whole procedure.  When she was done she was led to her stall where she stayed for an hour or so and then she was allowed to go out with the boys for the afternoon.  Mellon was pacing the fence the whole time and calling for her.  I thought it was nice of the boys to stay in the catch pen all morning and wait for her—everyone except Blue, of course.  He was down in the second paddock doing his own thing as usual.  Probably glad it wasn’t him!

Dusty has two more treatments, two weeks apart.  Fingers crossed that this will heal her last stubborn suspensory branches and she’ll be feeling much better soon.  I’m guessing she’s feeling slightly betrayed today.  I kept her in and gave her quite a thorough grooming today with lots of treats.  Once the vet arrived I’m sure I got the stink eye.  Sorry, little girl, but it’s for your own good.  How many times have you heard that from your mother and really hated it!

Until next time

Quote for Today

The horse through all its trials has preserved the sweetness of paradise in its blood.

    - Johannes Jensen