This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » First Aid » Pressure Wraps, Poultices, Cold and Heat Therapy for Swelling in Horse Legs »
  Discussion on Hosing legs after work
Author Message
New Member:
Delhors

Posted on Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 - 1:21 pm:

After reading Pressure wraps..... I still wonder about cooling treatments after a work on horses that develope inflammation. We are working with a horse that looks like she has ring bone because of the swelling just above the hair line of her hoof. On xray the horse does not have calcium deposits but the bones are not in perfect alignment. She is a competitive athlete and we are going to use all available methods to keep inflammation and pain at bay. Would you suggest cooling of icing these areas after each work. Is there a best method?
Thanks Del
Member:
Amara

Posted on Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 - 2:02 pm:

Del, while i cant say anything about the icing, i have a comment about the posible ringbone.. we have a horse at the barn i work at that had swelling just above his hairline on both front hooves... the owner decided to go barefoot with him, and the swelling was almost completely gone within 3 weeks, and after several months is entirely gone... so maybe its not ringbone?.. just a thought

Member:
Delhors

Posted on Friday, Aug 15, 2003 - 12:33 pm:

Thanks, It is not ring bone and I have pulled the shoes on this mare and turned her out. No improvement for her, she may have gotten worse. I think she just has a misalingment of the proximal phalanx and the middle phalanx. (I had to look that up.) They are the two bones just above the hair line. The vet that xrayed the horse said that it was definately not ring bone and that the inflammation must be caused by this anatomical imperfection. All that said this mare has run times that are extremely competitive and I think if we can keep the inflammation and pain at bay she can be a winner. My question is what is the best approach.
Anti-inflammatories daily, Anti-oxidants, good nutrition, and ice or cooling the potential inflammed areas after works?
Thanks
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Aug 16, 2003 - 5:09 pm:

Your best treatment would be to trim and pad if necessary to properly align those bones Del. If you are having problems with active inflammation, antiinflammatories and cold therapy would be useful. Application of cold is explained at » Equine Diseases » First Aid » Pressure Wraps, Poultices, Cold and Heat Therapy for Swelling in Horse Legs. Use of antiinflammatories is explained at, » Equine Medications and Nutriceuticals » Anti-inflammatories, Steroids, and Arthritis Treatment. For information on antioxidants run a search as this informaiton is a bit scattered about.
DrO
Member:
Delhors

Posted on Sunday, Aug 17, 2003 - 10:26 am:

Thanks. According to our vet Tim Phillips of Redmond OR who specializes in leg problems the misalignment cannot be corrected with hoof angle. I understand the effect of cold on the inflammation process and see how it should help after works. I just don't have experience with the best methods of applying the cold, and for what periods of time. They make some products ie Miracle Ice, that may be of use but I was looking for recommended methodology. Thanks again, Del
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 18, 2003 - 2:27 am:

Hmmm...what type misalignment do you have? Proper alignmanet of the bones of the foot and pasten are closely related to hoof balance. The article referenced above on cold explains techniques and times.
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC