🔥🧊 Is Hot or Cold Treatment Best for Horse’s Tendon Injury? – 2025 Vet Advice

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc | Courtesy of Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network

Published: October 21, 2019

🐴 Soft tissue injuries like tendon strains are common in horses, and one big question always comes up: should you use heat or cold? Let's break down the latest veterinary insights for 2025. 🩺

🔍 What the Research Says

Dr. Kevin Haussler at Colorado State University has been evaluating heat and cold therapy protocols based on newer trends in human sports medicine. Rather than picking one, many practitioners now use both—alternating hot and cold therapy—to help:

• 🧊 Reduce inflammation in the acute phase
• 🔥 Improve circulation in chronic injuries
• 🌀 Speed up neuromuscular recovery

💡 Alternating Therapy: How It Works

This technique involves controlled cycles of heat >104°F and cold <59°F, alternating every 15 minutes for a total of 2 hours. Dr. Haussler created a pneumatic sleeve to apply this to equine limbs. It proved effective in tissues close to the surface, like:

• Skin
• Subcutaneous tissue
• Superficial digital flexor tendon

⚠️ However, deeper tendons like the deep digital flexor didn’t reach target temperatures—highlighting a limitation in current tech.

📌 Traditional vs. 2025 Vet Protocols

🧪 What We Still Need

There’s limited equine-specific research on alternating thermotherapy, including:

• Ideal temperature ranges for deep vs. surface tissues
• Safe and effective time intervals
• Protocol adaptations for acute vs. chronic tendon injuries

📝 Final Word from Dr. Duncan Houston

Whether you're using traditional cold packs or exploring new technology, early action and veterinary guidance are key. Alternating hot-cold therapy could become a game-changer in equine rehab, but always consult your vet before switching protocols. 🐎

📱 For more rehab support, download the Ask A Vet App or visit AskAVet.com for 1:1 veterinary advice on injury prevention and treatment. 💬