DDFT or Suspensory injury – arrrgggh!!!

hopscotch bandit

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Gutted! On Saturday afternoon my horse went dramatically lame around 40 minutes into our hack. As she was so lame I had to get off her and lead her home. Her leg was very hot and swollen so the vet came out and wasn’t sure what was wrong with her but felt it could be either her DDFT strain or her Suspensory Ligament. She felt she had possibly sprained it with the mud in the field and it had just got to the point that it couldn’t stretch anymore.

The vet couldn’t make an accurate diagnosis as she wouldn’t let her lift her leg or touch it, she was really guarding it even after sedation. She said she had a strong pulse but not fast and was able to rule out an abscess as the pastern is not inflamed only above the fetlock to below the knee. She said box rest but to also walk her around the yard as she needs to walk as she has arthritis and we don’t want her to seize up so she is having some in hand grazing - before she gets to the point where she is too strong to walk in hand! :eek:

She is booked in for a scan next Monday and I am icing her leg with Ice Vibe boots twice a day and will start ice cupping this afternoon when I have finished work for Xmas and do that twice or three times a day, just hit her with everything I think.

On Sunday morning when I led her out of the stable, she was probably 1/10th lame. Given that she had intravenous bute 14 hours before and nothing after I was very surprised to find her as sound as she was which is good. My friend at the yard helped me last night, lending me bandages and putting them on for me as it’s a long time since I did this! She is also hosing her leg for me today whilst I’m at work, bless her.

This morning she was barely lame at all straight out of the box but the vet I spoke to on the phone this morning said this is usual with this type of injury, that they are acutely lame and then over a day or so get progressively better which is why this type of injury is dangerous and people start riding again, often with disastrous results.

Can’t believe it. So disappointed as I was looking forward to lots of xmas hacks with my friends. Never mind, that's horses for you. ☹

Instead I shall hit the gym and burn off the Xmas dinner! Lol
 

Errin Paddywack

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This happened to my friend's horse only much worse. She had a teenager exercising her mare for her, older animal, probably teens. After the incident it turned out she had come back a bit lame from a ride but was then ok I think. Can't remember properly as a very long time ago. Anyway teenager took her out again and from what we understood did too much with her and she did a tendon very badly, tore it away from the knee. She did come sound but with a badly thickened leg.
All too easy to see them apparently sound after an incident like this and not realise how fragile they actually are. Hope yours makes a full recovery.
 

hopscotch bandit

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Thank you EP.

I only wish I'd checked her legs before riding her, I quite often check the one as she has a previous injury on it, but the opposite I don't. But then I might not have found anything anyway as she was perfectly sound until that point and I can remember thinking how amazing she felt doing a few strides of trot up the hill about 20 minutes before. Grrr.
 

CanteringCarrot

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Something quite similar happened to my gelding. I freaked out in my head envisioning the months of rehab. However, in his case, he had a hematoma on his DDFT - found via Ultrasound. He was back in regular work in 2-3 weeks, and it was gone. The lameness and swelling had me thinking for sure something was torn.

I used the Ice Vibe boots, and did a poultice wrap at night for a few days. He was on Bute (oral) for a bit too.

But you are right about it being dangerous to start riding again because the lameness subsides. I hope the best and shortest layup possible for you and your horse! These animals always keep us on our toes. :rolleyes:
 
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