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  Discussion on Palpates sore on both front suspensories but is sound
Author Message
New Member:
kathyr

Posted on Saturday, Sep 6, 2008 - 9:47 am:

Good morning - I am a new member that was generously given a subscription by a student. What a wonderful site! I have a 10 year old Dutch WB mare who I've trained in Dressage and is solid I-1, schooling GP. In Aug 2006 she foundered seriously in her RF, with a 15 degree rotation. The vets say they don't know why - but it was after several joint injections and I strongly suspect that was too much for her, even though the amount of steroid was in the "safe" range. Her prognosis was horrible. She spent 5 months living at an equine clinic. Through much care she recovered and is 100% sound. She goes to an equine podiatrist at NC State every 5 weeks to have her feet done. In Nov 2007, she mildly strained her LF suspensory. Sore on palpation, grade 2 lame and blocked out - but no core lesion on ultrasound. NC State did not want to do stem cell, didn't feel it was necessary due to the mild nature of the injury. Did 3 shock wave treatments, rested for 2 months, took 4 months of rehab. She is now back in full work, moving great and totally sound. I am pretty sensitive to a horses' soundness while in the saddle and I feel nothing. On routine HMO health exam this week, my local vet found that she was sore on palpation of both front suspensories. She says she palpates very lightly . We lunged her and vet also felt she was totally sound. Have decided to rest her a week, ice, wrap, laser, walk under saddle for a week and then reexamine. My questions: Is a foundered horse more at risk for suspensory issues? What does the soreness on palpation mean and how much time does she need? Given the mares history - am I expecting too much for this mare to come to Grand Prix, should I find a lower level rider to take her, love her and ride her more gently? Any feedback is welcome. I love all my horses but this one has always been special to me and I don't want to see her hurt again. She loves to work and I want to see her keep working and not have career ending injuries.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Sep 7, 2008 - 8:13 am:

Welcome kathyr,
Unless the suspensory lameness causing a non weight bearing state I see no reason to suspect it as predisposing to founder.

You cannot palpate "soreness". A horse can give you a reaction on palpation but you must interpret it in light of clinical findings. Many sound horses give a reaction when the suspensories are palpated so the significance in your horse is uncertain to me. It strikes me as unlikely that a reaction to very light palpation is due to pain when the hundreds of pounds of tension placed on those legs during lunging shows no signs of lameness.
DrO
New Member:
kathyr

Posted on Sunday, Sep 7, 2008 - 8:47 am:

Sorry - I meant that the horse showed a significant reaction to palpation. It is helpful that you think it may not be clinically significant. Not sure if my other question was clear. I'm not asking if the suspensory lameness is predisposing to founder, but does the previous founder and rotation make her more predisposed to suspensory injuries? Thank you for your insights. It is perplexing to my vet.
Member:
corinne

Posted on Sunday, Sep 7, 2008 - 5:14 pm:

Dr O, being that the sport of Dressage predisposes horses to suspensory injuries, if a horse shows reaction to palpation when their suspensories are tested in the absence of injury how should one proceed? Rest, then retest?(providing there is no other clinical information to suspect injury or there has been substantial).

Thanks!
Corinne
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Sep 8, 2008 - 8:23 am:

Kathyr, I do not know of any evidence that founder or the rotation from founder predisposes to suspensory lameness.

Corinne, pulling the leg away or flinch when the suspensories are palpated, whether by squeezing between the finger tips or pressure on the posterior surface, is within the normal findings for this structure. If the reaction is thought to be "significantly" worse than normal I would check to see if the horse is lame at a trot on a circle. If the horse is not lame the finding of "significant" should be viewed with great suspicion.
DrO
Member:
corinne

Posted on Monday, Sep 8, 2008 - 11:30 am:

Thanks Dr. O for information, will file away for future reference!
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