dee999
Member
we have a 16.3hh belgian warmblood 15 yr old gelding. he was diagnosed with having back and pelvis problems by an orthopaedic equine veterinary consultant 6 weeks after we purchased him 8 years ago, we were advised that he would be unsuitable for riding purposes again and he was retired.He lives himself at our farm.
Last week prior to being turned out he was noticed to be completely non weight bearing on his near hind and his knee was swollen and hot.
The vet queried a muscle strain and prescribed danalon sachets- within 4 hrs of having 2 sachets he was completely weight bearing and virtually back to normal- he was kept on a gradually reducing dose of the sachets and turned out himself in his small paddock and in at night.
All was fine until monday afternoon when he came walking inside and was non weigh-bearing again on the same limb (the knee swelling had gone but his extensor tendon was swollen), we contacted the vet again and agreed to increase his painkillers again.
Tuesday morning his whole leg was swollen and he would not weight bear at all and seemed to have spasm-like episodes where he would extend his leg out behind and wince in pain, so we called vet out again and his leg was clipped and inspected for wounds...there was a small mud fever scab on his heel that didnt seem to cause any discomfort but he was commenced on injectable antibiotics and oral painkillers were continued and he was box rested in case it was an infection.
Yesterday he was much worse, completely depressed and in obvious pain- he was now refusing to eat his feed or hay and would not or could not mobilise at all.He wouldnt even take a polo, so obviously in severe pain.
The knee was swollen again and we also noticed a large hard swelling running down his flank which hadnt been noticed previously. His temperature was normal but his resp rate was elevated.
The vet was called in again and she re-examined him, but could still not pin point the cause of the pain. He was given Finadyne IV for the pain overnight, but after 4 hrs there wasnt much improvement. He would drink water if you held the bucket under his nose but then started puddling with it-still wouldnt touch any feed or treats.
This morning he had passed dung and urinated but still hodging on and off the sore leg, managed to get him to eat horse hage but still wouldnt touch feed or treats, taking interest in his surroundings looking out his stable but the swelling is still present.
Second opinion this afternoon from different vet from the practice, but have advised them we do not want him suffering. He isnt insured, but the cost is not a concern, i just do not want him to be a guinea pig for weeks and the outcome is still the same.
There is no way we can transport him to have xrays done at specialist equine hospitals as he cant weight bear.
Just wondering if anyone else had any opinions or experiences like this as i have had 30 years of owning horses and never seen this before.
We are wondering if he has a fracture somewhere due to ?trauma
Last week prior to being turned out he was noticed to be completely non weight bearing on his near hind and his knee was swollen and hot.
The vet queried a muscle strain and prescribed danalon sachets- within 4 hrs of having 2 sachets he was completely weight bearing and virtually back to normal- he was kept on a gradually reducing dose of the sachets and turned out himself in his small paddock and in at night.
All was fine until monday afternoon when he came walking inside and was non weigh-bearing again on the same limb (the knee swelling had gone but his extensor tendon was swollen), we contacted the vet again and agreed to increase his painkillers again.
Tuesday morning his whole leg was swollen and he would not weight bear at all and seemed to have spasm-like episodes where he would extend his leg out behind and wince in pain, so we called vet out again and his leg was clipped and inspected for wounds...there was a small mud fever scab on his heel that didnt seem to cause any discomfort but he was commenced on injectable antibiotics and oral painkillers were continued and he was box rested in case it was an infection.
Yesterday he was much worse, completely depressed and in obvious pain- he was now refusing to eat his feed or hay and would not or could not mobilise at all.He wouldnt even take a polo, so obviously in severe pain.
The knee was swollen again and we also noticed a large hard swelling running down his flank which hadnt been noticed previously. His temperature was normal but his resp rate was elevated.
The vet was called in again and she re-examined him, but could still not pin point the cause of the pain. He was given Finadyne IV for the pain overnight, but after 4 hrs there wasnt much improvement. He would drink water if you held the bucket under his nose but then started puddling with it-still wouldnt touch any feed or treats.
This morning he had passed dung and urinated but still hodging on and off the sore leg, managed to get him to eat horse hage but still wouldnt touch feed or treats, taking interest in his surroundings looking out his stable but the swelling is still present.
Second opinion this afternoon from different vet from the practice, but have advised them we do not want him suffering. He isnt insured, but the cost is not a concern, i just do not want him to be a guinea pig for weeks and the outcome is still the same.
There is no way we can transport him to have xrays done at specialist equine hospitals as he cant weight bear.
Just wondering if anyone else had any opinions or experiences like this as i have had 30 years of owning horses and never seen this before.
We are wondering if he has a fracture somewhere due to ?trauma
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