Firehorse
Well-Known Member
hi guys, sorry i hvent been on here's for absolutely ages! but i'm back with a question.
my pony is 16, fast, fit and sound. lives out 24.7. in march i noticed he had a swelling above his knee. a new horse had arrived at the field jst before, so i put it down to a kick or jst from haring about the field. of course, it may hve been like it longer than this and i didnt notice it due to his hairy winter coat. it's not so big that u can really notice it. someone who doesnt know my horse wudnt necessarily notice it. i kept a close eye on it ever since. he's not been lame and there was no skin wound. it's been no worse or better for rest or exercise.
it's still there, so i thought i'd get it looked at jst to be sure. i knew he wasnt lame, but didnt trust myself to maybe not hve missed something.
anyhoo, vet says it's fluid around the tendon sheath and around knee joint. absolutely sound after flexion, trotting circles etc etc. she wants him to go into the hospital for a scan, possible xray and then they can drain, medicate etc. he's insured, but KBIS only pay 75% as he is 16 and they dont pay anything towards transportation. (kicking myself as changed from nfu a yr ago and they wudve paid some transport). i got a quote from vet and we're looking around £680 before any treatment. she said i could of course leave it, as it hasnt got any worse in the couple of months i've known about it, but then if i leave it and it flares up beyond 12 months, the insurance then wont cover it. i dont know that to do!!! if money were no object, i'd take him in and hve it looked at. i dont hve the money sitting around, i'd really struggle to find it. obviously if he had been lame, i wouldnt even think twice about it, i'd manage somehow. i've read up on knee swelling in a vet book and it describes what he has and says basically leave it alone.
the vet had also said she could post some compagel to try. she could do a scan and xray at my yard, but seemed to put this downfall and that downfall with that option.
friends hve suggested epsom salts poultice, cold hosing, cold bandaging, bute.
i really dont know what to do. half of me wishes i hadnt got the vet out as he is fine, and left it till it gets worse, (if it ever does). HELP!!
thankyou xx
my pony is 16, fast, fit and sound. lives out 24.7. in march i noticed he had a swelling above his knee. a new horse had arrived at the field jst before, so i put it down to a kick or jst from haring about the field. of course, it may hve been like it longer than this and i didnt notice it due to his hairy winter coat. it's not so big that u can really notice it. someone who doesnt know my horse wudnt necessarily notice it. i kept a close eye on it ever since. he's not been lame and there was no skin wound. it's been no worse or better for rest or exercise.
it's still there, so i thought i'd get it looked at jst to be sure. i knew he wasnt lame, but didnt trust myself to maybe not hve missed something.
anyhoo, vet says it's fluid around the tendon sheath and around knee joint. absolutely sound after flexion, trotting circles etc etc. she wants him to go into the hospital for a scan, possible xray and then they can drain, medicate etc. he's insured, but KBIS only pay 75% as he is 16 and they dont pay anything towards transportation. (kicking myself as changed from nfu a yr ago and they wudve paid some transport). i got a quote from vet and we're looking around £680 before any treatment. she said i could of course leave it, as it hasnt got any worse in the couple of months i've known about it, but then if i leave it and it flares up beyond 12 months, the insurance then wont cover it. i dont know that to do!!! if money were no object, i'd take him in and hve it looked at. i dont hve the money sitting around, i'd really struggle to find it. obviously if he had been lame, i wouldnt even think twice about it, i'd manage somehow. i've read up on knee swelling in a vet book and it describes what he has and says basically leave it alone.
the vet had also said she could post some compagel to try. she could do a scan and xray at my yard, but seemed to put this downfall and that downfall with that option.
friends hve suggested epsom salts poultice, cold hosing, cold bandaging, bute.
i really dont know what to do. half of me wishes i hadnt got the vet out as he is fine, and left it till it gets worse, (if it ever does). HELP!!
thankyou xx
