Possible fracture?!

C

chrisharri

Active Member
Joined
9 July 2009
Messages
36
Location
lancashire
Visit site
Hello all, can some one please help?
On Tuesday I brought my horse in from the field and he had a lump on his nearside hind leg. He wasn't lame on it, and I wasn't sure whether to call the vet. However, I was by myself at the yard, so thought I best to. I called the vet, but whilst I was waiting, a very experienced person on my yard arrived and looked over the leg and said they wouldn't bother calling out the vet. Anyway, vet arrived, didn't seethe horse out of stable, sedated him, Bandaged up his leg, gave me a box of anti-biotics, a penicillin shot and asked if I was insured, to which I replied yes, and told me that he would return the following day with xray machine.
Wednesday, vet came, xrayed leg, all xrays came back clear. I have been told to put the horse on 7 days box rest, but with no bute and then my vet will return next Tuesday/Wednesday to re_xray. It al seems very dramatic. is this the norm to re x ray when initial results come back clear?
 
Fractures aren't always immediately obvious on x ray, and by keeping horse still this should prevent any fracture de-stabilising and causing a worse problem. The swelling should start to reduce and then diagnostics will be easier.

No bute to stop it moving around too much on injured leg. Anti biotics in case it is a small wound you can't see.

Sounds like your vet has done the right things to me.

Hope that helps.
 
yup, xrays are difficult if there is a lot of swelling so would presume vet possibly wants to see if that will reduce and produce clearer results.
 
Would my horse not be lame if he had fractured something though? I understand what you mean about the xrays, but the vet took 7, of this leg, and the lump is tiny, probably about the size of lid of the top of a coke bottle. If I were using the NHS for myself and thought I'd broken something, and they xrayed me clear, surely they wouldn't call me back the following week? I'm seriously no expert on these matters mind, so I'm just pondering. This morning I have taken the dressing off and instead of it looking like a kick, it does look like my horse has been stuck in wire, as the grazes he has are straight lines, not thick, slightly rounded marks? Maybe I should take a picture and post on here?
 
Hi sorry to hear about this and I hope it is nothing. Would like to say that IMO a vet x-raying on the day or day after is pretty pointless unless horse is hopping lame as they usually say 7-10 days before you can see a fracture. I guess because you are insured the vet decide to milk it a bit! I had a similar incident and had my horse cross tied for a few days while waiting x-rays. (Massive cut o bone on top of inside of front right) and he was not lame. No fracture either but better to be safe then sorry. Good luck.
 
Yes it could be a fracture my pony got kicked and his splint bone broken he was not lame to start off with just tiny swelling I called the vet who said possibly infection or bone chip so he had antibiotics. 10 days later swelling still there vet x rayed and he had a fracture by this time he was also a bit lame. During the non lame phase before he was xrayed he was allowed to remain out and I could still ride him in walk

Vet also asked me if insured before xray and warned me that the bandaging he would need would be expensive.
 
chrisharri said:
Would my horse not be lame if he had fractured something though? I understand what you mean about the xrays, but the vet took 7, of this leg, and the lump is tiny, probably about the size of lid of the top of a coke bottle. If I were using the NHS for myself and thought I'd broken something, and they xrayed me clear, surely they wouldn't call me back the following week? I'm seriously no expert on these matters mind, so I'm just pondering. This morning I have taken the dressing off and instead of it looking like a kick, it does look like my horse has been stuck in wire, as the grazes he has are straight lines, not thick, slightly rounded marks? Maybe I should take a picture and post on here?
Click to expand...

Not necessary. They can have a small fracture like a bone chip for example. This can be sorted by either surgery or if its small enough and not likely to find its way into a joint can be absorbed by the body.

Either way, best to be certain and keep on the box rest in case it is a fracture. If small enough it will not be of massive concern, but if weight is put on it by running around something small that has gone undiagnosed could turn into a catastophic fracture.
 
Fractures can be tricky to see, mine has fractured his leg twice in the same place (kicked) and wasn't noticeably lame either time. It's better to be safe than sorry with box rest too! Mine was lucky and only needed box rest and time to heal (twice), good luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top