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  Discussion on SOFT EGG SIZED SHAPE ABOVE KNEE, NO LAMENESS
Author Message
Member:
Bethyg2

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 3:10 pm:

Hi- I just purchased a 13 yr old quarter horse mare for my daughter. She is very sweet and quiet, sort of pokey, just what we needed. She will be used lightly for trail only. The agreed upon trial period was a week and a half. One day after that period she developed a soft egg shaped "swelling" above the left knee, on the outside. You can put your finger in it- it is sort of spongy. She is not lame. What is this- should I be concerned? I own her now.... old owner said she never had this before. She doesn't look like she hit it, although you never know. (she is white, there was no mark on the skin or hair)Also, it doesn't seem to be hot. I tried ice packs, but it hasn't gone down. Looks like maybe it is a joint problem? I think I better have the vet out. She is not lame in the least, not yet anyway. Perhaps she doesn't respond well to the deep shavings she is in?Any ideas as to what this may be?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 - 7:12 am:

It could be a pocket of serun from blunt trauma but your description is awfully reminescent of common or lateral extensor tendon rupture though I am surprised there is no soreness. This is common in newborns but can happen to adults, see this topic covered in Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Front Limb » Overview of Lameness of the Knee (Carpus).
DrO
Member:
Bethyg2

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 27, 2004 - 3:59 pm:

Dr O- guess what, this mare rode two- riding double- this weekend (two small people, woman and child) and the same leg the next morning was without a knee! The swelling was BAD. I gave banamine, iced it, ran cool water over it, bandaged the lower portion that I could (don't think you can safely bandage a knee with vet wrap...) and then when the swelling hadn't come down gave bute the next morn and night. The third day (today) the knee seemed almost back to normal.The skin was HOT to the touch around the knee. This horse creaks when she moves around her stall, sounds like arthritis? Probably why she was sold, lol. Boy am I a sucker for a soft nose and a gentle nature!!!Looks like every leg is involved as they have all had some issues of swelling since we got her. I thought the back ones stocking up were related to being kept inside due to lightning but I'm not sure of that now. The adult and child who rode her this weekend couldn't have weighed more than 220 lbs all together but now I see that it was a bad idea for this mare to carry more than my 70 lb. daughter. What can I do in the way of supplements for this mare to give her some relief? There are SO many on the market I don't know what to do. Plus if this is a severe tendon rupture is she completely unrideable? Unbreedable? (I'd think she wouldn't want to be heavier) The bute or banamine gave her the runs! So, is there something you'd recommend to make her more comfortable? I have heard that Cosequin can help this. Any suggestions appreciated. -Beth
Member:
Bethyg2

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 27, 2004 - 4:01 pm:

PS Forgot to mention that a friend thinks the previous owner injected the knee before I saw her which is why the swelling was down for a week and a half after I got her- :-( Beth
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 28, 2004 - 8:43 am:

The problem Beth is we still do not have a diagnosis. Your original description of a swelling above the knee does not sound like arthritis and arthritis does not usually flare with so much general swelling as you describe in your last post. I am still uncertain what is going on and suggest a thorough vet exam.
DrO
Member:
Bethyg2

Posted on Thursday, Jul 29, 2004 - 2:12 pm:

Dr, O,
Finally had vet out to see this mare and she did a thorough exam, but no x-rays. Since the horse is not being used for more than trail/ casual walk trot the vet suggested no x-rays, but said it looked like both front knees had either tendon issues or more likely compromised joint capsules where the fluid forms a sort of soft bulge on top of the knee- worse on the left knee. She suggested Cosequin (sp?) Also, she heard the mare "creak" when she walks or moves around. It would cost serious dinero to do x-rays, several views each leg, etc., which I don't want to do yet becasue the animal doesn't look like she is in pain now. The legs are back to normal with the exception of the small bulge over the knee. I won't allow double riding of her again. Does anyone think a joint supplement would help? They are expensive, but if it works on this type of thing....I don't think it could hurt.????? I thought that stuff was only for arthritic conditions. ? Also, horses can't get hot from the ingredients, can they? This is a child's horse...
Member:
Onehorse

Posted on Thursday, Jul 29, 2004 - 2:48 pm:

Beth,

Just saw your post (and have now read the entire string). I am not commenting on your horse's problem or suggesting what you should do (because I have no idea what ails her nor can I hazard a guess -- I'll leave that to Dr.O), but did want to comment on Cosequin and one or two of your questions.

Cosequin (a brand name) is a glucosimine supplement and perhaps the most expensive on the market due to it being heavily marketed. There are many supplements with the same ingredients and dosages ... I suggest you shop around.

My horse (18 years old) is on such a supplement and used to have a 'creaking' sound in his rear joints. After using several different brands (including Cosequin) I have settled on a product called Joint Discovery because it seems to be most effective for him.

Besides glucosimine it has MSN and a few other additives -- none of which makes my horse 'hot.'

Their web site is www.usanimalnutritions.com You might want to investigate this product, if a joint supplement is what you choose to do.

Comparing notes with my friends, who also use various joint supplements, some brands work better with certain horses than others. For instance, Joint Discovery seems to work wonders on many of my friends horses, but not all. Flex Joint is the chosen supplement of one of my friends, but it didn't help with my horse. Go figure.

So my advice is for you to talk to your friends and see which supplements have worked for them and in your initial purchase purchase enough that you can see if it works to your satisfaction. Be smart in the amount you buy because you may have to go through a couple of products before you find the right one.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jul 30, 2004 - 6:34 am:

Again your questions can be answered only with a correct diagnosis and the vet has really left you hanging. It strikes me in an attempt to separate a joint problem from a tendon problem, probably chronic in nature, radiographs would be very useful and ultrasound may be useful. If the joints are clean the savings in not using the Cosequin would rapidly pay for the radiographs and be a significant long time saving.

Beth could you get me pictures of these knees? The lighting needs to be good and both standing and a view with the knee held up in flexion would be useful.
DrO
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