You wrap the legs in newspaper and then wrap vetwrap around that.
Chewy was cooperative while getting the wrap on- but immediately started chewing on it (hence his name-he chwes on everything) when we finished. The splints lasted a day before he had them rendered useless.
It was somewhat comical to watch chewy learn how to walk with them on. It reminded me of the militaries that march with straight legs.
I thought and thought and prayed that I might beable to come up with somehting that will help strengthen his legs. we came up with PVC pipe with an aluminum insert that acts likes a hinge of sort so he has the flexibility to walk. The long piece aligns with his cannon bone and the short with his pastern, with the hinge in the middle where the fetlock joint is.
On Sat morning, I felt like I had an idea that might work. So Tom and I went to Home Depot to see what we could find that we could create the splint with.
Here is the finished product on him and secured with vetwrap (looove vetwrap!) I think it may be working- it will take a week or more to know for sure.
1 comment:
Hi,
That looks like a good idea. I can't wait to see if it works.
Our foal mildly dislocated his hip at about a month old. We decided to give him a chance to 'grow into it' , as long as he's not suffering, but meanwhile, he's been using the opposite leg for all of his support and movement. We noticed this leg getting an unusual bend to it, because he tends to pivot on it, under him, instead of taking a step or two to turn.
So we are looking for a splint that will encourage him to; use the other leg more (he has been putting weight on it again) and discourage that twisting motion he uses. In our heads we had something like this in mind, so it's nice to see it in action.
My worry is him being able to get up and down. So our hinge has to be one-way. Locking against the other direction. Foals naturally nap often. So he would have to be able to get up and down, hence the hinge, unless we immobilize him with a sling or some-such (very complicated).
This is a last ditch effort, but he is sweet, and he's got a good appetite and a healthy attitude, so we want to give him whatever we've got.
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