PLEASE HELP!! Swelling on hock!

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Lej09

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Hi there,

I have recently bought a 4 year old WB x TB gelding and he has hock swelled up about a week ago. The swelling is on both sides with a lump of fluid on each side. He isn't lame at all but there is some heat in it, especially when he was out in the field before I had noticed. I have had him on box rest since, and have been hosing it down twice a day for 15 mins. The vet came out on Friday but he didn't really tell me much and put Charlie on antibiotics for 3 days and Bute for 5 days. The swelling has since gone down a bit, but the course of Bute ends tomorrow and I don't think the swelling will be down completely by then.

Can anyone suggest what to do as the vet didn't say what it was or give me any advice on box rest or hosing etc.? Please help as I'm a bit stuck on exactly what to do now. Someone has mentioned Vetrofen for further treatment after the course of Bute ends but I would like to know what to do other than medicating him.

Any advice would be great!!

Thanks in advance!
 
I'd ring up the vet and ask to speak to them about the next course of action. I have to ask, did you get your horse vetted when you bought him?

It sounds like it could be thoroughpin which is basically an abnormal swelling just above the hock of a horse, usually appearing on both sides of the leg and sometimes causing lameness. It is a build up of synovial fluid and treatment is usually by hosing/ice cupping. http://www.haplesshorse.com/thoroughpin.html

http://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/4/196615.jpg
http://www.horsedeals.co.uk/images/ResizedImages/LD12 150110Image6_w250h400.jpg
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/90778.htm
 
Hi Applecart14,

I'm afraid I didn't get him vetted as I only paid £500 for him, which I know is an error on my part. He was a rescue so he has a few issues hence the sale price.

From the links you have sent it looks similar. What would cause a thoroughpin and is it likely to impede him later on? Will I need continuous treatment and is it likely to flare up regularly?

Thanks again
 
Thanks for the info. Since being on box rest the swelling has gone down slightly, but you can tell if he were to be worked it would swell straight back up! I will be getting a different vet out to see if they have any idea what the swelling is. I will mention what you guys have suggested and see what he says.

Thanks for the help!
 
It's either a throughpin or bog spavin. Soft fluidy swellings in the hock such as these can be caused by trauma to the joint or bone chips / cartilage damage. May be worth an xray. Saying that my boy has them and despite xrays, we can't find a cause...

and if it is swelling after exercise it does sugest that there could be a bone chip or cartilage problem...
 
Thanks for all the info. It took the third different vet to come out with something conclusive!

He does have a thoroughpin. It was going to be drained and injected with a steroid into the tendon sheath (I think), but when the vet came yesterday she decided not to drain and inject as he has never been lame on it. She instead is prescribing some cream to hopefully bring the swelling down.

Can anyone offer any advice on what is best to do? I feel I am in the dark somewhat on this! What is the best treatment for a thoroughpin? How successful is draining and a steroid injection? Are there any other treatments and how successful are they? Will certain treatments need several repeat procedures?

I really appreciate any advice.

Many thanks :)
 
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