Horses are among the best athletes who depend on their muscles and skeleton system to perform daily activities. Unfortunately, horses are susceptible to many injuries, including tendon or ligament damage, which can be challenging for the horse and its owner.
The First Signs of Tendon Injury in Horses (Symptoms)
In athletes and working horses, tendon injuries are more common. So if we talk about the first sign of such damage, it depends upon various factors like location and severity of injury. Following are a few noticeable symptoms of tendon injury in equine.
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Abnormal Tendon Appearance:
If your equine is facing a severe injury, then it will be visible through an abnormality in the tendon, so as a result, swelling, bumps, and lumps will appear.
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Poor Performance:
In the early stages of tendon injury, your horse will show reluctance to perform certain activities, and its performance will decrease significantly. Poor performance is the first sign of mild tendon injury when your horse is less willing to jump, turn sharply, and work engagement.
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Lameness:
A horse-facing tendon injury will not be able to walk and run normally, so lameness is one of the easily understandable signs of this injury. A noticeable change in the gait of horses, like limp, stiffness, and shortened stride, is due to tendon injury.
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Behavioral Changes:
If you start noticing any changes in the behavior of equine, then you must find the cause because most of the time, such changes occur due to tendon injuries. It will start exhibiting signs of distress and become more irritable as a first sign of tendon injury.
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Sensitivity and Pain:
In case of tendon injury, a horse will show signs of discomfort when the tendon is palpated and become more sensitive to the cause of pain. Due to pain and sensitivity, the equine will resist bearing weight on the affected leg.
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Swelling and Heat:
Tendon injury leads to swelling and heat around the affected area, and you will notice swelling and warmth in particular places of the leg, especially around the tendons.
Many factors contribute to ligament and tendon injuries in horses. Here you will get information about a few leading causes.
- Deficiency in Diet:
A balanced diet is necessary because if your equine is not getting sufficient quantity of vitamins, minerals, and protein, there are more chances of getting ligament or tendon problems.
- Excessive Weight:
A horse has to maintain its weight at an ideal level; otherwise, it will be more vulnerable to many ligament and tendon injuries.
- Uneven Surfaces:
Slippery and uneven surfaces are hazardous for the horse, increasing the chances of ligament and tendon injuries. Suppose your horse is working or training on slippery or uneven surfaces like icy ground, wet grass, or deep sand. In that case, it will destabilize the horse’s footing and lead to falls, slips, and sudden movement, resulting in injuries.
- Age:
A younger and aged horse can quickly get ligament or tendon injuries because their musculoskeletal system is not strong enough to handle intense training and heavy workloads.
- Poor Shoeing:
Proper shoeing is necessary for horses to protect themselves from various tendon or ligament injuries.
- Inflammation:
A horse experiencing inflammation in its body will increase the chances of getting ligament or tendon injuries. There are many reasons behind inflammation, like laminitis, arthritis, or infections.
- Genetics:
Because of their genetics, some kinds of horses are more prone to ligament or tendon injuries, so you should not ignore this.
How to Treat and Recover Bone Fractures in Equine?
Bone fracture recovery is simple in equine if it is diagnosed at earlier stages and quick treatment begins. In many cases, it is essential to do surgery for proper healing. Due to advancements in veterinary medicine, bone fractures are not deadly for horses. Immediate care is necessary, so movement restriction will help prevent further damage.
Nutritional support is most important for quick recovery. Provide a balanced diet for your equine with the necessary protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Best Diet and Supplements:
A balanced diet high in protein, calories, vitamins, and minerals is ideal for a horse suffering from any kind of bone fracture. Due to injury, a horse needs extra energy to boost the healing process, and protein in the diet will enable the horse’s body to build new tissues.
Natural supplements are vital in ligament and tendon injuries in equine because they contain all the necessary vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and protein for overcoming such situations. The following supplements are recommended for quick recovery.
Equinety Horse XL is one of the best products designed to fulfill all body requirements of a horse suffering from bone injury. It has 8 amino acids that promote cellular repair in equine, so you can expect a safe and fast recovery of the fractured bone. It also supports muscle support by providing maximum strength and healing, giving your horse healthier collagen, more muscular coat, and bones.
Equinety Ultimate O.E.C. is another fantastic product you can utilize to treat and recover ligament and tendon injuries. Joint health is essential for horses, so this product supports joint health and healthier skin.
You can combine Equinety Horse XL and Equinety Ultimate O.E.C. to make a powerful and natural supplement for your horse. It will also be a great economical choice and capable of fulfilling all a horse’s nutritional requirements.
Check Ligament Injury in Older Horses:
With the help of careful examination of older horses, you can analyze any sign of ligament in them, so during such test, if the equine is showing signs of discomfort and lameness, then there are chances of injury.
Conclusion
Ligament and tendon injuries are dangerous for horses if not diagnosed and treated at earlier stages. With the help of a few visible symptoms like lameness, change in gait, declined performance, and strange behavioral changes, it is pretty easy to diagnose any kind of bone fracture in your equine. A balanced diet, including natural supplements like Equinety Horse XL and Equinety Ultimate O.E.C., is the best choice for the horse’s overall well-being. Combining these two products will make a very effective supplement for your horse that will not only help in quick healing but will also support and boost the overall health indicator.
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