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Discussion on Suspensory ligament in front?
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Member:
ddoregon
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 4, 2015 - 2:20 pm:
So Peanut the 4 year old welsh pony was in pasture when she was startled and spooked by a group of deer. Went straight up then running to a sliding stop. Didn't think much of it, this was Friday. Saturday she was in her stall and I didn't notice much but Sunday morning the farrier came to trim and she was #3 to 4 lame. Will bear some weight while eating, will walk on it but not easily. Rests it often.
Did trim because she was long toed, did ok and put her on a cold hose down snd stall. Still same lame Monday but now puffy along the sides of her canon. Gave half a bute tablet as she's a pony, and the swelling was less. Thought maybe hoof abcess, poultice wrapped, but not any difference by Tuesday. Kept on bute and hosing enough swelling now low enough to see this popped up ligament or tendon (images) and a bounding pulse under her inside cannon below the knee. We have an appointment tomorrow but I'd gone to chat with the vet yesterday who looked at pix and said not to trailer and bring her as it's likely a proximal suspensory ligament injury, gave me more bute, direction of icing once a day and compression wrap for at least 12hrs a day, until no swelling (week or so). Stall rest for at least 30 days.
My only concern is, what if its a splint or fracture? There is and was much heat all the way down to the hoof.
We're rural and she only has an ultrasound machine if I should take her to the vet.
What do you think Dr O?
Is this looking like the right assumption and treatment of injury, and would you get an ultrasound anyway?
Thanks kindly
D
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Member:
ddoregon
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 4, 2015 - 2:28 pm:
  
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 5, 2015 - 10:21 am:
so thinking if this is just a pasture toy, no real work , rest / cold hose or ice / wrapping and time ...IF this is a horse that you are using / showing , might be worth hauling to a clinic to get a ultrasound and X rays ...Good luck with your pony ... . * 30 days might not be long enough *
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them spots
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Member:
ddoregon
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 8, 2015 - 1:52 pm:
So she went to the new vet Thursday, he palpated her leg and thinks it's a deep abcess (she's had abcess before in her hind, before I rescued her) tried to dig but it didn't come through. So he has me changing poultice (Epsom salt /iodine/sugar) and doing smz twice daily. This is now the fourth day and nothing. She's still lame. She'll hobble about and I turn her out with splint boots on for extra support but how long can this take? He didn't suggest soaking as her feet are white and could get brittle, he also said it doesn't help the deep ones anyway. (?) plus she's only 2 1/2 not 3 1/2years old turns out, and rather impatient with soaking lol. I'd get a soak boot but she's only 11hh and they are too big.
I'm thinking switch to ichthiammol (sp?) on the poultice and uniprim instead of smz. (smz never has worked for me before on anything even respiratory problems.. it's cheaper but ineffective imho).
What do you guys think?
At what point do I look further, and what shows better xray or ultrasound? Especially if there's something lodged in the hoof, and/or what if it IS a leg, not foot issue?
Also, cost is a factor, my accident prone thoroughbred keeps the vet in business already lol!
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Member:
ddoregon
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 8, 2015 - 2:02 pm:
The cutest pony ever.. She's been brought up to be a child's trail pony, thanks for the reply earlier Ann 
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Member:
ddoregon
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 8, 2015 - 2:03 pm:
*being* brought up
Much slower now due to her actual age ☺
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Member:
rtrotter
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 8, 2015 - 2:42 pm:
DDinoregon,
How did this go from a suspensory problem to a hoof abscess. Where the fill is looks like a check ligament problem since it is right behind the knee. Unless the vet thinks its an abscess in the leg, but I do not think so.
She probably overextended herself with her antics and sliding stops. I would not turn her out but put her on stall rest, cut down on any grain that you feed her( Just feed hay) keep hosing her and if you can't do her up then keep a poultice on the leg heavier on where its filled. She should only get exercised( or turned out when the heat and fill is out of the leg.
Also, IMHO the antibiotics do not work well on hoof problems and the fact that she has not improved would point me in the direction of the upper leg issue.
Xray will show a bone issue, ultrasound will show a soft tissue injury, but like my vet says, Suspensory issues are very hard to see even with the best of equipment(Tendon issues are easier)
at any rate this may be a long term rehab problem, but she is young so she may heal up just fine given enough time. But I would not allow her to move much until she is somewhat sound or you risk doing more damage to the leg.
Good Luck with her, she's a cutie 
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 8, 2015 - 3:26 pm:
Hello DDinO,
Your experience shows why making guesses on the internet is a poor way to dx, treat, and prognose problems. Foot abscesses can cause unusual mild swellings up the leg and certainly your history is suggestive of traumatic muscoskeletal problems. You do not make it clear in your post why the vet thought it was a foot(?) abscess. You are looking for the area that not only has swelling but is also warm and painful. When it remains unclear from the exam, regional and nerve blocks will help define the area that is painful.
DrO
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Member:
ddoregon
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 8, 2015 - 4:35 pm:
Thanks Ann
DrO = our local vets stink. Long story short. He thinks an abcess as there are black marks on her sole, heat in the entire hoof, and sensitive to hoof tester. He said the lower leg swelling is common in deep abcess. He said that puffy part along the canon bone was a vein (?). Antibiotics because it may be spread up into the foot and leg(?)
The first vet didn't want to see her, assumed ligament injury, this vet thinks it's a hoof abscess. I'm stuck with what vets I have. What now? She has not been xrayed or ultrasound, as Ann mentioned would that be a waste of money?
He didn't seem to be interested in anything other than abcess to do nerve block. The first vet might, but is extremely overpriced, and not much better experienced imho. Both vets contradictory advice on rest or not, etc.
Frustrating.
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Member:
ddoregon
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 8, 2015 - 4:39 pm:
Rtrotter, thanks much and that's what I thought. Although antics can force an abcess brewing to be active. Maybe both? The area below the knee isn't sensitive to pressure or squeeze, and isn't hot, just the foot and a bit of pastern and coronary band is hot. No swelling anymore, it only swelled the first day.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 12, 2015 - 6:13 pm:
"The foot is hot, sensitive to hoof testers, and has some black spots (seedy) areas in the hoof (white line?)". If this is all true, along with a bounding digital pulse, a reasonable course of action would be to find the most sensitive area, associate it with the most likely seedy spot, and dig until they get puss draining out and then provide proper after care. For more on this see HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Hoof Abscesses, Bruises, and Gravels. If no one there can do that you need a referral.
Prevention would center around regular farrier work who does not allow these black spots to persist.
DrO
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