How To Care Naturally For Your Horse's Tendon Injuries

Horse jumping in lake

Find Out More About Tendon Injuries And Your Horse

Many animals can experience a tendon strain however, as tendon injuries are particularly prevalent in horses, this page is focusing on equine tendon injuries.

If you keep or ride horses, you’re probably aware of at least one horse who’s experienced a tendon injury. Because they’re an injury that is common not only amongst competition horses, (particularly racehorses or eventers), but also leisure horses. And can happen to horses at any age.

Although a tendon injury can be extremely serious – causing lameness and pain, with the appropriate treatment and time (prolonged rest from work is usually vital), many animals can recover well.

How will you know if a tendon is injured?

The horse's leg may be hot, swollen, painful and show lameness. However, these symptoms may not all be present (may just be hot or swollen), and if you’re at all concerned that your horse may have a tendon injury – then always contact your Veterinary Surgeon for advice, getting an early diagnosis could help prevent further injury.

Ultrasound and MRI scanners are helpful diagnostic tools that your Vet may use to determine the extent of a tendon injury. Thermography can also be used to assist, find out more about this holistic approach here.

Treating your horse's tendon injuries

As with so many injuries, establishing what the injury is at an earliest stage as possible is important. If the tendon injury isn’t diagnosed, then inappropriate exercise or treatment could take place which would may make the injury worse (or certainly mean it’d take longer to recover).

Your Vet will advise on the best treatment for your particular horse and generally, it’s not unusual for a tendon injury to take around 12-18 months to completely recover.

A carefully planned and controlled exercise regime is important for the long-term rehabilitation of the horse. Whilst rest is important and over-exertion should be avoided, once the injury is stabilised careful exercise can help strength to be regained to the affected area - your vet will be able to advise.

How To Use Complementary therapies With Equine Tendon Injuries?

Whilst time is one of the best healers for tendon injuries, there are a variety of complementary therapies that your veterinary surgeon may recommend as being useful to try to help the tendon recover most effectively

Acupuncture

Veterinary Acupuncture is often used to help treat lameness and pain, including that caused by a tendon injury. There are many Veterinary Surgeons who have completed specialist training to help animals through the use of acupuncture, and are members of the Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists.

Animal Aromatics

There are some essential oils (e.g. Lemongrass) which may help tendon injuries as they're thought to help reduce swelling (anti-inflammatory), and also help the connective tissue to repair itself. Given the potentially powerful effects of aromatherapy, it’s always recommended at least initially to have a consultation with a fully qualified practicioner. For example not all essential oils should be used on or near to open wounds or skin that is damaged.

Chiropractic

If the horse has a tendon injury, then they experience fatigue and soreness from compensating for the injury. Chiropractic can help the horse with their rehabilitation and wellbeing.

Herbal Products

Different herbal supplements and skincare products maybe helpful, including:

Aloe Vera - A good quality Aloe Vera supplement or skincare lotion may help to relieve strains and soreness. (Email me at info@taranet.co.uk for information on products that I recommend and sell!)
Arnica - Used to relieve not only bruising but strains too
Comfrey - Often used to help relieve strains
Witch Hazel - Can help to relieve soreness

Homeopathy

There are several homeopathic remedies which could help – from Arnica to Ruta. However, the best one for your equine will depend specifically on the individual and the extent of his/her injury. A specialist homeopathic vet will be able to advise you. (More info at the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons.)

Hydrotherapy

Cold hosing is often considered important at an early stage of the injury occuring. Additionally, other types of hydrotherapy can help with the recovery - e.g. swimming or an aqua spa.

Laser therapy

"Cold laser therapy" (low level laser therapy) can be used to help promote healing of many ailments, including tendon injuries. When correctly applied it can be very effective and many Vets (and other professionally trained therapists) do now practice laser therapy as part of their treatment.

Magnotherapy

Magnetic boots can be worn by horses, which are thought to promote healing and may assist with recovery from tendon injuries.

Massage

If you horse is being rested due to a tendon injury, massage can play a key role in helping to maintain muscle strength and suppleness. Additionally, massage is thought to generally help with recovery from some injuries.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists use a variety of techniques from manipulation, massage, electrotherapy (ultrasound, laser, etc) to exercise therapy and can help with muscular pain and injuries, amongst many other animal ailments.

Other methods for an integrated approach

Farriery - Correct trimming and the use of special shoes (or even removal of shoes) if required, can assist in the rehabilitation of a horse with tendon injuries. Your Vet and Farrier by working together will be able to recommend the best approach to your horse's foot care if s/he has a tendon injury. Good footcare is all part of an integrated approach to caring for your horse’s health!
Hyaluronic Acid – when injected either around the tendon or intravenously it is thought to have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Shockwave therapy - This must be done at a low dose to avoid causing more serious damage, however, if carefully used, this non-invasive therapy is thought to assist with pain relief and healing.
Stem cell therapy - over recent years this has become more widely used. It can also be linked with other therapies such as laser therapy and acupuncture, which some Vets believe may promote stem cell activity. The Royal Veterinary College (UK) have also conducted research, which demonstrated an improvement to national hunt racehorses when treated with stem cell therapy. However, it’s not known whether this equally applies to other horses with similar injuries.

Which approach will work best?

The severity of your horse's tendon injury will make a difference as to what therapy will work best. However, it's likely that a combination of approaches will be necessary throughout your horses's recovery.

As with all complementary therapies do seek the advice of your Vet first before using any. A therapist will always need your Vet's permission anyway before treating your animal, and regular liaison between the two professionals can often bring the best results to your animal's health.

Other information

Article - Stem Cells Cure Tendon Damage (Royal Veterinary College)

Like advice on where to find a complementary therapist for your animal? Email us at info@taranet.co.uk - we're happy to help!

Get more information on how to help care for your animal holistically by having a look through our holistic care for animals advice pages:

Holistic Care for Animals by Taranet