Hock Kicks resulting in septic hocks?

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Parkranger

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Just wondered who has encountered them and whether their horses went back to full work?

Apparently we'll find out tomorrow whether the infection has gone and there is no bone damage.

Hopefully 6 weeks box rest but haven't asked yet what happens after that....

Anyone have experience of this?
 
This is a little different - it was a pretty life threatening kick and could still be fatal if the infection can't be stopped....I didn't realise exactly how bad it was until the vet called me yesterday...it's not a two weeks off and back to work job unfortnately
 
That's worse than you thought then
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I hope he gets better soon. Sorry can't offer any help!
 
How long was the kick injury left, before you got the vet out!! as it can not get infected over night, nor can the injury become septic in a day. i hope your horse makes a speedy recovery, keep us all posted.
 
yes it can! He was kicked about midday on Tuesday and had a septic hock by the time we got him to liphook (about 9pm)

He came through the op well though and was ok yesterday - I think the big test is when they change the bandage tomorrow and do another white blood cell count.

I really didn't think it could happen that quickly either - it's shocking. If he had been in the field for 24 hours, vet said he'd have had to be put down.
 
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How long was the kick injury left, before you got the vet out!! as it can not get infected over night, nor can the injury become septic in a day. i hope your horse makes a speedy recovery, keep us all posted.

[/ QUOTE ]

Fractionately harsh response to someone who is still unsure wether their horse will pull through this or not........
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AND yes it can...... sepcis can set in very quickly!

Fingers crossed, hope the antibiotics do their thang!
 
well it goes to show, you should never hang around when your horse has a BIG kick. ((((healing vibes)))) hope he will be o.k, you have very good horse sence to act quickly and not to hang around to "wait and see".
 
I think the minute OH called me and said 'it's ok, theres no blood, just lots of fluid' that I realised he'd be off to hospital....poor boy!
 
I have only heard about it once before. Someone I know had a gelding who had been kicked by the boss mare in their field (think he was trying to climb the ranks). I think it was about 2 days later when the hock turned septic and then the vet misdiagnosed it - said he had done something in his foot that's why lame? Anyway, the vet left it too long to have the op so he was sadly pts but I think if they had caught it in time there was a good chance that he was going to be fine (obv needed box rest etc).

Horses get kicked all the time - you dont call the vet out for every kick. Oscar is extremely lucky that you had the sense to get him straight to the hospital. You gave him the very best chance he can have so hopefully he will be fine.
 
Hock injurys are so scary my old horse came in with a kick just above the hock about 1/2 inch long, we only saw it coz she is grey by the time the vet turned up the blood had started to run clear. She is fine and dandy and competing now and this happened years ago xxxx Oscar is in the best place Liphook are fantastic
 
My old fella Fly was kicked on the hock as a 3 yro and the wound missed the bone, but made a track through the tissue and came out as an abscess at the back of the hock, he was on huge doses of anti'b's and made a full recovery.
 
When this happened on the yard a few weeks ago I made sure we got the horse to horsepital immediately. We lost Magic foaly just over a year ago with a misdiagnosed punctured joint capsule. You have only 8 hours after a joint capsule puncture in which to get the horse treated, after this time it is touch and go due to the infection becoming fibrous and adhering to the tendon sheath (which goes all the way down to the navicular bone) and, obviously in this PR's case losing more joint fluid than can be replaced. Im not a vet and this is simply from personal experience.

To give you some comfort, the horse on this yard was also on box rest for 6 weeks, then began 20 mins a day under saddle. He has built up to almost full fitness and is hacking/schooling as before.

It is truely frightening to hear just how dangerous this can be and how many people dont know where the joint capsules are. I got my vet to draw a picture and pin-point these all over the horses body so the drawing can be on the notice board for everyone to see.

Looking forward to hearing about your rehab fun and games
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My YO's horse is recovering (hopefully!) from a similar injury. He was kicked and all you could see was a small hole in his hock, but it had actually chipped the hock, damaged the tendon and was infected. He then developed a bone infection and was in hospital for about 4 weeks. He's been home for a few weeks now and seems to be coming sound again.

It was touch and go as to whether he would make it- he was given a 50:50 chance of survival. The vets have said he should hopefully be back in work in 6-12 months and will hopefully return to full work, but we'll have to see. He's an endurance horse so it's all or nothing with his career. I hope your horse gets better
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Luckily there was no bone damage so that should give him a good chance of full recovery. find out today what state the hock is in when the do a second tap on it.
 
good job you called the vet, my mare has been on 4 months boxrest as of now with a hock kick which was nearly fatal due to infection, she is making a full recovery and is now coming back into light work , Also getting her first grazing hours today and vets are very hopeful that she will be coming into full work. she also had quite alot of damage to the tendon.
 
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