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Discussion on Back leg warm & slightly puffy
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Member:
Rob10549
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Posted on Monday, Oct 4, 2004 - 1:06 pm:
Hi Doc,
I moved my horse to a new barn a month ago. Everything was going well up until yesterday. His dressage training has moved up a notch from what he used to be doing so I don't know if that, or a spook on the trails, three days earlier led to this new condition. Yesterday I noticed that his right back hoof was slightly warm to the touch. Now that the temperature has DrOpped and it's cold outside in the morning I immediately noticed the difference in his hooves. Then I noticed that the leg above the pastern was warm too and a bit puffy. I had the barn manager check it and she agreed. I rode him for about 20 min and he felt fine. The swelling went down a little after riding him. Then today I got to the barn to find him in the same condition. My trainer took a look and found the leg in the same condition as yesterday. She wanted me to ride him so she could see how he moved. He was fine. No lameness. The vet is coming next Tuesday to give him his fall shots and to flex test him since my trainer wanted to, before this problem arose, get a baseline on him since she's training requiring him to move alot more forward now. His confirmation isn't ideal as he has long pasterns. I was just wondering if you think this sounds like something really bad is up and I should be alot more concerned and get my vet out there any sooner or if I should just wait and listen to my trainer. She put him in a sand turnout today so he didn't twist or tweak his leg. I would appreciate your input. Thanks, Robin
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 5, 2004 - 9:08 am:
Without examining your horse Robin I cannot comment directly on your horse. There are many reasons for swellings in the pasterns and mild to moderate swelling with no lameness or pain suggests a minor problem. For more on diagnosing swellings in the leg and treatment see, Equine Diseases » Skin Diseases » Diagnosing and Assessing Swellings in Horses.
DrO
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Member:
Rob10549
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 6, 2004 - 1:56 pm:
Hi Doc,
Thank you for responding. Today my farrier tested his hoof and it was fine; cold too. My horse's cannon bone is still luke warm but less so but still there's a small swelling on the inside of the right back leg. Could he have banged it? And if so would it take more than a week for the swelling to go down? My trainer rode him today and she said he is not lame or off at all and felt stronger, even going left, which is his weaker side. The vet is coming next week so I guess I am just asking you to give me an idea of what could be wrong. I have never had an issue like this before with my horse and am concerned.
Thanks, R
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 6, 2004 - 10:11 pm:
There is not enough information in your post to know what the cause is. Yes he could have banged it but that is not the same as saying he did. How long it would take for the swelling to go down depends on how hard he banged it. The article I reference above describes the various causes of swelling and some of their distinguishing causes, by going over them you might be able to match up your situation with one of the causes.
DrO
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Member:
Rob10549
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 24, 2004 - 3:40 pm:
Dear Dr. Oglesby,
My horse was reevaluated today for the second time for a minor suspensory ligament injury. For the past 6 weeks I was told, based on flexion and ultrasound tests, to tack walk my horse for 20 min a day, sand paddock, cold hose 2x a day followed by standing wraps and gel and bute. After the first check up the vet said that my horse was 75% better after flexion and that he expected a full recovery. Yesterday the story changed. He came up lame after flexion again and his ultrasound still showed some inflammation. I was told that I should discontinue bute, only do one cold hose a day but continue night wraps and then start him on more work b/c, the vet said, that the horse needs more musculature in order to for him to tell in another month whether the ligament is any better. He advised me to start walking him briskly, almost to a trot, slowly, adding more and more everyday. If he got thru two weeks of walking like this then he suggested I start troting him in the same gradual manner. He then went on to say that there was a 50-50 chance of him reinjurying the leg again and that he'd possibly make a good trail horse but that he should not be cantered on the bit b/c of the way he's built; long, sloping pasterns and long toe. He said I could also start walking him outside around the barn as long as I avoided hills. When I asked him how he could trail if he couldnt' do hills he said that he believed horses should still challenge their weaknesses. He also said that the horse was a danger to himself as every step he takes he is reinjuring the ligament. Now, my question is what sense does it make to start him on a brisk walking program if his ultrasound still shows inflammation? I didn't agree with his final determinations and have decided to get a second opinion. What do you think about all of this? I also asked him about bar shoes b/c I have read that they can help a horse with this problem but after reading your notes I am not sure that this will help or hurt. Please let me know your take on all of this. My vet owns, races and breeds thoroughbreds, and has been in practice for over 20 years yet I feel that he has misled me. Thanks for your comments. Robin
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Member:
Deggert
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 24, 2004 - 5:15 pm:
Robin
this all sounds very confusing, as I was quickly reading it though, the sand paddock sounded contradictory since deep ground is harder on suspensories ( or so I have been told) When my mare had a minor susp injury, we were on a 9-10 month recovery. 30 days walking in hand, then 15 minutes walking under saddle for 30 days and so on.
I am sure Dr. O has the latest on this though. good luck with your horse, hope it all works out.
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Member:
Frances
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 25, 2004 - 6:40 am:
Robin,
Your vet really doesn't seem to be making much sense here: "every step he takes he is reinjuring the ligament", yet the vet wants him to "challenge his weaknesses". What's wrong with resting an injured ligament?
I'll be interested to read DrO's comments. Good luck with your horse.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Nov 26, 2004 - 7:13 am:
Robin do I understand that the horse has worsened clinically in the past 6 weeks and the vet is advising increasing the exercise regimen? Also exactly what lesions are present on ultrasound and how do they compare with the initial ultrasound?
DrO
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