It is a common misconception that all horses with a broken leg need to be euthanised, says equine veterinary surgeon Emma Trott. In fact, there are many horses that break bones in their legs that can go on to live a completely normal and pain-free life.
- Deadliest horse diseases in the world – according to a veterinary surgeon
- Vet reveals why carrying twin foals is a dangerous business for horses – with potentially fatal consequences – but often not a big deal for cows
What is considered before making the decision to treat or euthanize the horse?
There are lots of factors to consider when assessing a horse with a broken leg. Factors can include which bone is fractured, what type of fracture is present, how large the patient is and how the horse will cope with rest and confinement to help the fracture heal.
The welfare of our horses is always our highest priority, ensuring that horses can carry out the 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare, which are:
- Freedom from pain, injury and disease
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from fear and distress
- Freedom to express normal behaviours
Therefore, when considering the best outcome for our horses, it is important to consider what type of injury the horse has and how the individual horse will manage with the treatment plan. When considering treatment options, it’s also important to consider the costs involved with each treatment option. Owners may find having their horse insured for veterinary fees can help alleviate some of the pressure associated with these decisions.
How are broken legs treated?
Did you know that vets can apply a plaster cast to horses?
For certain types of fractures, such as a fracture in a horse’s foot, we can apply a plaster cast to the horse’s hoof to allow the fractures time to heal. For fractures higher up the limb, we use multiple layers of bandage material to create a robust support bandage known as a Robert Jones bandage.
Did you know vets can use plates and screws in horses?
In young animals or smaller breeds of horse, we might use a short anaesthetic to apply screws and plates to help fix broken bones. In fully grown horses, the risk of general anaesthesia combined with complications in recovery, and long periods of time spend on box rest mean that we can’t always apply metal work to fix fractures. However, there are some fractures that can be fixed with screws whilst the horse is sedated and still standing.
Can you amputate a horse’s leg?
Sadly, unlike in humans or other smaller animals, amputation is not generally advised in horses. Due to their size and design, horses would be unable to support their weight with only three limbs, and application of a prosthetic limbs can lead to other complications and injuries.
Therefore, these horses would have a poor quality of life and not be able to meet the 5 freedoms discussed above and may be euthanised.
Overall, a fracture in a horse’s leg doesn’t always mean the horse needs to be euthanised. Depending on what type of fracture the horse has, combined with knowledge about the horse itself, an appropriate treatment plan can be planned.
