Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital

I had the local vet come out in September to evaluate Kit and get his input on the injury.  He examined Kit but could not tell anything definitive without x-rays or ultrasound images, and he had no portable equipment capable of imaging a shoulder. He recommended we take him to Wisconsin Equine for more through exam.

We took Kit to the clinic on Oct. 13th, nearly 6 months since his pasture accident, and 10 weeks into my ownership and the gentle therapeutic techniques I've been using on him.  Pressure point, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, and bodywork (modified) for his tolerance.

We traveled in and arrived in rain showers, that fluctuated from light to heavy, so by the time we were inside we were quite soaked.

Dr. Jane Jardine, DVM showing me the first set of bone fragments from the shoulder joint.

Dr. D. Langers, DVM & Dr. Jane Jardine, DVM examined him, beginning with x-ray images of the right shoulder. I have the x-ray and ultrasound images and will try to post them later.  Kit has been sedated from the x-rays, but to his credit, he stood still through them all and they only sedated when they decided they wanted just 1 more shot and he decided he'd been patient enough!  It was nice that Dr. Langer, admitted that Kit was probably right.

It's amazing and wonderful what they can see now with the imaging equipment.  The breaks in Kit's shoulder bone were very obvious.  Three different places showed breakage and bone fragments.  You could see a smooth edge of the bone, like a smooth piece of string on the image, then a jumbled area of "string" with gaps, indicating where the bone fragments had broken off.  Areas of fragmentation were the front & back of the shoulder joint (lateras well as the medial edge by the sternum.

 Dr. Langer, DVM is using the ultrasound on the medial edge of the shoulder joint.  Interesting note, he didn't want to shave Kit for the exam, due to winter fast approaching, so he used alcohol as the medium to penetrate the tissue through the coat, it worked beautifully as it filled in all the air gaps, unlike the usual gel medium used for ultra sounds.

Fracture identified in two locations, but it is healing, and the bone is gradually coming back together.  The joint capsule is thickening and there is slight arthritis evident, as the body builds bone where bone has injury.  The joint is still somewhat separated, with a gap of approximately 5 cm at one side, mostly due to swelling still evident in the surrounding tissues.  This will gradually dissipate, and the joint should come back together itself gradually.  It all comes down to giving him time to heal.

Dr. D. Langer, DVM on prognosis and next steps.

We have started Kit on a supplement called Cosequin ASU to prevent further arthritis formation and support the joint health.  In addition to the Jiaogulan, a plant that grow wild in China, often referred to as "Southern Ginseng".  Which I'm using to strengthen his immune system, other stress-related symptoms and for it's anti-inflammatory properties. 

Dr. Langer stated that had he not seen the images of Kit's shoulder he would not have thought his injury to be so sever.  That watching Kit move, tracking so well and with hardly any limp, he is quite surprised by what we found and amazed at the healing that has already taken place.

His prescription for Kit's recover was as follows:

1.  Whatever you are doing, keep it up, because it's working.

What I'm doing, besides the supplements, passive range of motion, massage, light bodywork, Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch 3-4 times a week.  Gentle grooming and time together just bonding.

2. Keep Kit from feeling too good, too soon, so at this point a little pain is good as it keeps him from doing too much, or getting too frisky, possibly stressing the shoulder.

3. If we can keep it as stable as we have up to now by December we should be out of the woods.

4. Next spring, begin light training, and ground work.

5. I may be able to ride Kit by summer, but start in small increments, and if he is sore the next day, back off.

So good news and a positive outcome.  Quality of life for him has been my goal and I think we got that and then some! I am very grateful & blessed.

The sky as we left the clinic that evening...it reflected exactly how my heart felt, filled with promise, hope, and gratitude!

I'm very grateful for these veterinarians, their support in allowing time for healing, and their skills in diagnosis.

Skip and I were given a tour of the facility afterward, and I'll post more soon on Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital.