Rupert's Good News!

I'm delighted that my own boy Rupert was sound this week at his vet check! This fantastic news means he is now ready to start his rehabilitation with a very gradual return to turnout & exercise. He had an accident 4 months ago when he fell in deep mud out hacking and sustained a really nasty wound above his carpal joint. After a period of box rest and treating the wound it was looking great. However, gradual and intermittent lameness occurred and after some diagnostic work he was referred for an MRI at Glasgow University Weipers Centre, where a bone bruise and cartilage damage were diagnosed. Unfortunately we don’t know how bad the cartilage damage is without surgery but the great news is he is sound at the moment!

Day 1 after the injury. Getting the wound flushed and monitored at the vet clinic.

Around 3 weeks post injury. Wound starting to heal with healthy tissue forming.

Around 6 weeks post injury. Wound healing nicely.

While he’s been on box rest I’ve been using therapeutic ultrasound three times weekly on his carpus and he has been wearing a Back On Track carpal boot daily. Initially I was using laser therapy on his wound to encourage healing and his vet commented on how well it has healed for such a nasty wound! He has also been doing regular baited stretches to maintain his posture and mobility and reduce areas of muscle tension while he is standing in for long periods. Of course he also gets regular massage too, which he loves!

Time for ultrasound!

Therapeutic ultrasound

Applying ultrasound to the radiocarpal joint

We are starting off with some controlled turnout in a small area of hard standing and hand walking with a gradually increasing time frame, building up to ridden work. I will post some updates of his rehab progress but for now here is a picture of him enjoying some sun and freedom, happy boy!