noblesteed
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
Horse pulled up lame in hind leg out hacking 6 weeks ago. I called vet immediately. He gave him bute, scratched his head and told me it was in his foot and to cold hose and box rest. Got farrier out to pull the shoe who also agreed it was in his foot, and he found severe bruising in front foot on the same side. Horse tied up during box rest and was unwell for a few days. Leg swelled up and was very lame. It went down after a week. Poulticed etc.
Farrier came out and said hmmm think it's navicular - he put on eggbars. Horse was visibly better.
Now I spoke to vet who said as horse has spavin that turnout was ok. Horse doesnt run around and ground is nice and hard. SO horse has been out since with continued cold treatment and no bute, and swelling has gone down almost completely. Walked out under saddle for 10 mins up the road with no ill effects every few days.
Had vet out yesterday to have another look and did flexion test/trot up. She thinks it's annular ligament. He's 2/10 lame in right hind before flexion BUT he is always like that due to spavin. He is 4/10 after flexion. She focussed on flexing fetlock not hock, so that's how she made her diagnosis.
We have decided to give him a month of field rest as box rest will make him stiffen up. He's pretty sound and leg doesn't swell up after walking out. Then another flexion test.If in that time he's no better he will need scans etc at the horsepital. Then possible treatment.
Is there anything else I can do to help the healing process and prevent adhesions etc? Anything I can feed etc? I know that in humans ligament injuries should not be kept immobile.
Wondered what to do next re insurance. Horse is insured at present BUT due for renewal next week. I have claimed for spavin in both hind legs this year so I am worried they may contest it? We also now have exclusions for laminitis, spavin, ANY type of DJD (arthritis). I wasn't going to bother renewing it this time as we're just happy hackers and horse is 16 however I think I might have to. And I expect I will have to put a claim in for this before renewing in order for it to be covered?
Horse pulled up lame in hind leg out hacking 6 weeks ago. I called vet immediately. He gave him bute, scratched his head and told me it was in his foot and to cold hose and box rest. Got farrier out to pull the shoe who also agreed it was in his foot, and he found severe bruising in front foot on the same side. Horse tied up during box rest and was unwell for a few days. Leg swelled up and was very lame. It went down after a week. Poulticed etc.
Farrier came out and said hmmm think it's navicular - he put on eggbars. Horse was visibly better.
Now I spoke to vet who said as horse has spavin that turnout was ok. Horse doesnt run around and ground is nice and hard. SO horse has been out since with continued cold treatment and no bute, and swelling has gone down almost completely. Walked out under saddle for 10 mins up the road with no ill effects every few days.
Had vet out yesterday to have another look and did flexion test/trot up. She thinks it's annular ligament. He's 2/10 lame in right hind before flexion BUT he is always like that due to spavin. He is 4/10 after flexion. She focussed on flexing fetlock not hock, so that's how she made her diagnosis.
We have decided to give him a month of field rest as box rest will make him stiffen up. He's pretty sound and leg doesn't swell up after walking out. Then another flexion test.If in that time he's no better he will need scans etc at the horsepital. Then possible treatment.
Is there anything else I can do to help the healing process and prevent adhesions etc? Anything I can feed etc? I know that in humans ligament injuries should not be kept immobile.
Wondered what to do next re insurance. Horse is insured at present BUT due for renewal next week. I have claimed for spavin in both hind legs this year so I am worried they may contest it? We also now have exclusions for laminitis, spavin, ANY type of DJD (arthritis). I wasn't going to bother renewing it this time as we're just happy hackers and horse is 16 however I think I might have to. And I expect I will have to put a claim in for this before renewing in order for it to be covered?
I didn't want ot claim in case it was nothing and treatment won't have reached my excess but at least I am covered if it doesn't get better by itself.