HUGELY swollen hock - but not lame (long!)

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Vicki_Krystal

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Ok so the time line is like this...

Approx 5 weeks ago Wolfy got kicked (i had only had him home 2 days
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)
It was deep, needed stitching and vet was very worried about infection - so lots of antibiotics, powders and injections followed by box rest and bute.
Vet comes back 3 days after initial visit and decides to flush the wound with saline solution.

Fast forward 2 more weeks and swelling is minimal, cut is healing nicely - pony is allowed out with his friend.
Fast forward another week - He comes in with no new cuts, but a huge swollen hock
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Vet is called again - who prods at it, decides he is lame (minimally) and gives more antibiotics and takes a sample of fluid from the swelling to check for joint fluid etc - the sample comes back clear, it was the saline solution.

Another 7 days pass on anti bs and vet comes back to assess.
He is trotted up - sound
He is flexion tested - sound

50mls of fluid is removed from the joint - all seemingly like saline solution again, however another sample was taken (waiting on results)

Now vet is 99% positive that it is not infection in the joint, nor a chip of any description as he would be crippled lame.

Best he can come up with is possible bog spavin type swelling which may or maynot go down over time
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So anyone have any magic ideas how to get it down?
He is supposed to be on box rest for 2 more weeks but he has just turned 3 and has been a good boy - but he is now understandably sick of staying in.
Have spoken to my vet and he has agreed 1 hour turnout on his own while i muckout etc
It isnt bandaged as of today - he did have a light pressure bandage on to encourage swelling down but no luck.

So these 2 show the site of the initial cut that was stitched.
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And these 2 show the huge swelling of the hock.
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Ideas??
 
That looks huge, my first thoughts were Bog Spavin but I knew a mare that got kicked in a similar place, she had infection in the hock and had to have it flushed out under anaesthetic. An xray also revealed a bone chip there too. Has your Vet considered a scan or xraying the hock? I would have thought that that one of those procedures ought to be carried out. Personally I think it ought to have gone down somewhat by now. Hope you get it sorted soon, I also think that a bit of turnout in a small area would make sense to help disperse the fluid.
 
O poor boy!!

Have you tried magnetic boots?

My dog (I realise this is not the same but it is similar!) had a growth removed from his chest - following the surgery he had a drain in for a week and then it was removed - he then had a swelling larger than a tennis ball come up on his chest which was full of fluid (you could hear it moving around) - the vets wanted me to keep going back weekly to drain it. I had a think and got him a Bioflow Magnetic collar. He has had it on for 3 or 4 weeks now and there is no swelling at all and all the fluid has gone and he hasn't been back to the vets to have it drained since and obviously won't need to now anyway. Am so pleased as it has gone with minimal intervention!! In the brochure that came with the collar I saw they do boots for horses and am going ot get some for my neds - I would rather have them than not and they can't do any harm!!

Should also say that friend has a set for her TB's - the older one has spavin etc as well as just general old age related stiffness and they help her keep moving without the need for bute which was the vets alternative.
 
you could try taking him to a horse spa thingy? they really help with swelling and aid recovery time?

Im a convert to them
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but they really are fantastic!

Does it go down with walking?
 
My mare had kick in hock and it improved with turnout.She still has small amount of fluid but keeping her in made it worse.The back legs are furtherest away from heart and swelling is harder to get down in that area.I was going to offer you magnetic boot but it wont go round that hock.I also used a natural product from natural horse of ebay that helps with fluid called clivers .Its under supplements I think.If hes not lame and with vets permission walking in hand might help disperse fluid build up.
 
I had my good horse in one fo those spas - and he went mental!
He did not like it one bit! also would the water get that high?

Magnets are a good way to go it seems and i will look up that supplement.

Im hoping to gradually push his one hour turnout to a bit more as i cant see how standing in is going to make it any better?
 
if he definitely isn't lame then I would turn him out on his own so as he doesn't go mad but encouraging him to walk around on it to disperse the swelling. Magnetic boots are great but not if there is a cut present.If I remember rightly you can only use them where there is no broken skin.Another thing to try if there is no broken skin is to massage with arnica cream daily.It seems to really help with swelling and bruising.
 
water should go up to above hock height, but depends on how big he is really
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I would let him out for a few days, and see if swelling subsides.

By any chance is there heat? or is it just a cold swelling?
 
Urm there was heat today, but i had just taken off 3 layers of surgical bandage! :-p

But in general it is maybe a touch warmer - but then again maybe it isnt and i just think it is because i know there is a problem??
It really is not much warmer than his good leg!
 
hmm best thing is to look at it again in the morning, as dont forget all the fluid from the swelling has to go somewhere when bandage comes off
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it could just be a bruise? from the inital kick, and being stood in could mean that the fluid just accumulated?
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