Swelling and lameness - reinjured?

[DawningDreams]

Dawn came up very mildly lame yesterday evening- not tracking up, toe dragging, and generally stiff and sore. I noticed that the swelling on the lateral aspect of her left hind fetlock and cannon bone are ballooned up. I cold hosed, gave banamine, and applied an Epsom salt gel poultice. She’s now in a small dry lot with access to a round bale. I have a vet appointment scheduled for next Friday- it’s the earliest they could do a full lameness workup. I’m wondering what y’all think may be wrong and/or have any tips on what to do until the vet sees her?

[sara78]

hI just one question, ddi he already have an injury on that location? if not, have you looked if he has some cuts? looks like stocking, i would cold hose him and if not very lame i would walk him on hard surface and see if the swelling decreases

[DawningDreams]

@sara78

hI just one question, ddi he already have an injury on that location? if not, have you looked if he has some cuts? looks like stocking, i would cold hose him and if not very lame i would walk him on hard surface and see if the swelling decreases

Yes, she has had issues off and on with a lateral branch suspensory issue. No cuts and she’s turned out and moving so I doubt it’s stocking up. I’m thinking she reinjured it while at the vet for an unrelated issue - she was fussing and freaking about the stocks - rearing, pulling back, etc.

[PrincessPonies]

Is it hot at all? It looks like when my horse had cellulitis. My vet said it didn’t require a cut you can see. Besides from the swelling my horses legged looked normal but she was three legged lame. When my horse had it we sweat wrapped and gave antibiotics.

[DawningDreams]

It’s very mildly warm. She’s had cellulitis in her other hind leg from a gash over her hock so I know what it looks like and how she responds to that. Last time with cellulitis, she went three legged lame along with full leg swelling. This is very similar to the swelling she presented with during her initial injury in August.

[sara78]

oh, ok hope it s not a reinjury, you have to wait until is less swollen and have an eco to see which part is affected

[IPEsq]

The swelling on one side only is suspicious of re-injury. You may want to lay off the banamine today so vet can get a good idea of lameness on Friday, but keep up cold hosing, wrapping…

[DawningDreams]

@IPEsq

The swelling on one side only is suspicious of re-injury. You may want to lay off the banamine today so vet can get a good idea of lameness on Friday, but keep up cold hosing, wrapping…

That’s what I was afraid of… Vet will see her next Friday, not tomorrow. I have her in a small dry lot with the two other horses. I’d wrap because she’s fantastic about bandaging, it’s the other two that I’m worried about messing with the wrap. I cold hosed, applied the Epsom salt poultice gel, and watched her move today in the dry lot. She’s short striding majorly, has a head nod, and is clearly limping at the trot (horses pushed her around during feeding time). Toe dragging and not tracking up at a walk too. I did speak with the people I purchased her from and they said they’d be happy to retire her at their place with one of her old buddies. She’d be out on three acres and just being a horse. I’m considering that because of how little it took to cause this reinjury. We’ll see what the vet says on Friday. Planning to do just flexion tests and ultrasound to keep costs down rather than flexions, ultrasound, X-rays, and blocking.

[IPEsq]

Can you temporarily put her in a pen by herself?

[sara78]

just wait next friday and an eco will tell which part is affected. If it s a desmitis of a branch of a hind limb, I think considering retirement is a good option, i tell you because i had so many issues in my life with horses and spent so much money and time and at the end when it becomes a chronic ,specially soft tissues injury it hardly heals completely. Sorry for my english, i know what it means being with the stress every day going to the barn and looking if he is off or not, I found it so frustrating and really to hard to deal with it. Maybe she has good papers and she would be a super mother!!!

[DawningDreams]

With twice daily hand-walking, cold-hosing, and epsom salt gel application as well as restricted turnout, the swelling has decreased significantly. I’ve also been religious about applying fly spray and swat on her legs to minimize stomping (she’s always very sensitive to bugs). It has returned to slightly larger than before it ballooned up and looks like a moderate windpuff. She’s still pretty lame - jabby and hikes up her hock on that side, seems choppier on both hind limbs, and has a slight head nod with that leg coming down. Planning to continue what I’ve been doing so far and take her in Friday for the ultrasound.
People I bought her from would love to take her back and they have the money to put into her for supplements, treatment, etc. She’d be retired with her buddy and get to relax. If she ever came sound (no pressure from them, however), they’d possibly use her for leadline lessons.
Any other suggestions on what to do until vet sees her? I’m stumped by how fast the swelling decreased and by how lame she continues to be without the swelling.

[RedHorses]

Wrap. Your vet will be able to get a better picture of what’s going on if you can minimize the swelling.

[findeight]

Has this cleared up since you posted this last week?

[atr]

A lame horse with a swollen leg and a history of suspensory injuries would be on complete stall rest in my barn, not turnout and handwalking.

[Scribbler]

OP you’ve had no luck with this horse at all, it seems. If her old owners want to give her a soft landing I’d take them up on it now. Circumstances change and what if they aren’t able to take her on in 6 months?

[warriorhorse]

@Scribbler

OP you’ve had no luck with this horse at all, it seems. If her old owners want to give her a soft landing I’d take them up on it now. Circumstances change and what if they aren’t able to take her on in 6 months?

Not only that but they might change their mind here in just the next week or two. Don’t know how old mare is. But might not ever be usable for riding or any kind of work.

Being horse’s live into there 30s I wouldn’t be willing to have a pasture ornament for 10 or 20 plus years. Hope that’s not the case but doesn’t sound very promising too me. Horse sure has a lot of issues.

Give her back to previous owner now ,while they are willing to take her back. Previous owner might change there mind if you wait to long.

[DawningDreams]

@Scribbler

OP you’ve had no luck with this horse at all, it seems. If her old owners want to give her a soft landing I’d take them up on it now. Circumstances change and what if they aren’t able to take her on in 6 months?

I am heavily considering it. I’m at my wits end and want what’s the best for her. Do you think it’s even worth taking her to the vet for an ultrasound or should I just take her back now?

[warriorhorse]

@DawningDreams

I am heavily considering it. I’m at my wits end and want what’s the best for her. Do you think it’s even worth taking her to the vet for an ultrasound or should I just take her back now?

I’d cancel vet appointment load her up and take her back. Let’s previous owner spend money on diagnostics.

[IPEsq]

If you want a riding horse, your best bet is likely to send her back and look for something else. You are both lucky that she has that option for good care, sound or not.

[Jungle_Monkey]

I really would doubt that the previous owners will pay to have her diagnosed. You owe it to the horse to at least figure out if she’s re-injured herself.

"I’m thinking she reinjured it while at the vet for an unrelated issue - she was fussing and freaking about the stocks - rearing, pulling back, etc. " How long after that vet appointment did you notice the swelling. Could she have really whacked herself? Would anyone have noticed?