Locking Stifle?

[Mosh]

Posting on behalf of my friend so bare with me:

My friend loans a 14.2 5 year old cob and he weighs 500kg-ish.
When he was first broken in his leg was locking so his owner had the vet out and and they said "possible locking stifle" for the last couple of years he's been okay, stiff at times but no locking of the joint.
However over the last month his leg has started to lock quite badly and he generally looks quite uncomfortable. He was started on glucosamine about 2 weeks ago but there is no real improvement yet.
On sunday he was no worse but there was some slight puffyness down his the back of his "bad leg" and a little bit on his hock. He wasn't any worse movement wise but the puffyness was something new.
However in trot he looked a lot better than the walk.
The vet isn't willing to do a lot and just says "ride him through it and put him on glucoamine" but my friend is obviously not willing too, especially now there is puffyness round his hock.
What are your experiences? I'm rather worried that is could be more than locking stifle
My friend riding in walk, sh got off him after that and he was trotted up. Plase don't say anything nasty, we're trying to do our best for little cob and following the vets advice but my friend is worried he's going to get worse.

 

[Embob1]

I'm sure the same thing is happening to my friends pony at the minute, he has an injured stifle and his leg was locking badly the other week, he was given box rest by the vet with 10mins walk in hand every morning and evening - I think.

Sorry if that's not much help, I haven't seen him either while he's been like this, my friend is SaharahX on here, maybe you could send her a PM and see if it's the same thing and ask her what the vet told her, I'm sure she wouldn't mind

Hope the cobblet gets better soon

 

[Mosh]

thank you. I have Pm'd her. Hope she doesn't mind lol

 

[Damnation]

I know a mare with a locking stifle and the best we were told you could do is basically stop the joint from stiffening up. The mare lives out all year and comes in for about 6hrs a day and is worked regularily. This seems to be the best way of managing it and touch wood the stifle hasn't locked in quite a few months. To me, working your coblet through it gently seems logical.
Izzi

 

[Mosh]

We've tried and shes continuing to do things with him so hes not lazing in the field all day much to his dismay lol.
Its where do you draw the line of keeping him working through it and where does it hurt him?
The fact its not getting any better is whats worrying her I think.
Is it one of those things that going to get worse before it gets better?
I've no experience with locking stifle really so I'm not much help on how to treat it, I can just say if hes moving worse/better than before, feel pretty rubbish about that

.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

A friend on a yard I was on has a horse with a similar problem. If she works her horse regularly then the problem seems to subside & he moves a lot better. If he has a lay off for a while, when she starts to ride him again then the problem regresses & she has to steadily bring him back & then he seems ok. There is an operation they can have but I think ideally work the horse steadily & build up muscle that will help the horse to manage this problem. Good Luck

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/article.php?aid=41501

http://www.equi-therapy.net/equi-therapy/horse-veterinary/sticky-stifle.shtml

 

[Booboos]

This needs a proper diagnosis as a number of things cause a locking stifle from a muscle problem which benefits from work to OCD which requires surgery and box rest. I would request a referal to a specialist vet and the horse needs a full lameness workup, possibly with nerve blocks to see the extent of the problem.

Good luck!