Bella_2018
New User
Hi all, hoping someone has experienced or knows a specialist who might be able to offer advice on blood clots in horses?
For full context (long story long), exactly 4 weeks ago my rising 7yr old 17.1 TB was in his stable, at 9am he was his usual self, at the door whinnying for his breakfast. By 12pm, I went to collect him for a polework clinic, he was at the back of the stable, non weight bearing on his left hind with a very odd swelling around the inside of his hock. Emergency vet came and suspected fracture so he was referred for an X-ray (all fine) and had an ultrasound, which showed a blood clot in a branch of the tibial artery (absolutely no blood flow from the hock down). It’s understood that usually a clot comes as a septic response but there was no signs of this at all (swelling fluid was tested) so it’s been tentatively diagnosed as a trauma related condition. He was prescribed antibiotics, Bute and aspirin, with box rest, cold hosing and in hand walking as by this point the swelling was completely down the leg.
Within two days, he was being a handful so moved to a friend’s rehab yard where he’s been on the walker twice a day and water treadmill etc. he has been seen by my vet twice since and still under the referral vet’s advice too but no one has experienced this trauma related clot condition before so it’s all been a bit trial and error.
I’m just concerned there doesn’t seem to be any drastic changes, he’s come off all medication now, the swelling has mostly gone down but is still localised to the artery around the hock and fluctuates, some days more swollen than others. We’ve been advised to try ridden walk work to see how the leg copes, if walking is fine in a week then introduce trot etc. but no reason to rescan unless it’s got worse. The vets think the clot has dispersed but I’m not sure as the swelling is still there?
If anyone has had experience of clots, how long did your recovery take? Do they ever get back to 100%? I’m also frantically looking into other therapies like magnetic boots, red light, India, ArcEquine etc so if any of these have helped, please let me know!
For full context (long story long), exactly 4 weeks ago my rising 7yr old 17.1 TB was in his stable, at 9am he was his usual self, at the door whinnying for his breakfast. By 12pm, I went to collect him for a polework clinic, he was at the back of the stable, non weight bearing on his left hind with a very odd swelling around the inside of his hock. Emergency vet came and suspected fracture so he was referred for an X-ray (all fine) and had an ultrasound, which showed a blood clot in a branch of the tibial artery (absolutely no blood flow from the hock down). It’s understood that usually a clot comes as a septic response but there was no signs of this at all (swelling fluid was tested) so it’s been tentatively diagnosed as a trauma related condition. He was prescribed antibiotics, Bute and aspirin, with box rest, cold hosing and in hand walking as by this point the swelling was completely down the leg.
Within two days, he was being a handful so moved to a friend’s rehab yard where he’s been on the walker twice a day and water treadmill etc. he has been seen by my vet twice since and still under the referral vet’s advice too but no one has experienced this trauma related clot condition before so it’s all been a bit trial and error.
I’m just concerned there doesn’t seem to be any drastic changes, he’s come off all medication now, the swelling has mostly gone down but is still localised to the artery around the hock and fluctuates, some days more swollen than others. We’ve been advised to try ridden walk work to see how the leg copes, if walking is fine in a week then introduce trot etc. but no reason to rescan unless it’s got worse. The vets think the clot has dispersed but I’m not sure as the swelling is still there?
If anyone has had experience of clots, how long did your recovery take? Do they ever get back to 100%? I’m also frantically looking into other therapies like magnetic boots, red light, India, ArcEquine etc so if any of these have helped, please let me know!