Splints - but its not a splint.

[Governor]

Basically G has had a 50p sized (and shaped) lump on the inside of his near fore cannon, approx 1 inch above his fetlock joint for about as long as i've owned him. There has never been any heat or pain in it.

About a week ago he developed a similar lump of the same size and shape on the inside of his off fore cannon. This one does have head and whilst he is sound I don't trust that it is completely comfortable.

Clearly neither are in 'traditional' splint locations - he did throw a splint when he was 4 which seems to have vanished now but it was much smaller and in the 'right' location.

Has anyone got any experience with lumps like these? He's getting a week off to let it settle but is it worth getting the vet out or just keep an eye on it?

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Hi G. Sorry, no experience at all but if it was me I think I'd keep a very close eye on it. The first lump sounded as if it could have been a knock that would have resolved. But to have an identical one appear in the identical place on the opposite leg would indicate to me that it was something in his build or genetic make up or conformation or management. Might be worth getting the vet out and maybe have one leg nerve blocked to see if he's lame then. Worrying.

 

[Shilasdair]

Don't shoot me for this - but they couldn't possibly be the ends of the splint bones, could they? Some horses have pronounced 'buttons' on the end of the splint bones, some don't.
If not that, then they sound like some form or bony growth or splint...which develop for a number of reasons. Firstly, direct trauma (usually brushing injuries when being daft in the field), secondly, poor conformation in terms of the forces transmitted down the front legs. For example, my Shire x Tb is a bit knock-kneed, and developed a splint as a result. A related cause could be poor foot balance when trimmed/shod.
You could ask your vet to examine him, or get X-rays or scans (MRI), but often the result is to bute and rest.
Hope he recovers soon.
B

 

[Governor]

Thanks both. I can post confo shots if anyone fancies a game of 'spot the flaw'!

He does have quite short cannons so I suppose it is a possibility but they do feel more enlarged than pronounced - both are quite flat though.

He's having this week off, may as YO to give him some bute too but I think i'm going to provisionally book the vet for the week after. We've never had a claim on the insurance *touch wood* but I think this might need further investigation.

 

[Birker2020]

A horse will often develop a splint on the opposite leg to the leg he has the first splint on. I remember my vet telling me this. I can't remember the reasoning behind it now. My horse developed three splints in a fortnight (we thought it was because his field was on a slope and he used to canter down the hill to the gate to come in) in the summer on the hard ground.

 

[brighteyes]

I have had an enormous splint develop overnight in a previously clean legged TB. It never made him lame nor had heat. It also remodelled to a point where it is hard to see where it was. He has recently developed one on the other leg (three years later) but much higher up. All I have learned from this is 'who knows...?'

And don't panic!