Hock Injury - looking for some insight...

[ANuJourney]

Hello,
I am hoping to just share some conversation with folks that have experience with similar injuries.

Tuesday afternoon I got a call from the BM that my older gelding kicked my mare while they were being led to turnout (they were being led together, as they always are). One of the horses in the paddocks next to them spooked, my mare spooked, and my gelding had a fit and started firing at her. He got her right in the hock joint. The wounds were all superficial for the most part, however she was immediately 3-legged.

BM cold hosed, gave her bute, called me, and the vet was there by 3pm. Xrays were taken and there wasn’t anything they could see, but they did say there could be a hairline fracture they just aren’t seeing. Vet cleaned her up, wrapped her leg, gave her some IV meds and instructions for stall rest, SMZ and bute 2x/day and re-wrapping both legs daily.

Wednesday afternoon she was quite swollen and still hopping around 3-legged. While I was cold hosing the leg she was trying to put a little weight on her toe, but nothing more than just resting it.

Thursday she had less swelling - still hopping. No attempts to put weight on it.

Today swelling is about the same, no horrible leakage out of the bigger cut. She was breathing heavily when I got there so gave her nightime bute a little early. Still no attempt to put weight on it at all. Hosing it is painful, even on the lightest setting and indirect spraying.

My vet will be bringing another equine vet with her on Monday (the soonest they can come, as everyone is out of town) for a second look. She is concerned she is still not putting any weight on it at all.

Not really sure what I am asking for here. I am absolutely distraught as this horse is my entire life, and I feel so helpless since I have never dealt with a hock injury like this. I am terrified for the worst. Anyone have any helpful words? Thank you in advance.

first photo is from Tuesday, the rest are from Wednesday when the swelling was at its worst.

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[SolarFlare]

We found my horse 3-legged, totally non-weight-bearing on a hind leg one morning. I had ridden him the night before (totally fine) and he had been in a stall, so no possibility of being kicked. We assumed he had been lying down and whacked his leg when rolling or getting up.

Vet came out, and found hemarthrosis (like a hematoma but into the joint space). We drained it and he was immediately better, and back to normal the next day. In your last photo (wet leg with the hock bent) the swelling was just about in the same spot - front of the hock but to the outside on mine.

To note - we also thought he might have a fracture (we xrayed, nothing showed, but same thing - might be a hairline that’s too fresh to see), also considered he might have injured the ligament. Luckily it turned out it was just the bleeding.

My vet tapped the swollen spot to see what was inside before draining - maybe yours will consider doing that. If I remember correctly, 30cc + of blood was drained out of the joint!