3 year old with swollen hock....urgent please

M

majicmoment

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 February 2008
Messages
392
Visit site
I know I am not that favoured on this forum but I am hoping someone can help.

On New Years day, my 3year old warmblood gelding was brought in from the field hopping lame. Yard owner cold hosed for 30 mins, bute x 2 and poultice put on.

Continued poulticing for 1x week and kept on box rest. Swelling reduced and now sound so started to walk out for 30 mins 2 x daily. He cannot be turned out because he will goon around.

So here I am on the 14th Jan – the swelling is not going down and has remained the same size for the past week, despite the walking. I cannot think of anything it might be and am now in a panic. The swelling starts at the top of his joint and encompasses the entire joint.

I am utterly in a panic. I lost my last horse to a hock problem in September and I don’t want to have to loose this one aswell
frown.gif
 
Mmm, well I would be concerned that if there had been no improvement after a couple of days the vet hadn't been called for starters. Or possibly immediately.

My guess would be some sort of fracture, or ligament damage - and Monday next week would be too long for me to wait for a diagnosis.
 
Well could the swelling be related to the fact that as you are not turning him out there is no chance for the swelling to reduce through movement?
 
Vet and x-rays/scans. Could be a bone chip or ligament damage, neither of which necessarily cause lameness beyond the acute stage but can cause all sorts of issues further on.
 
I have turned him out today. Unfortunately the ground has been completely solid so I was a bit stuck.
I have also changed the vet appointment to 9.30 tomorrow morning...which will put my mind at rest to I think.

Halfstep - how do they recover from ligament damage?
 
Good move having the vet out earlier - if nothing else, it will help you sleep more easily!

Depends on the ligament involved - usually box rest, gradually introduce slow exercise etc. The prognosis is generally good though.

Are you still giving bute and cold hosing? Some bruises can linger for a lot longer than you think, and hosing will help with swelling whatever it is. Is the swelling spreading? Could there be a small (tiny) puncture wound which has become infected?
 
This is the same symptoms that my horse had, very swollen hock, with some swelling around fetlock, very lame for 2 days. She was diagnosed with lymphagitus, antibiotics soon sorted it out.
 
sounds like a capped hock they can be sore when they are first done and the swelling never goes away unless you give him steroid injections for the rest of his days
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top