Large haematoma in hind leg - advice please

[Marigold4]

3 weeks ago my barmy horse galloped straight at and through electric fencing attached to wooden posts and fell onto her right side. She is somewhat prone to random acts of self-harm and did same thing 3 years ago, badly damaging a tendon. Anyway, she developed a large haematoma in gaskin/second thigh which has slowly drained down into her hock and now filling her lower leg and has reached her fetlock. I've had my excellent and very experienced vet out and he says she has badly torn a muscle. There's not much to be done but turn out, bute and time. She is 3/10 lame on that leg.

Just wondering what will happen when the blood reaches her foot ? Will it stop at the coronet band? Descend into the hoof capsule making her very sore?? If you have any experience of this, I'd be very glad to hear your thoughts so I know what to expect next.

 

[Red-1]

I had one with a nasty haematoma on her chest and it looked horrendous. It took months to dissapate, probably 6 months in all to completely disappear, but TBH it was just unsightly, after the initial heat and pain subsided, it did not cause too much problem.

Having said that, it was hard and relatively stationary, it did not travel. If you are worried I would call your vet for advice. Is the leg hot or cold? Hard or squishy? Pitting or bounces back? I would take note of this for when you call the vet, along with a photo to email them.

In answer to your specific query, the foot is tightly packed so will be supported. I would presume the horse is on a course of cold hosing, bute and light exercise (individual turn out in a small paddock/ walking in hand)? If the swelling is moving I would have the leg naked when out and moving, and with a stable boot overnight when stabled, so it does not swell too much.

But, if concerned the vet is usually happy to advise on one they have recently seen on the phone, and usually don't charge for this.

 

[Marigold4]

3 weeks ago my barmy horse galloped straight at and through electric fencing attached to wooden posts and fell onto her right side. She is somewhat prone to random acts of self-harm and did same thing 3 years ago, badly damaging a tendon. Anyway, she developed a large haematoma in gaskin/second thigh which has slowly drained down into her hock and now filling her lower leg and has reached her fetlock. I've had my excellent and very experienced vet out and he says she has badly torn a muscle. There's not much to be done but turn out, bute and time. She is 3/10 lame on that leg.

Just wondering what will happen when the blood reaches her foot ? Will it stop at the coronet band? Descend into the hoof capsule making her very sore?? If you have any experience of this, I'd be very glad to hear your thoughts so I know what to expect next.

 

[Marigold4]

Thanks for that advice and your experiences. Very helpful. Horse is out during the day. I spoke to the vet a few days ago and he's not worried. It's tricky cold hosing at the mo as I don't want to fill the yard with ice so using an ice boot instead. I've taken her temperature daily to check no infection. Just really curious in what to expect when it gets to the lowest point of the leg and has nowhere else to go as not sure vet will want to come out for that in all this snow!