Draining windgalls?

Britestar

Britestar

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I think I read on here about someone having the fluid removed from windgalls, as they were causing problems.

Does anyone have any info about this procedure? I realise that they will fill up again, but I would like to know how long they stayed down for.

My cob has a particuarly large one on her hind leg, and its is quite sore for her. She's restricted in a small pen, and on a course of bute, but this is the second time it has caused her to be lame, and I'd like something a bit longer term for her.

She has had it for at least 10 years, and until last autumn, it never bothered her at all.

Thanks in advance...
 
Hi
Has your vet looked at her? normally windgalls should not cause lameness so I would be a bit worried if this was causing her alot of pain... there is a ligament which runs across the back of the fetlock (just above) and you can get some problems with this causing a restriction if the windgalls are too big...- adhesions can form between the lig and the sheath - the name of the lig escapes me at the moment,... but can you feel a ridge horizontally just above the fetlock at the back?
I would definately want this investigated a bit further and not just remove the excess fluid , as you say, this will only come back anyway and I would really want to know what was causing the discomfort
 
I think the ligament you are talking about Jo is the annular ligament which goes around the fetlock keeping the tendons in place. My mare had one of hers cut on Monday to relieve the pressure.

If the windgalls are causing your horse lameness, they are there to protect whatever is going on underneath. Until you get your vet out to scan the area, you wont know.

Hope it is something simple, do let us know how you get on.
 
I suspect your mare has an articular windgall and it's evidence of some arthritic changes within the joint. Obviously I'm not a vet, but my horse that was lame with one had arthritis in his fetlock (caused by a bone chip fracture many moons ago).

As you've have her ten years, is it not fair to assume that this could be the cause with your mare? Arthritis now she's more mature?

As previously stated I'm not a vet, so I could well be talking gibberish, but my first thought would be to wonder what was causing pain in the joint......the windgall being a symptom of that.
 
Thanks. She has had some investigations, including nerve blocks into the fetlock (after which she was totally sound for nearly 3 months).

We are going to scan her as this is the next obvious step.

Patches: Arthritis is a strong possibilty, as in fact she is 18yrs old and I bred her. She would be a fairly 'high mileage' horse too. She has had other muscular probs that contribute to her lamness. All this has also been aggravated by her 11 month old 'nephew' who views her as his own personal toy! Hence she is now in glorious isolation in a tiny paddock
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Thanks for all your thoughts, and hopefully we can get a better picture after the scan.

Re the draining - I'm just thinking of all possibilities for comfort. I'm happy for her to be an ornament if that what it comes too.
 
Draining is easier said than done - its really hard to actually get sufficient fluid out as its all loculated and stuck between different tissue layers...not sure if it will really help her. Have you put a pressure bandage on to support it and try to bring down the swelling?
 
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