Hocks

SSM

SSM

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Should be in Vets, but more people look here.

When Donkey and I went hunting we both came back injured - me with my now wonkey finger and Donkey with a big hock - which I think she pulled when she went down like bambi on some slippery grass.

I had the vet out we have x-rayed it, no bone chips or breaks, it was going down nicely, the judge at the King George did take a second look at it and I explained hunting, he was then more interested who I hunted with! She is completely sound yet yesterday morning it was back up like a balloon, as though she had knocked it - there are no wounds and no heat

So - what can I do to get it down???, cold hose, bute, tried to pressure bandage it yesterday but she wriggles it off. I am going to give it the weekend then if no better on Monday have the vet out again, what should I be asking them to do - I am so scared they will want to perform something that will put her out of action for the entire season (her last one before she goes to learn to be a mummy)

I am feeling extremely jinxed at the moment.
 
Hmm, cold hosing is the only think I can think of? And bute to take the swelling down? Is she sound? Fingers crossed it goes down quickly....
 
Where is the swellling, is it all round the hock, or more localized?

I would probably cold hose then put on either arnica or witch hazel.
If she's not lame, then lots of turnout or walks in hand.

Sorry, not a lot of help, but can totally relate. Chloe is suffering from hock issues at the moment as well.

Hope donkey gets better soon.
 
Ice tight??

Would certainly get the vet out to look at it sooner rather than later though - preferably whilst it's still swollen.

But suspect that the treatment will be rest, rest and a bit more rest - with plenty of turnout.......
 
It will be his third visit for the hock
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, it is more at the sides, not capped - she is out from 7 till 6
 
Sounds as though it might be a thoroughpin - both my youngster and a friend's horse have produced one within the last 2 months. No heat or lameness, a mobile fluidy swelling just in front of the point of hock? Both horses had Xrays and ultrasound to check for tendon damage (nothing, thank goodness). Vets reckon both just did silly things in the field.

If it is a thoroughpin, the options offered were: drain, leave alone, keyhole surgery (not really recommended at this stage). I decided to leave alone - swelling now is hardly noticeable. My friend opted for draining as hers was much bigger. Both horses are fully sound.
 
has your horse capped the hock will look loads bigger sound on it?? One of my horses has a capped hock as it will always have some fluid around the hock, most of horses are still sound with a capped hock, they normally do this in the stable of in a trailer its caused by a knock, I did use a hock boot which made it loads worse ( dont use one!) cold hosing is the best and plent of walking as it the fluid will come off (unless red hot and lame!!) I also used magnet boots when she was in and this worked a treat. Unfortuntely if it is capped it will always look bigger but will not affect anything you do, bubbles did loads of eventing and competed at the 3 day at MKEC and it was never a problem at all. the other thing I used was a ice gel as well as naf detox but I feed everything if I have a problem hope this helps if it is a capped hock it will take about a week to go down to what it normal for that leg, let me know if you need more info when bubbles did it it was really horrific and hers was huge but went down to the size of a golf ball
 
Diva's hock did the same thing last year and I too had it x-rayed and the vets could find nothing. As she was totally sound they told me to keep working her and ignore it. It looked like a tennis ball had been implanted under the skin and casued the surrounding outside of the hock to swell.

I cold-hosed as often as possible and icetighted it at night. I also bought some Armadillo magnet wraps and put them on each day.

Gradually overtime it has returned to normal, I think the magnets really helped but my husband doesn't agree and thinks it would have gone down overtime anyway.

However fiddling and fussing made me feel useful and proactive so I am glad I spent my money as I did!
 
I've just been through a "big hock" episode; mine turned out to be a cartilage tear - not visible on the x-ray but they did an arthroscopy and saw the damage then. Horse was never lame either. But I was warned that if we hadn't treated it he would have developed bad arthritis due to the damaged cartilage.

Pressure bandaging worked initially - do a figure of 8 bandage with gamgee and vetwrap, nice and tight but avoiding the point of the hock. My vets had me give seven days of x2 bute a day - when this didn't bring it down all the way we decided to go for the arthroscopy. After that he has had steroid and HA injections and the swelling is now completely gone.

Fingers crossed for you and your horse! PM me if you want any more details LOL!
 
Around three weeks box rest, and a month's worth of walking. I'm about to get on him for the first time yippeee. Never has been lame, but I'm really glad I pursued it as apparently the joint was in bad shape when they looked inside.
 
Vet coming this afternoon - thank goodness for insurance although I had not wanted to put this on insurance as it will now exclude this hock
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I've just been researching into getting a magnetic collar for my arthritic dog and there does seem to be a fair few people who swear by magnetic boots for their horses for things like this, so it may be worth a shot at getting her some bioflow boots or similar??

Hope she's soon better x
 
Sounds to me like a thouroughpin(sp?) - as hussar said. my horse has one- she was completely sound, the swelling was to the side as you describe.
sorry to steal the thread but... hussar- did the draining go well on your friends horse? did they do it at the yard or did the horse have to go away? lots of time off afterwards? any info would be greatly appreciated as my mares is fairly big and i'm wanting to do some showing with her so have been thinking about getting it drained but dont want to hurt my poor baby!
 
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