Chip removed in scapula, now pulled shoulder muscle?

cblover

cblover

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Hi folks, I need some advice.

I've bought a graded Class 1 full Irish Draught filly 3 yr old. When she was a yearling she had a slip in the field (as they do!) and chipped some bone from her scapula. She had this removed and has never been lame since. I spoke to the vet who carried out the operation at length before I bought her and was satisfied that all was well.

I'm now 4 weeks into owning her and last Saturday she was playing (not very energetically) in the field and came to a sliding stop which has resulted in a very sore shoulder. On palpation from the vet, the pain is the exact same place as her previous injury. They think at this stage it is a pulled muscle that just needs Danilon and rest but I'm not too sure. I'm don't think its just coincidence that its the same shoulder and same place.

If she doesn't improve before Monday, they will sedate her and scan the area to see whats going on. I bought her to hack with, do low level dressage and basically have fun with. I will eventually breed from her as she is exceptional in my eyes and, with the correct stallion, only enhance the breed. However I didn't want to breed a foal yet and if she doesn't come sound, this is what she will become. Still a valuable asset to someone though. I'm so disheartened about the whole thing.

Does anyone have any experience of this? Can offer some words of advice?
 
cblover said:
Hi folks, I need some advice.

I've bought a graded Class 1 full Irish Draught filly 3 yr old. When she was a yearling she had a slip in the field (as they do!) and chipped some bone from her scapula. She had this removed and has never been lame since. I spoke to the vet who carried out the operation at length before I bought her and was satisfied that all was well.

I'm now 4 weeks into owning her and last Saturday she was playing (not very energetically) in the field and came to a sliding stop which has resulted in a very sore shoulder. On palpation from the vet, the pain is the exact same place as her previous injury. They think at this stage it is a pulled muscle that just needs Danilon and rest but I'm not too sure. I'm don't think its just coincidence that its the same shoulder and same place.

If she doesn't improve before Monday, they will sedate her and scan the area to see whats going on. I bought her to hack with, do low level dressage and basically have fun with. I will eventually breed from her as she is exceptional in my eyes and, with the correct stallion, only enhance the breed. However I didn't want to breed a foal yet and if she doesn't come sound, this is what she will become. Still a valuable asset to someone though. I'm so disheartened about the whole thing.

Does anyone have any experience of this? Can offer some words of advice?
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Oh dear, what a shame for you and so soon after you bought her too. I wonder if she could have pulled the shoulder muscle badly when she chipped her scapula (that must have been quite wallop) and this latest accident has aggravated the old pull again. Or a ligament in the shoulder area? I did the ligaments in my lower back when I was 18 and it has never been right since, and prone to relapse.
 
The chances are it is just as the vet described and some rest and anti-inflams will do the trick, possibly in addition to a visit from a qualified physio. A sliding stop is more likely to injury tendons and ligaments rather than bone. Also if in any doubt, don't waste time with scans and xrays and messing about with a vet who isn't sure, refer yourself directly to a specialist orthapedic vet who will be much better placed to diagnose the problem from an initial assessment and then use the appropriate diagnostic tools.
Fingers crossed she is OK. ID's are big old units and there is a lot of body mass to move around and generally they don't stop / turn as quickly and athletically as other breeds. Having said that, they are generally pretty robust.
 
Thanks for that. The vet has just phoned and actually and is coming to scan at 4ish this afternoon. She did say that if it's not obvious on the scan, she will need referred. I'm just hoping it is obvious and we get some answers today.
 
Vets couldn't get near her to sedate and scan, she's clearly too sore and her aggression was clear. They've requested her details from the vets where she had her operation as a yearling and they will get back to me this week.

I'm giving her danilon twice a day, arnica and comfrey leaves. It seems to be both shoulders, which would make sense if both her front feet came out in the sliding stop. I'm just gutted. Both my equine vets that came that day said they were unable to recommend her as a ridden horse and advised me to get her field sound and advertise her as a brood more. They were optimistic she would be field safe and able to carry foals. That's something I suppose. She's very well breed and a class 1 mare.
 
Oh no. Was she vetted at the time of purchase ? She must have been sound to pass her grading ? Something sounds v odd, not what you are saying clover, just v odd that the vets can't get near her to inspect her at all. I take it she is stabled & you can handle her ?
If she really is as broken as you say then it's wrong for the vets to suggest she should be a brood mare. Soundness is a prerequisite to carrying a foal imo.
Are you able to get her to an equine hospital ? She needs to be properly examined. Sounds a night mare for you and you were so excited too.
 
I have already replied to a previous post but just wanted to say my horse was very upset about his shoulder and hugely defensive about it being touched. I had a friend with a red light come and see him and he wouldn't let her near him. I was shocked at how upset he was.

He would snap at me when I tried to touch it and he isn't like that at all. Clearly shoulder muscle injuries hurt like hell. I had the physio come over 2 weeks later and he grudgingly let her work on him then realised it was helping and was asking for her to do more and get deeper behind the shoulder blade.

My advice - give it time, let her walk about, so much arnica and bute, good vet and a very good physio.
 
carolineb said:
I have already replied to a previous post but just wanted to say my horse was very upset about his shoulder and hugely defensive about it being touched. I had a friend with a red light come and see him and he wouldn't let her near him. I was shocked at how upset he was.

He would snap at me when I tried to touch it and he isn't like that at all. Clearly shoulder muscle injuries hurt like hell. I had the physio come over 2 weeks later and he grudgingly let her work on him then realised it was helping and was asking for her to do more and get deeper behind the shoulder blade.

My advice - give it time, let her walk about, so much arnica and bute, good vet and a very good physio.
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This!!! My mare has a chronic sore shoulder and Physio has been invaluable!!!

Also once she's better something like straightness training, which includes lots of groundwork/work in hand, will help to strengthen her and carry herself properly.

It's very early days. Never say never!!!
 
That's appalling luck .
Firstly I would get her referred sooner rather than later .
As long as she's fit to travel get her away to a centre of excellence where they can sedate her in the stocks and do what they need to do .
You need to try to diagnose what's happens before you can come to any long term decisions.
It's very unfortunate and fairly unusual she being bad to handle when ID's decide they don't want something done you realise they know how big and strong they are and it's not fun.
If you don't have a good physio you use already I would find out who is well spoken of locally as it's likely it will be a great help to her a bit later on.
It's rotten rotten luck have a hug from me .
 
I'm completely with Goldenstar. You need to get her into a hospital so she can be assessed properly. It's simply not acceptable for your vets to leave her & say they will get back to you in the week. She needs to be seen by an orthopedic specialist to assess her movement & then determine what treatment she needs. I do also accept a horse in pain can be difficult to get close enough to to properly assess. But if she is that upset then she shouldn't be left indefinitely. I'm not pointing the finger at you cblover, but your vet has not been particularly helpful.
I agree a physio could be very useful but there is no point until the problem is diagnosed and a properly qualified & registered physio will not work on your mare until they have approval from the vet.
Fingers crossed for your mare cblover, it's rotten luck but it maybe something quickly and easily treated & might appear worse than it actually is. Don't accept being fobbed off by the vet, refer yourself if necessary.
 
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