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wolf · 06-18-2005, 11:39 AM

Yes, it is now possible to mend a horse's broken leg. In some cases this is done, but as with the elephant there are difficulties when you have an animal that must be weight bearing on the injured limb. You can't reasonably maintain a horse in a sling for the time needed for the bone to reliably heal to the point that it is not going to snap again when pressure is put on it ... horses weigh around or over 1000 pounds. They are a lot more delicate than they look.

I believe that repair vs. putting down is determined in much the same way as totalling a car. Is the cost of surgeries and rehab less than the value (nonsentimental) of the animal?

06-18-2005, 11:39 AM	#28
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Yes, it is now possible to mend a horse's broken leg. In some cases this is done, but as with the elephant there are difficulties when you have an animal that must be weight bearing on the injured limb. You can't reasonably maintain a horse in a sling for the time needed for the bone to reliably heal to the point that it is not going to snap again when pressure is put on it ... horses weigh around or over 1000 pounds. They are a lot more delicate than they look. I believe that repair vs. putting down is determined in much the same way as totalling a car. Is the cost of surgeries and rehab less than the value (nonsentimental) of the animal? __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis Last edited by wolf; 06-18-2005 at 01:37 PM.