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  Discussion on Bone spur on 4yr old qh
Author Message
Member:
Sully

Posted on Saturday, Aug 7, 2004 - 2:14 pm:

My 4 yr old mare just had radiographs that showed a bone spur on her knee cap. We took pictures of her stifle after she developed what looked like ( > that through her stifle area. (please picture one on top of other) It looks exactly like that, sharp inward and outward indentation, quite a bit different than her other stifle. She had been injected 3 weeks earlier. The doctor said this could be from a reaction to something in the injection, or maybe some of it leaked and crystalized.She is sound to watch in her normal gaits, but just was not bright and wanting to fade on the herd side.(even before injecting her joints) She has been in training for 18 months. We are giving adiquin(?) 1x week and will do more pictures in 30 days to see what I'm not quite sure.She was also given a shot of ledgend. In the meantime, she has been put in a small pasture at my sisters, and will be trail riding or working the mechanical cow 3-4 times a week. John(vet) said to keep her training going since she shows no lameness, but that the bone spur could account for her lack of brightness on a cow and her wanting to fade away to take the pressure off and slow the work down. She also seems to run out of air and take longer to get it back than a horse that is in her shape should.(she is tucked up like a race horse, and looks to be in excellent shape) On the days she is worked on cows, she is warmed up just enough to work, but cannot take the normal routine they use to warm up the other 4 & 5 year olds(she had lower respitory disease for over 2 months not quite a year ago and the antibiotics had to be changed when she didn't quite get over it)She was scoped many times and samples taken that showed a non-specific bacteria, sometimes green in color. Her lungs sound normal after working.

What are my options with the bone spur? I have given up the idea of competing with her(due to the bone spur stinging her and the training she would have to be in to stay competative) and will be using her as a practice horse and to trail ride.

Could humidity be affecting her air? She is in SC where the humidity is outrageous. I live in SD and it is tolerable here. Could a change of climate help her? Currently we are using an inhaler to keep her lungs opened up. (venipul?)

I also want to let you know that she had been in Tx until 2 months ago, so this is a different trainer and vet. The vet seeing her now, feels the bone spur most likely was caused, but can not know for sure. If it was caused, HOW? She would have been stalled and never allowed to run loose with another horse.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Aug 8, 2004 - 10:45 am:

Without reviewing the radiographs I would be unable to make a judgement on cause or treatment but if you are uncertain about your vets recommendations you should have him forward them to a equine orthopedic surgeon for review. Note: without lameness at a trot it is uncertain what the significance of the radiographic findings are.

Horses do not do well in hot humid weather, there is no doubt she and every horse competing in such an environment would not be as bright, but the inhaler would have no effect unless she has a disease of the airways.
DrO
Member:
Sully

Posted on Monday, Aug 9, 2004 - 10:37 am:

Thank You for your observations Dr O.

I have one last question. The swelling caused by the stifle injection. Will this possibly go down and not be a problem if indeed the joint leaked and the fluid crystallized, or she had a reaction to something in the injection. Both stifles looked to be affected, with the left much more pronounced. If they had both been like the right side, I'm not sure we would have even seen it.

Thank You

Nancy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 10, 2004 - 8:58 am:

What was injected into the stifle?
DrO
Member:
Sully

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 10, 2004 - 10:23 am:

Dr. O

Because I have never watched a horse get joint injections, I am reading off the bill.

Ia Inj. stifle - Bilateral
Admin:Depo-meDrOl inject.
admin:Hylartin-V inject
Admin:Legend inject.
Admin:Predef 2x Inject
Admin:Dormosedan Inject.
Admin:Torbugesic Inject
Admin:Amikacin Inject.

My trainer said he takes his time and scrubs the site very well before doing this procedure.

Thank You

Nancy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 11, 2004 - 8:29 am:

Yes it is possible it will go down and if it is a inflammatory reaction to one of the medications this would be aided by oral bute or Banamine.
DrO
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