This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb » Overview of Diseases of the Hock (Tarsus) »
  Discussion on Soft tissue injury of hock region
Author Message
New Member:
Tjneale

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 22, 2002 - 1:49 pm:

Dr. O
I have a 5 year old gelding that injured his right hind leg running up a steep hill from a stnd still 2 months ago. the vet said to keep him stalled and hand walk him for 2 weeks after he did a lameness flextion test on him. At that time his guess was it was a fetlock injury. He would only show lameness on the lounge line to the right but no sign of lameness on a straight line except after the flexion test. After 2 weeks in the stall on Bute he was still showing lamness on the lounge line so the vet told me to continue stall rest and hand walk for 2 more weeks since he was to be out of town for that long.After 2 more weeks and still lame the vet came out to block the fetlock with no change which pointed our attention to the hock. So he blocked the hock and he seemed to be much better but still showed lamness. So 2 days later he e-rayed the hock and the pictures showed in his words a nice clean hock with no signs of arthiritis or anything. Now he thinks it is a soft tissue injury to the hock area and he said that he didn't think an ultra sound would show the problem so I just have to be patient and wait for what ever it is to heal. What's fustrating is not knowing and will it ever heal. In the cool wheather he jumps around even just hand walking and seems to aggravate it all over again. It's been 2 1/2 months and
i'm still wondering what to do. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Tracy Neale
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 23, 2002 - 7:35 am:

Hello Tracy,
If you are concerned that there is still not a firm diagnosis you should have your veterinarian refer the horse to a lameness specialist to get a better idea of what might be causing your horse to be lame. Once you know then a accurate prognosis can be offered.
DrO
Member:
Tjneale

Posted on Monday, Oct 28, 2002 - 9:25 am:

Can a soft tissue injury of the hock be managed and prevented from recurring with injecting the hock or with a muscular injection?
Tracy Neale
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 29, 2002 - 7:59 am:

Hello Tracy,
It is kind of a vague question, I guess I would have to ask 2 questions:
  • What type soft tissue injury are you talking about?
  • What is in the injection?

DrO
New Member:
Lorrieg

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004 - 12:38 am:

I have a horse that afetr exrays, have been told has calsificasion of the soft tissue on the front of the hock. She also has a calcium deposit floating in front of the area that I am talking about, obviously from an old injury or kick. The veterenarian that I consulted said she would be fine with limited work (no loping) for a few years, she's only seven, and has such potential that I have a hard time exceptng that, not to mention that he didn't tell me what to expect after a few years.
Does anyone have any information on treatment of calsificatin of soft tissue in the hock area?
I would think with the technical advances we have made in the last few years there should be some treatment for this other than retirement. I truly love this horse and no matter what want the best for her,if all she can be is a pet ,fine, but I believe she can do so much more!
If anyone has any information please respond so we can treat this problem.

God Bless,

Lorrie
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004 - 8:55 am:

Hello Lorrie,
I am afraid there is not enough information in your post to make a decision. I recommend you have the radiographs sent to a reliable equine lameness specialist or surgeon or a second opinion. Only with the radiographs in hand can a decision be made.
DrO
Member:
Lorrieg

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004 - 12:55 pm:

Hello Dr O

Thank you for your prompt response. I have already sent the exrays off to a specialist, but I guess what wanting to know in the meantime is, are there ever any situations where calsification can be treated either by laser or any other method?

Lorrie
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jan 22, 2004 - 10:32 am:

Exactly which structures/tissues in the front of the hock have calcification?
DrO
Member:
Lorrieg

Posted on Sunday, Feb 1, 2004 - 1:21 pm:

Dr O,

Sorry to take so long to respond back, I'm not sure which structures/tissues have the calcification, but I have sent them off to Texas A&M, so I should know soon. Thanks for replying.

Have a great day,

Lorrie
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC