So looks like we are going to give the Dynasplints a try! I’ll be reading up on every thing I can to avoid giving him sores. This boy and wounds are not a good combination!!!
I’m wondering if the tubi socks we use on the event horses to avoid rubs from their xc boots would work…
Go buy some gold bond powder, and some tube sock, or the Tubi socks might work. The sores I got from mine weren’t bad. They do an awesome job of padding the areas that rub. What has caused problems with others (I think) is they used the PVC splints first (which are notorious for Rubbing and causing sores) and then the dynasplints are rubbing on the same spot. I can’t say enough great things about my Dynasplint experience and am always willing to share and talk to people about it. I even told Dynasplint they can give my number out and people can call me. And, they have! It’s not a well known option, and my vets at the time were skeptical, but it really worked for me, and several others I know. I did a TON of research, and really felt like this was the right path for my filly. Good luck, and don’t panic the first day when they put them on. Mine acted like an idiot too the first time, and they get used to them VERY quickly. Let us know how it goes. While a bit of a PIA, it is worth it, as they really do the trick. Also, very little bedding in the stall, and I used boa hoof boots for regular
Turnout for several weeks to allow the toe to grow. The boas are the best, as they are a slightly longer toe shape and aid in the process. Not sure if its still up, but I did a YouTube video back in 2007 explaining it. If you search flexural deformity on YouTube, you may find it. Good luck!!!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WbiGSKzXEOo
Here’s the YouTube link (I hope it works)
Just watched it for the first time in years. Brought back a flood of memories. BTW-this is the mare you saw me on at blue goose! We are moving up to the 3’6" jumper classes at Ludwigs corner!
OP, can you post pics of your guy? You mention occasional knuckling of the fetlocks and it sounds like this is at least bilateral, if not quadrilateral. The history you’ve shared of painful joints prior to this makes me think you may not be dealing with a straight forward rapid growth issue.
OP, talk to JackieBlue about they DynaSplints. She was their main person for a few years and is EXTREMELY knowledgeable about it. 
I’ve used DynaSplints on some babies also. Great product!
[QUOTE=JackieBlue;7133463]
OP, can you post pics of your guy? You mention occasional knuckling of the fetlocks and it sounds like this is at least bilateral, if not quadrilateral. The history you’ve shared of painful joints prior to this makes me think you may not be dealing with a straight forward rapid growth issue.[/QUOTE]
We are not. We think he has immune mitigated poly-arthritis. That seems under control now. But we are also dealing with rapid growth. My vet is thrilled with how his other joints are starting look (returning much more normal now).
I’d say these pictures are him looking pretty good for him, he does sometimes look worse and sometimes better. We have been working very hard with my farrier to keep his heels trimmed. Sometimes he looks a lot more upright. I’m trying hard to control his weight but keep him healthy. He got very thin on us for a while but now looks almost too good. I cut his grain back again as now that he is out all night on good grass, I feel he needs less.
My vet wants to meet with my farrier first and see if we can try to help him more with a wedge shoe before going the splinting route. We are both a bit concerned with him getting sores from the splints and causing his polyarthritis to flare up again. If shoeing doesn’t get him going in the right direction in a month or so, we will add the splints.
For kicks…I included a picture of him last year as a weaner (well, he was still on his dam at that picture so about 4.5 months old) before he got really sick–the third picture is that one.
And his super cute face and picture with his dam…just cause
I had one who contracted as a yearling where his knee was never straight, always cocked. He lived out and did just fine - ended up 17.2hh and gorgeous.
[QUOTE=currycomb321;7133998]
I had one who contracted as a yearling where his knee was never straight, always cocked. He lived out and did just fine - ended up 17.2hh and gorgeous.[/QUOTE]
That gives me some hope. I think this boy will end up at 16.3ish range. He looked a bit worse tonight but was happy to go out and run around with his friends.
Aw, he is a cutie! One thing really catches my eye in these photos and my biggest caution to you is this: DO NOT splint this guy’s fetlocks without wedging his foot and/or supporting his coffin joint somehow!! And, because of his polyarthritis, keep in mind that Dynasplints work by exerting real force on bones and joints. Your colt may not tolerate this well and is more likely than others to experience joint pain and inflammation, which can lead to further deformity.
As you know, he’s upright through the fetlock. His deformity in the fetlocks is significant enough that he has the “back at the knee look” caused by tension in the extensors. BUT, most importantly, he is the OPPOSITE in his lower joint/s. His distal interphalangeal joint (DIP joint or coffin joint) is hyperextended (whereas, fetlock is hyper flexed), very likely overly lax as a result of his bodyweight “jamming” down at too steep an angle. It’s difficult to tell from the picture, but I believe the proximal interphalangeal joint is hyperextending a bit, as well. To put splints on this boy right now, without safely correcting his hoof/pastern axis, would set him back on his heels, maybe even cause his toe to lift off the ground. Complications from this could range from temporary discomfort to permanent unsoundness. I’ve worked with many horses with hyperflexion of the fetlocks and hyperextension of the coffin joint and it is a tricky situation, to be sure.
You need to be very careful how you proceed with this one. I’m more bothered by the DIP joints in his front limbs than I am by the fetlocks. Don’t get me wrong, the fetlocks are a problem, but the ligament strain and instability in the DIP joints is a bigger deal when it comes to long term soundness and ultimate prognosis. Keeping his weight and exercise limited until he’s better supported is highly advisable.
I have an early start tomorrow so I’m turning in, but if you’d like more details I’d be happy to post again tomorrow.
One more thing. I splinted Aaspen’s exquisite mare, myself. Your colt has an entirely different presentation and will require much different treatment, but hopefully you’ll experience the same end result.
JackieBlue really is a genius when it comes to this sort of thing! It is her passion, which is apparent!!! She truly knows her way around a horses lower leg.
Thanks JackieBlue–It sounds like we have the right attack plan. Both my vet and I are a bit concerned how he would handle splinting so are being cautious on that. My vet and farrier are going to work on him soon. My vet was saying she was thinking a bar shoe with small wedge. I suspect they will shot some xrays and come up with shoeing plan…and if he is like his relatives…we will need to factor in keeping shoes on!!! Wonder if I can find bell boots that will fit him
Aw, Aaspen, you’re too sweet. Yep, I love me a lower limb on a horse. :tickled_pink:
OP, your plan sounds perfect. I know you and your vet already know this, but when you’re dealing with reactive joints it’s best to plan your moves carefully and take your time. Fetlocks are more reactive than the other joints in the leg when it comes to splinting even without any systemic and/or local complications thrown in. The fetlock joint is the most likely to swell and is a common site for sores when splinting, whether you use static splints (like PVC and casting materials) or dynamic (any splint with a hinge, like a Dynasplint). I always say that if you take your thumb and press it into a horse’s fetlock for 5 minutes or so, you’ll end up with a thumb-sized swelling right where you pressed. It may be a bit of an exaggeration, but that’s how easy it is to cause trouble with a fetlock.
It sounds like you and your vet have a very good handle on what needs to be done for your boy, but for all reading…
As a rule (for me), when a baby presents “classically”, with knuckling at the fetlock accompanied by equal contracture in the joints below (standing on tippy toes or folded over, weight bearing on front of hoof), the goal is to get them flat on their feet ASAP. Weight bearing on the tip or front of the coffin bone is detrimental to its integrity and pedal osteitis or worse is the main concern. In these cases, some irritation to the fetlock joint is a small price to pay and isn’t my first concern, so I’ll load that fetlock up until we get the feet flat and then caution comes into play.
When the presentation is like your boy’s, the laxity in the lowest joints complicates the situation and can quickly cause permanent damage. Any irritation to the fetlock, resulting in inflammation and increased discomfort, is only going to worsen both the fetlock contracture and, by association, the laxity down below. I’m sure you can imagine how detrimental it would be for a horse to stand all day and all night with their toes on a ledge, heels and majority of their weight hanging off the back - like when they step just a toe onto a trailer ramp and then hang there awkwardly before stepping up fully. That’s similar to the stress that a hyperextended DIP is under. OUCH! Exerting any corrective force on the fetlock without supporting the heel and DIP joint is akin to shoving back on the horse’s fetlock while he stands with his heels hanging off the trailer ramp, placing even more weight into his heels and more stress on all the sensitive and very necessary soft tissues around PIII (collateral ligaments, impar ligament, etc.). And since the cases we’re talking about have their heels on the ground while being hyperextended, think of aaaaallllllll the weight slamming down onto the very tiny navicular bone! :eek:
So, to wrap it all up, no matter how a lower limb flexural deformity presents, my ultimate goal is always to protect the foot first. Sometimes you need to attack the fetlock first to protect the future health of the foot, sometimes you need to go to work on the foot itself and then worry about the fetlock. In either case, I always look to have an aligned column from the fetlock down (PI through PIII in alignment) as my first step. Oftentimes, once the the pastern and coffin bones are aligned, even if they’re still too upright, the horse’s bodyweight will help get the rest of the job done.
OP, will you keep us posted as you move forward with the treatment?
[QUOTE=JackieBlue;7135993]
OP, will you keep us posted as you move forward with the treatment?[/QUOTE]
Of course. I’m am expecting it to be a bit of a long slog though. This isn’t the sort of thing that fixes quickly.
I was just glancing at your picture again and I’m wondering if he’s really as tied in below the right knee as he looks in the photo. because the photo is a little blurry if I enlarge it, I just can’t tell if that’s really what I’m seeing. If so, That will need to be addressed before attempting to stretch the fetlock, whether with splints or under his own weight alone. I hope it’s just a weird “picture thing” and not actually as bad as it appears.
[QUOTE=JackieBlue;7136081]
I was just glancing at your picture again and I’m wondering if he’s really as tied in below the right knee as he looks in the photo. because the photo is a little blurry if I enlarge it, I just can’t tell if that’s really what I’m seeing. If so, That will need to be addressed before attempting to stretch the fetlock, whether with splints or under his own weight alone. I hope it’s just a weird “picture thing” and not actually as bad as it appears.[/QUOTE]
Just a weird picture thing. He’s actually not bad there at all in person. Although he is tied in a bit and probably always will be. I’ll see if there are better pictures.
Here are a few other angles but not great photos. He had banged the front of his LF cannon bone so there was a little swelling there which makes it look worse than it is. He is a bit tied in but not as bad as these photos look. He is very similar to his dam in this respect (and she never had a problem).
Use caution should you decide to proceed with Dynasplint:
Not sure how much, if any, of the veterinary division remains. It was not financially independent and continued to be a loss financially for the company, so common sense would make it first (or close to it) in line for the chopping block.
The Medicare fraud case initiated by an ex-employee has been picked up by 25 states and the federal government and evidence gathered thus far, dating back to 2004, is pretty damning. So, as they say, “It. Could. Go. All. The. Way.”
Not sure how this will effect the use of Dynasplints in the veterinary market, but there is superior technology out there that may now find a way in.
Interesting. Right now I think my vet and I are more inclined to go without splinting. We are just a bit too concerned with his other issues to put the pressure on the joints.
We have further limited his turn out. He is going out twice during the day for a few hours–coming in at lunch and for the night. I just don’t think he is resting enough out in the field.
BFNE, how is your handsome lad doing?
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