Hock Swelling

[Stushie]

My horse has a small amount of swelling to the front of her hock. I called the vet out who says its not a bog spavin and not OCD. She is not lame and the swelling was firm. I have been cold hosing for last 5 days and applying compagel which the vet gave me to use.

She is out 24 hours as not good in a stable on her own as all the other horses are out so we think she is better off being out.

In total, it's been there for 10 days now and still no lameness at all but I would say the swelling has now gone much softer than it was as originally it was much firmer.

It's not huge and unless I point it out, people I'm showing it to don't notice it but I do lol.

Does anyone have any experiences of swelling on the hock and if so, how long was it swollen for or has it never gone down?

My vet is convinced she has pulled it or sprained it as there is absolutely no sign of cuts, kicks etc.

I will leave till next week and if still there ill get her up to the vets for a scan but meantime, is the change of consistency ie firm now going softer a sign of healing? As I've said, she is sound and was sound when flexion tested last week too.

Thanks for any info.

 

[tamsinkb]

How long have you had the horse and do you know its history? My big boy has exactly the same thing as you describe, but he has an almost fatal septic joint infection in that hock 2 years ago...my vets are not too worried as he's not lame, sound on flexion tests etc. We have put it down to tissue damage during the many and varied proceedures he had done to the leg and that the hot weather and extremely hard ground at the moment have inflammed it. Bill is on bute to reduce inflammation and on walk only exercise untilmit goes back to normal...it's already much improved. I hope you get to the bottom of your horse's problem soon. Tx

 

[sz90168]

Does it look like this by any chance? http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t446/s-zocher101/c28abb14cddb138d620eceda954ea5f0.jpg

My boy had it since April. He never has been lame on it. Vet thinks its because he has grown to quickly as he is only 3. I am having that area scanned on Friday so will hopefully know more then. He had x-rays a few months ago but nothing was found. It does seem very weird.

He has been living out 24/7 and seems fine. I just hope that area will not be his weak point and hinder him in the future.

 

[Stushie]

Tamsinkb - I've only had her for 6 moths now! She has just turned 6 and is a Dutch WB - excellent bloodline and imported at 4 to last owner and now sold to me. Because she is graded by KWPN and but because of her breeding (ie both Sire and Dame and Dam Sire are all highly graded with KWPN as breeding mare / stallion) every bone in her body was x-rayed at age 3.5 and all good. Then she was 5 stage vetted in 2011 when she arrived in UK for last owner and then assed another 5 Stage in Feb this year when I bought her.

Her last owner has been great and I believe to be very honest as this was a very sad sale and not what she wanted to do but she tells me the horse has never had a vet out in its life other than the usual jags! I hope that's the case! I didn't even know you get a septic joint! I must google that now lol. I'm glad your boy is sound and improving - sometimes they will just twist or strain in the same way as humans do and it sounds ad though you'll be back on the road in no time!

 

[Stushie]

SZ90168 - thanks for posting your pick. I hope your boy is ok after scans and its nothing to worry about. Mine isn't as big and doesn't come down on to the leg but it is on that same front area as yours, a bit smaller and isolated to that one bit. Would you mind testing e know how you get on on Friday? We had a youngster on our yard who had issues with her stifles due to growing too quickly and now she is 5 and backed and going well and vets content that there is no weakness but they did wait until she was older to break to give her more time to develop. Good luck for Friday - I think ill be getting a scan myself as mi ant god down yet and each day I'm expected some sign that its going down! Ill take a pic and put it on but it's so hard to see on a black leg lol. Thanks again.