lame horse with locking stiffle- help!

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MissHocusPocus

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I know I have posted about this before but I am really stuck for ideas on how to help my mare.

She had an operation to fix a hole in her tendon over a year ago, the operation didn't work therefore she know can't really be ridden, may be able to be a possible light hack in the future- she also had her suspensory ligaments cut on both back legs and got diagnosed with mild arthiritus..

over the last 5 months she has also managed to acquire a locking stiffle- I guess due to muscle wastage and me being unable to exercise her.. so what do I do, she cant be exercised enough to help the locking stifle without damaging her tendon and although she isnt locking her stifle all the time, she is constantly resting her leg and hates picking her feet up or weight baring on it..

what do I do?! any miracle workers?!
 
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Turn her out so she can move around non stop. You say she's crocked anyway so it won't make any difference, she'll either become sound with time or she won't but if you leave her in she'll be a lot stiffer from arthritis and unusable anyway.
 
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MissHocusPocus

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vet said she trots up sound but thinks she has a high pain threshold and a normal horse would be in a lot more pain, he said to ride her at walk and build up hacking to see how it went, I only walked as she couldn't manage trot without tripping.

vet thought that she would get over it, evidently she hasn't and I can't work her as she is not up to it
 
Maesfen

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Why is your vet in such a rush then as just because he thinks she has a high pain threshold, surely that could mean she still feels great pain but isn't showing it and to my mind, that is no way to treat a genuine mare as you're asking for her to strain something else to compensate for her pain; you should give her all the time she needs, turn her away and forget about riding til the spring then if she is still not right, think very carefully about what happens next whether she can be happy and well enough to be a field ornament if your circumstances allow or whether it would be better for her to put down rather than watch her deteriorating even further. If she was in such pain that couldn't be helped with then I would PTS sooner rather than later, sorry.
 
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Having a high pain threshold doesn't mean she doesn't feel it means she can take it. Not a nice way to live. If she can't be pain free in the field (without drugs) I would have a long think about what is best for her.
 
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MissHocusPocus

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just to make this clear, I have not done any ridden work or made her do anything that I think she is uncomfortable with- max a ten minute hack at walk!

I love her to pieces, she is my first and only horse, In the long run- I guess there isn't much fun for her being a field ornament considering she is only 13.
 
Maesfen

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OP, if she is uncomfortable, even a 10 minute walk would be too much for her hence my suggestion to turn her away until she has had enough time to recover without being asked to do anything.
If she can't cope with that, she's not sound enough to do anything, I'm surprised at your vet TBH.
 
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MissHocusPocus

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Maesfen said:
OP, if she is uncomfortable, even a 10 minute walk would be too much for her hence my suggestion to turn her away until she has had enough time to recover without being asked to do anything.
Click to expand...

which I am planning on doing- she has pretty much been turned away since august and will have all winter and see if there is any improvement- I jsut know that locking stifles can get worse in winter so I don't want it to get any worse!

If anyone knows of any alternate ways to treat a locking stifle that would be great, I already use arnica gel on the area twice daily
 
ihatework

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If I were you I'd discuss with your vet about loading her with anti-inflams & painkillers for a couple of weeks.

I'd then observe her very carefully for behaviour and demeanour - if she looks a hell of a lot happier/more comfortable I think that will be your answer about how much pain she is in and the best decision for her long term might be clearer.
 
AmyMay

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MissHocusPocus said:
which I am planning on doing- she has pretty much been turned away since august and will have all winter and see if there is any improvement- I jsut know that locking stifles can get worse in winter so I don't want it to get any worse!

If anyone knows of any alternate ways to treat a locking stifle that would be great, I already use arnica gel on the area twice daily
Click to expand...

You can enquire about surgery - but really would question it's value due to her other issues.

You will also need to make sure that she's in a field that is as flat and as mud free as possible.
 
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MissHocusPocus

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thank you for your responses- In my mind it is easier to not think about it but I guess I know what will have to be done sooner or later. Thanks
 
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Zargon_91

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if she is only 13 then maybe you should look at other routes if you are insured. There are new treatments available now, if you can fix the tendon problem you can fix the locking stifle. Also have you thought about having the physio out? she might be over-compensating for the tendon issues and ended up having tight hamstrings which would pull the ligament across the patella and lock the stifle. Did she have her original surgery at you're local vets or did she go to newmarket? Sue Dyson at the animal health trust has released some pioneering new papers in the past few years, and the carbon skeleton implants (like milton had) still have amazing success rates. It all depends on what youre budget is and what you want to be able to do with her in the end though in all honesty.

PS, people have the wrong idea of high pain threshold. It means she doesnt have as many dopamine pain receptors in her brain as the average counterpart. It means she DOESNT feel the same pain as a horse with a low pain threshold does in the same situation. It also unfortunately means that she is more likely to injure herself as she will not be able to tell so soon when it 'hurts' per, say. This is probably why she managed to damage her tendon to this extent in the first place.
 
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Zargon_91

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although, again ive just read up on youre other posts and it does seem to paint a different picture. I still stand by seeing if you can get in touch with sue dyson. If anyone in europe can help this is youre woman
 
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MissHocusPocus

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Thank you Zargon, yes you are right, the tendon is on the front leg but if that is fixed I can exercise her therefore strengthen the locking stifle..

she is insured but has been over a year therefore no longer covered on pretty much all of her legs! and have spent over the limit on her anyway.. they covered £6000 I had to pay around £1000, I dont have anymore money left to spend on her :( also another worry that is constantly there is if anything else goes wrong I wont be able to afford any major operations as she isnt insured on her legs..
 
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