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  Discussion on Suspensory Injury?
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Member:
martyr

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 6:53 pm:

I think I may have <another> front limb suspensory injury and I can't get an ultrasound until my vet returns from vacation on 6/4.

I have a specific question that isn't answered in any document I read.

On 5/23, my mare's left front leg was very swollen from below the knee on down and including the fetlock. I did not feel any noticeable heat; if it was warmer, it was only slightly so. She was lame at the trot, but did not seem uncomfortable at the walk and did not mind my palpating the area. The swelling was uniform and hard. The crevice on the cannon bone was completely swollen and filled. This was on the outside of the cannon bone. The medial part looked normal or almost normal. I used cold therapy.

Each day since the onset, the swelling has diminished a little and moved downward toward the fetlock. It's subtle enough now, that I wouldn't know it was there if I wasn't specifically looking.

Now here's the hard part. This mare has toe-in conformation and occasional caudal heel pain. She is also a little back at the knee on one leg. It's not easy to tell if she is lame from the leg, her feet, or just her odd way of moving due to conformation faults.

In January 2006, she injured her left front suspensory and was rested for 8 months until the ultrasound showed it had healed. Then, she was slowly started back to work, which is just very basic dressage work in a ring with good footing.

My question is this. Would a suspensory injury cause a significant swelling all down the leg and gradually move down to the fetlock? This wasn't the case with the original injury; there was no swelling then. If she sustained an injury so great as to cause this much swelling, I would think she would be limping and not wanting me to press on the leg.

I'm hoping this was due to some kind of blunt trauma, but there is no sign of that. Time is important here because if she is going to require another long layup, I would breed her, and breeding season is about over.

I welcome anyone's thoughts on this.
Member:
dres

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 7:08 pm:

you don't say which front leg.. ? Is it the same leg she injured before.. ??

Might as well start teasing her now , and when you get the leg ultrasound done , have them check her for breeding.. it is just a little over a week away..
HOPE FOR THE BEST PLAN FOR THE WORSE..

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 8:26 pm:

I like Ann's "motto!"

It's just my hunch, but it sounds more like trauma. Was she where she could kick/strike anything? I'd sure want a vet to check her to be sure. Is she in heat now? Or will she be breedable before the vet is able to do an U.S.?
Member:
martyr

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 9:36 pm:

Ann, it's the same front leg, unfortunately. I did state that above.

Sara, I have never noticed this mare in heat. She is 8 years old and maiden. One of my vet's associates is coming this Friday for another horse, and I will try to get her to do the ultrasound.

I put her on the lunge a little while ago. At the walk she seemed ok. I got a couple trot steps and it was enough to see she was very lame. I don't think a blunt trauma would cause this much lameness, do you? Unless...it was a chip or something.

If I were to guess, I'd say it's the lateral branch of the suspensory. The last one was a tear up near the top of the cannon.
Member:
juliem

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 10:03 pm:

Since you asked for "anyone's thoughts"--my personal rant follows: I wouldn't breed a mare with the above conformation faults. It's hard enough to ensure that every foal will have good care for it's entire life when they have perfect conformation. Waaay too many foals end up at auctions and sales as there is no market for mediocre horses. Unless your mare or stallion exhibits exceptional conformation, talent and breeding there is no reason to add more horses to the over 90,000 horses each year that are unwanted. As my vet says, "just because she has a uterus is no reason to breed." End of rant and apologies if I've offended. Julie
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 11:42 pm:

Marion, if you've never noticed the mare in heat, she may have some problems other than her lameness; or she may just be a "silent" mare. You won't know until the u.s, or maybe until you tease her with a stallion.

I've seen trauma cause severe lameness, but it went away with time and healing, as did the swelling. With the mare's history, it could well be her suspensory I'd guess. Again, no way that I know of to tell until she's been checked by your vet.

Another point to bear in mind is that if she has on-going suspensory problems, will she be sound enough to comfortably carry a foal to term? Or, depending on what her injury is, would the added weight and stress cause more problems for her? IMO you're in "a holding pattern" until you see your vet.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 8:29 am:

In short Marion there are many causes of swelling like you describe in a horse's leg so you don't diagnose suspensory injury from such swelling alone. As you say there should be lameness if it were the suspensory.

For more on diagnosing the cause of swellings, including those of the leg, see the article associated with this discussion and depending on what you find following the examination directions check out Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Leg Swellings and choose the appropriate article.
DrO
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