|
It does seem absurd that in this day and age, a broken bone means a horse must be destroyed. As we found out, this isn't always the case, though it's still sometimes necessary. As strong as horses are, their legs are pretty fragile -- especially when you consider all the weight they have to support. When a horse breaks a leg, the animal must remain inactive while the bone heals. And sadly, it's simply not in a horse's nature to stand still. Many vets can help a horse recover from a broken bone, but the expense is sometimes too great. Additionally, a horse's age and disposition, as well as the severity of the break, must be taken into account. Sometimes the treatment is worse for the horse than the actual injury.
This article from Horse-Sense points out that while horses have the ability to recover from certain injuries, they're pretty miserable while doing so. But it's not all gloom and doom. Vets have developed some techniques to help horses heal. Surgery is now much more common than it once was, and artificial limbs, while rare, do exist. As you'd expect, each situation is different, and owners should take to heart the advice of their veterinarian.
|
