Veterinarian diagnosis: Both front tendons bowed, severe muscle soreness, old horse & over did it. "Spring" 1969 1/2 Arabian gelding.

Brief history: March 2002, "Spring" at 33 years of age was found down in the pasture, and with great difficulty was forced to rise and walk approximately 75' into a barn stall. He showed no obvious signs of injury, his temperature was normal, perfusion was normal, gut sounds normal, and an elevated heart rate of about 60/min.

His body was in spasms, mostly neck and shoulders and chest areas. His tendons on both front legs showed only mild heat and no tenderness. The treating veterinarian felt the tendons were not damaged, and needed no treatment except possibly support bandages. He felt the old horse had simply "over done it" and prescribed 2 gms. phenylbutazone 2x daily, and/or 10cc Banamine IV 2x daily, as needed for pain, for 30 days.

The horse’s pain was not noticeably relieved with either the phenylbutazone or the banamine, and both were consequently given, with only very temporary results. After medicating, "Spring" was able to rise and eat, but would only eat about 1/2 of his feed and would lie down again. His tendons became extremely inflamed within 24 hours of seeing the first veterinarian, and a second veterinarian was called who said they were both severely bowed. His tendons were treated with ice and poultices, and support bandages, changed two times daily, until the heat was gone.

After the heat was gone, he was treated with just support bandages, and magnetic wraps for several hours per day, then liniment and bandages at night. He remained on the bute and/or banamine for 30 days. He was unwilling to stand and eat without the medication. He became very depressed, and spent most of the time lying down, and ate less and less. "Spring" was losing weight, and was very lethargic, when he did walk, it was very slow and for only a few steps, then he would stop again. He seemed to have given up on life. Prior to this injury, this horse had been very active, and had always seemed very healthy. He had the same owner since 1971.

After 30 days, the owner decided to take him off all the medication and put him on NutraWound. "Spring" was given 60cc NutraWound 2x daily. After 3 days, he was no longer lying down between feedings. His appetite increased dramatically. After approximately 7 days, he was hardly lying down at all, and was back to a normal appetite. He was treated for 30 days at 60cc 2x per day of the NutraWound, then 60 cc 1x per day for 2 weeks, then 30cc 1x per day for another 4 weeks. He was initially stalled, then in a paddock with his own stall, but after 1 month on the NutraWound, he was walking and acting normal again, and was put back with his friends in the pasture.

He still received his own bucket of senior feed, and would not allow any other horse to push him away from his bucket. His coat blossomed more than it had in years. For the last 5 years he had looked like a Cushings horse, and had been tested yearly, but tests always came back negative. "Springs" coat after being on the NutraWound was a deeper bay, totally glossy, and had beautiful dapples in it. His owner couldn't believe it. "Spring" lived almost to his 34th birthday. He died Jan. 3, 2003.