Evidence-based rehabilitation protocols for horses recovering from superficial digital flexor tendon injuries, balancing healing time with welfare needs.
Long-term stall rest creates significant welfare challenges for horses, who are naturally social, mobile animals. Strict box rest causes psychological distress, musculoskeletal deconditioning, and increased stereotypy development. Modern rehabilitation protocols balance healing requirements with welfare by introducing controlled hand walking early, providing social contact, using stable mirrors to reduce isolation stress, and gradually transitioning to paddock turnout as healing allows. Pain management with NSAIDs during acute phases is essential. Owners and veterinarians must monitor behavioral indicators of distress throughout the rehabilitation period and adjust management accordingly.