Lame rh thoughts?

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Tdoodney

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Ok il try to keep it short. Bought fantastic super safe cob just over a month ago.
Last Tuesday he was fine in field in the morning in the evening he came over hopping lame but seemed to ease a bit as he got going. Then would stand with leg up reluctant to put to ground. Called vet she could find nothing specific told to bute and rest for a week. One week later and off bute barely an improvement possibly 10% called another vet for second opinion. He really checked him over ruled out hoof marked him as 6-7/10 lame on initial steps then 2/10 lame as he got going. Checked stifle hock and found slight swelling in fetlock but he is a cob so difficult to tell! Applied pressure to lat/med area of fetlock which produced a reaction. He weight bears on it can lift opp hind and hel transfer weight. Explained his field is riddled with rabbit holes and we think he's gone down one. Vet seems to think his torn a ligament/tendon that branches off of main ligament, plan is bute 2x daily for 4 days then 1 x daily for 4 days and reassess. He's on restricted turnout and cold water hoses. If he had twisted it my farrier (who's also been out and given him a thorough going over ) says there should be some improvement by now. He's on bute so walking normally still slightly swelled fetlock is the only sign no heat. Plan is to scan next week if no improvement. Are we doing enough? Thanks for reading
 
You are already 9 days post injury so I would want nerve blocks and scans IMMEDIATELY, especially if he is 6/10ths lame. Full work up by an experienced equine vet required NOW.
 
Can you not improve on the cold therapy by using ice cups or ice boots? Obviously you don't want to get ice burns but the problem with cold hosing is that the temperature is not the same as ice boots/cups, by the time it comes out of the pipes and through the hose, on a hot day its not that cold. I used to ice cup 2 x 20mins a day, and put an ice boot on, and used to cold tub also. The more you can do in the initial stages the better the results. You need those fibres to re-align and that takes cold therapy, anti inflammatories, initial rest and then a programme of controlled exercise.
 
applecart14 said:
Can you not improve on the cold therapy by using ice cups or ice boots? Obviously you don't want to get ice burns but the problem with cold hosing is that the temperature is not the same as ice boots/cups, by the time it comes out of the pipes and through the hose, on a hot day its not that cold. I used to ice cup 2 x 20mins a day, and put an ice boot on, and used to cold tub also. The more you can do in the initial stages the better the results. You need those fibres to re-align and that takes cold therapy, anti inflammatories, initial rest and then a programme of controlled exercise.
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Thanks I'm speaking to vet today to arrange scans etc and il start using ice packs on it. You can see it reduce in size whilst hosing but by this morning it'd swelled up again
 
Tdoodney said:
Thanks I'm speaking to vet today to arrange scans etc and il start using ice packs on it. You can see it reduce in size whilst hosing but by this morning it'd swelled up again
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An indication of when a tendon/ligament injury is healing is when it doesn't swell after you have finished hosing but retains the same size. I normally stop icing about a week after I get to this stage.

I find ice cups are very useful. They are polystyrene cups (get them from the £1 shop) filled with water and frozen. You apply to the injured area moving the cups slightly (to prevent freeze burn) and in a circular motion. With an acute injury you will find that you get through the ice cup quite fast (can be a whole cup in 20 mins) as the area is warm because of the inflammation. As the injury starts to heal and the heat goes you will notice the ice cup will last two or more sessions (put back in the freezer). As the ice melts you peel down the polystyrene cup holding the bottom of the cup in your hand.

If the ice at the top of the cup dries (it can do this sometimes) just dip it under the tap so its wet and shiny again or do as I do and ask my horse to lick it with his tongue (he loves doing this -weirdo!) Last time I put a bit of apple juice in it, and he licked it like a giant lolly pop! :)
 
applecart14 said:
An indication of when a tendon/ligament injury is healing is when it doesn't swell after you have finished hosing but retains the same size. I normally stop icing about a week after I get to this stage.

I find ice cups are very useful. They are polystyrene cups (get them from the £1 shop) filled with water and frozen. You apply to the injured area moving the cups slightly (to prevent freeze burn) and in a circular motion. With an acute injury you will find that you get through the ice cup quite fast (can be a whole cup in 20 mins) as the area is warm because of the inflammation. As the injury starts to heal and the heat goes you will notice the ice cup will last two or more sessions (put back in the freezer). As the ice melts you peel down the polystyrene cup holding the bottom of the cup in your hand.

If the ice at the top of the cup dries (it can do this sometimes) just dip it under the tap so its wet and shiny again or do as I do and ask my horse to lick it with his tongue (he loves doing this -weirdo!) Last time I put a bit of apple juice in it, and he licked it like a giant lolly pop! :)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice I've also bought ice boots
 
The swelling goes down whilst I'm hosing and isn't too prominent during the day when I hose it more but morning is worse where I haven't done it for 8-10 hours
 
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