Back in October, I noticed a hard lump on the inside of me geldings leg. It just appeared and didn’t have any cut or laceration around it. He’s a young man with gangly legs and a propensity for pulling shoes😂 Not hot, not lame. I thought it was going away but looked bigger yesterday. Haven’t done much with it but wondering if I should?
If it keeps growing it may impinge on the tendon/ligament adjacent. Worth a look by the vet, for sure. … That’s one cute little foot, by the way.
1 Like
it looks like a splint to me. those things can range from “leave it alone” to “needs surgery”. Since he’s not lame my guess it falls into the leave it alone category.
9 Likes
If you are worried about it, add it to the things the vet will look at next time you have them out. If you are really worried, call them and ask them to schedule an appointment to look at it.
Looks like a splint to me. I personally would not be overly worried, but never bad to add it to the list of things for the vet to look at.
2 Likes
Looks like there seems to be some slight trauma there, a long scratch and a little black scuff below?
Our vets love for us to ask about things before they may become a problem, even if all they may say is to wait and see.
Plenty of times they don’t even charge for looking, say they are thankful we are watching and let them know something is going on.
X-rays are so easy and good today, they may want to check to be sure there is nothing cracked in there?
4 Likes
Splints can get end up interfering with soft tissue, and when they do it is important that they are removed before real damage is done to the soft tissue. I’d want a baseline x-ray to hold on to for the future.
1 Like
My young girl had something similar as a 4 year old that just appeared one day - hard, cold, and totally sound on it. I had the vet out anyway and when she ultrasounded she confirmed it was a splint but said based on the ultrasound it still needed to fully set even though it wasn’t showing any outward sign of it. Mare got 6 weeks of hand walking only (+ turn out in boots but she’s always been quite quiet in turn out).
Mare never took a lame step and the popped splint has never bothered her in the years since. I do ALWAYS ride her in front splint boots just so she doesn’t accidentally knock it and cause damage (per vet recommendation).
I’d have the vet do an ultrasound just to confirm what the bump is regardless but especially if there’s any changes to it (new growth, softening, heat, etc)
Sounds like my guy right down to the age! I’ve got a call into the vet to hopefully come shoot an X-ray on Monday after all the suggestions.
1 Like
Was her bump on the front or hind? Mines on the hind leg.
Looks like a splint. It’s probably fine, but for some that have prolonged reactivity, I’ve found a round or two of shockwave helps.
2 Likes
My mare (14) had one of these appear on her hind, too. She never took or has taken a lame step due to it initially or now, two years later. Vet is unconcerned now (and was when we finally noticed it). I’m a firm believer in the “benign neglect/don’t go looking for trouble” school of horse care. You might operate differently!
2 Likes
Edit: Just realized that’s a hind leg. Thank you coffee. Splints are definitely more rare in hinds so take below with the appropriately sized grain of salt.
Another vote for splint. Although usually not a big deal, IMHO it does warrant a vet consult. I had one youngster pop a large splint (front) that turned out to be nearly a complete horizontal fracture of the splint bone. If I remember correctly he ended up on 6 weeks of stall rest but avoided surgery to remove the bone shard. His bump was slightly hot but surprisingly he wasn’t lame and I’m sure would have happily continued his pasture based campaign of gleeful self destruction.
2 Likes
I vote watch it as long as he isn’t lame and have the vet look at it next time one is around.
My mare whacked the 3 inch pipe fence where she lives and sprouted a huge goose egg. She wasn’t lame so I just watched it. She did it again about a month later and this time she was sore. So cold therapy and standing wrap and the soreness resolved quickly. 1st episode in December. In May I turned her out and she was next to the BO’s mare and foal and she lost it. She was sure that foal was the creature from the black lagoon for about 3 weeks until she decided it was a baby horse. After her blast around the hillside at Mach speed, she was again swollen and sore so off to the vet. We did x-rays and her splint bone was pristine.
This is what it looked like in September…9 months after the initial injury.
The BO finally moved her to an end stall and finally one neighbor that she gets along with better. It is down about 50% from the September picture.
Susan
Hers was front - so definitely more common for a splint vs the hind that your guy is showing!
Update: cold hard splint just like some of you suggested! Vet not worried about it at all.
6 Likes
