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  Discussion on Severe stifle injury?
Author Message
New Member:
mdobbs

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 - 11:50 am:

Hi DrO,
Am a new member. Thanks for your great website!
Our 18 yr old QH mare suddenly became lame Sept 10th,07; overnight in paddock with her filly; it is back rt leg. She would not put much weight on it, kept weight off it while standing by shifting hip and resting hoof on toe. Pain was moderate. Talked to vet,we thought it was a fetlock injury. Administered Bute; recommended pasture rest. She was improving and ran few strides in pasture on bute. Reinjured herself. Now she is much more lame. Vet came out yesterday, diagnosed stifle injury. Lots of swelling. When walking her injured leg's toe drags on the ground some. She cannot pick up other back foot to clean as it puts too much weight on injured leg stifle. Vet recommended rest, pasture grazing for 6 months to year; prognosis not good. We arranged sonagram for tomorrow to see what going on inside stifle.
She is in stall and paddock now.
Questions:
1.Should she be stalled round the clock or is 50' round pen, with hay and available shavings bed, by herself ok during day?
2.What about bute to lessen pain? Vet said he thought her pain level was an 8 out of 10. She is eating very well, moves around the paddock and seems very interested in her pasture mates and food. Her pain level seems manageable so far.
3.Do you suggest any other treatment or should we wait to discuss until sonagram tomorrow?
thank you very much,
Mary
Wind Horse Farm Colorado
Member:
eoeo

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 - 1:12 pm:

Do you have access to a good equine chiropractor?
I would have one look at her in addition to the vet checking her. This almost sounds like it might be a pinched nerve. Does her tail hang straight or off to the side? EO
New Member:
mdobbs

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 - 1:45 pm:

Hi EO,
Thanks for your suggestion. We have searched for an equine Chiro and havent been able to find one yet which is very surprising for the populated equine oriented front range area of CO.
She has exhibited possible soreness in stifle off and on over the years. Along with reg vet assesments in the past we have had a professional massage therapist practitioner work on her. She exhibited less tension, completely relaxed and yawned 10 times in a row after some nerve work. Her tails is in the normal position. thanks for the suggestion, will see if we can find someone to assess her for Chiro along with vet care.
Mary
Wind Horse Farm
Member:
wgillmor

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 - 2:15 pm:

Mary,

Are you the Wind Horse Farm in Boulder? If so, email me at the address wiley(dot)gillmor(at)gmail(dot)com (replace at and dot as appropriate). I can give you some contacts for Equine Chiropractors. Personally, I haven't seen much effect, but others swear by it.

Wiley
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 - 9:55 am:

I see no evidence of a "pinched nerve" in your post nor have I ever diagnosed a pinch nerve with the exception of cervical instability, something your horse does not have.

What you need to do, long before the ultrasound machine comes out of it's carrying case, is to localize the area that is painful. It is not clear from your post that the veterinarian has done this yet. Is there a clear indication of the stifle being a problem like remarkable swelling and pain before you begin a technically challenging and sometimes misread field stifle sonogram? For more on a properly conducted lameness exam see, Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Localizing Lameness in the Horse. For more on care of a horse with undiagnosed lameness see, Diseases of Horses » Lameness » First Aid for the Lame Horse.
DrO
New Member:
mdobbs

Posted on Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 - 3:11 pm:

Hi DrO,
Sorry for the lack of clarity. Yes, there is remarkable localized swelling and pain in the stifle area. Vet mentioned a lot of fluid build up. If you gently check area with your fingers Savannah will show some reaction by swishing of tail or moving away from pressure. Hoping to see whats happening on the sonagram scheduled today, to be adminstered by a good tech, with the understanding it is a tough read and situation for diagnosis. Last couple of days we have kept her in her paddock with shavings to lay on during the day and stalled pm with rubber mats and bedding. She seems to feel better, but still marked lameness. Will email results if we are fortunate to receive any today with Sonagram.
thank very much,
Mary
Member:
mdobbs

Posted on Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 - 7:36 pm:

Hi DrO,
We finished the sonagram and looks like a torn medial miniscus. There is fluid build up also.We have some pictures.
We have discussed injection to give some relief?
Savannah is walking in her paddock, alert, hearty appetite, interested in her pasturemates in next paddock, able to lay down and get up. We would like to keep her comfortable and work toward what ever improvement may be possible? We are assuming her riding days are past, pasture sound would be good if possible? Colorado State University vet can do Legend injection.
Please let me know what you think?
thank you,
Mary
Member:
mrose

Posted on Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 - 8:40 pm:

Hi Mary, I don't know if this is an option for you or not, but one of our mares tore her medial miniscus when she was 8 or 9. We had arthroscopic surgery done to clean out all the torn tissue, etc. She had a rather lengthy rehab of hand walking, but worked up to being able to be ridden. Her show career was ended, but we were able to ride her on easy trails, and to do arena work with her for quite a few years. Eventually arthritis in her knee got pretty bad and we had to quit using her. At the age of 18 she is now getting arthritis in her uninjured knee. Even so, she remains pretty happy and bucks and kicks in the pasture every once in a while and enjoys being turned out with her buddies. We have to give her bute on her bad days, like when it's really cold, and at some point, when her arthritis gets really bad we'll have to put her down. But all things considered, she's done very good. It might be something for you to consider. This was awhile ago, but at the time her surgery and a week or so in the hospital ran about $2000.
Member:
mdobbs

Posted on Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 - 10:11 pm:

Thank you so much Sara, that is encouraging.
Savannah is a wonderful mare, a dear friend and gave us a gorgeous registered paint filly. She is 18 now and has been with us since she was 3. If we can get her to pasture sound we would be happy.
I will call Colorado State U tomorrow and see what the costs are. thank you so much, will let you know what happens!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 16, 2007 - 7:58 am:

Sara is right, her best shot is arthroscopic surgery and the U of CO is the best place in the world to have it done. Let us know what they say.
DrO
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