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  Discussion on Locking stifle in aged horse
Author Message
Member:
Beckettj

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 30, 2003 - 2:23 pm:

Dr. O:

I have a 22 year old Swedish Warmblood/Thoroughbred cross gelding that I have owned since 1996, and have been using for Dressage. Occasionally, since I purchased him, he has had his left stifle joint lock while standing in the cross ties or while I ride him, but this usually happened infrequently - once every two or three rides if that.

Recently, however, as my trainer and I have been working in more collection to move from Training Level to First Level dressage, the locking is occuring more frequently. It now happens even when I longe him in side reins as well as under saddle, and it happens more than one time during riding sessions, either at the walk or at the trot.

I'm in a bit of catch 22 situation now. In order to strengthen him to avoid the problem, I have to subject him to possible injury from the multiple small traumas to his stifle ligaments he receives every time the joint locks during work. However, I think excercise is really my only treatment option at this horse's age. I'm VERY leery of surgical treatment and I don't want to chance permanent lameness by injecting iodine.

I noticed in your articles that increasing the horse's weight might be helpful. He does favor the thoroughbred side of his breeding in his body type. He is very athletic looking (people frequently mistake him for being 10 years younger than he actually is!)and he has very little body fat. In fact, the frequency of the locking may in part be due to the fact that he is very fit right now from our work, and has lost some weight. Are there any other treatments that might benefit an aged horse? and, if you think putting weight on him is worth a try,
what is the best way to put weight on an aged horse without causing other physical problems in other areas? Thanks!

Janice
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 31, 2003 - 6:44 am:

Hello Janice,
You may have missed the medical treatment recommendation at the bottom of the article on Stifle Lock see under the Treatment section of the article » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb » Diseases of the Stifle » Stifle Lock: Upward Fixation of the Patella.

Yes I think increasing his condition is worth a try if he is on the thin side and if the horse is healthy the fact that he is 22 does not change the feeding recommendations. To increase a horses weight you increase the amount of energy in the diet, ie increase the amount or the quality of the feed. We address most of the issues for putting weight on thin horses in » Care for Horses » Nutrition » Equine Nutrition an Overview of Feeding Horses.
DrO
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