How long for tendon injury to become apparent?

C

Christmas Crumpet

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I may be being slightly paranoid but took horse hunting yesterday and it was a hard day with a lot of galloping up some very steep, very long hills. He is a TB who has already done a leg so am rather cautious with him.

Bandaged up as always when got home last night. Legs fine this morning - slightly puffy but no more than usual. Turned out for a couple of hours and brought him in - fine and cold and hard. Just went out and his near fore foot was warm so took off stable wraps to find slightly puffy and pretty warm leg. Other leg cold and hard. If he had done a leg would it take 24 hours to come up? Digital pulse feels fine.

There is a tiny cut on the outside of his fetlock which has been cleaned and treated. Could it be that? If he'd done a leg would his foot be hot? Sorry for all questions but quite worried!!

Also in NL. Any advice gratefully received.
 
I have two horses.My tb has done his tendon and had heat and swelling very noticable.The mare had heat in her fetlock last week and we found small cut washed it with hibiscrub plastered sudocrem on it and heat went within a day.
It could easily be the cut everywhere is so muddy and dirty they are bound to get heat if you cant keep it clean.
Try not to panic but check the tendon tomorrow feel for heat and puffiness.If in doubt cold hose for 10 t0 20 mins twice a day if its still not right call the vet.
The foot doesnt normally get hot the back of the leg where the flexor tendon runs will be inflammed and very hot you can feel the tendon and palpitate if he pulls his leg away then there is discomfort.
 
TBs, in my experience, are prone to puff up at the smallest cut. I took mine hunting before Christmas and he got a scrape going over a fence and by morning was all puffy and I was beside myself, convinced he had done a tendon and was going to be a field ornament for the rest of his life. I cold hosed him, gave him high dose Bute for 3 days (2 sachets morning and evening) and kept him in a little paddock. Damn horse was fine by the weekend.

Now I'm not saying the same is true of your lad but in my experience, they tend to go hopping lame on the day they do the tendon then it appears to get better and then the horse is frustratingly 2-3/10ths lame afterwards. If I were you, I'd try and hold my nerve, cold hose, keep him in a smallish pen when he can't get up any real speed hooning and if he's not sound by the end of the week, get him scanned.
 
He appears to be sound!! I did wonder whether it was the cut but have cold hosed anyway and will do again in a minute and then see how he is in the morning.

Thanks for words of wisdom. Thank god for the forum!!
 
My mare tore her tendon right down in her hoof. I put her in the box sound one day, the next morning I brought her out and she could barely move. Her heel was so hot you could have boiled a kettle on it. Not a sign the night before. According to my vet, hers was a classic case - one minute fine, the next crippled, and 24 -48 hours later she appeared fine again. She was nigglingly lame for a month afterwards, but not obviously, and no heat.
Cold hosing for a week or two will do no harm and may do good. Tendon injuries respond well to cold therapy in the first week or two. Don't panic yet, but you are right to be cautious!
 
Have just been out to see him. Took bandages off, both feet same heat, both legs slightly puffy and same warmth although leg I am concerned about the fetlock feels thicker but not puffy. Very odd!! Just walked him down the yard and seems fine.

I think tomorrow will be the decider - if he's ok after 48 hours then I reckon he'll be ok. I do wonder if its because he went out today and might have got something in his cut. I palpitated his tendons very hard and he didn't react at all.

God horses are wierd things!!
Will post update tomorrow. Thanks again for advice. C x
 
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