Splints - She's lame AGAIN!!

GlamourDol

GlamourDol

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Dol went off a couple of months ago, when she injured an old splint! No heat in it but huge. Had the time off, healed brill, got the all clear and went back to normal.
Before she did it, she'd been pratting about in the field, like seriously stupid, and id jumped her.
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so we just assume that was the cause!

She's had a fortnight off, due to various things, and her just not needing to come out in the cold, but has still being going in field, in the pen and on the solarium.
Decided tonight as im feeling better that she would come out and do a littl bit, so solarium for 10 mins, then into school. Went into trot and shes hopping! back to walk, some one else had a look and agrees def not stiffness or anything.
Took bandages off, splint is huge!
So i guess she will be off again and back on bute. And the vet will come out AGAIN!
I might just ask where she wants to go on holiday at the start of the year and write a cheque out there and then, probably an easier process!
Does anyone have any on going experience with problem splint bones.
I guess i just want to know, she's 21 and im just a tad woried that its never going to heal properly!
 
My boy has a splint that he has knocked in the field and it has come up huge again but touch wood its never caused any problems.
Im just guessing here but could there be a chip of bone in the splint area that becomes really sore when she knocks it?
 
When she originally uinjured that leg, (before we bought her) she fractured, and we guessed that was what she did last time, as she's too old to have a "new" splint so to speak!
She seems to have spent more time standing in her stable looking like a dressage horse this year than actually being one!
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Shortly after I got my horse he banged an old splint and it took a good 4-5 months to get him right.

We did all the usual rest and cold stuff. The vet also injected corticosteroid around it and took xrays etc.
In the end he had a course of shockwave therapy and came sound immediately and it hasn't been a problem since.
 
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I'd have her x-rayed just to be sure

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I wanted her scanned when she last did it, so that we would know what we were dealing with! Vets kept putting it off, which really began to bug me, as my theory is, if we're paying then do as i ask! by the time they had actually began to agree with me, she came right so know need in the end.
Think i will insist this time, and if they wont guess we'l have to find somewhere that will!
Any ideas how much all this usually costs?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Shortly after I got my horse he banged an old splint and it took a good 4-5 months to get him right.

We did all the usual rest and cold stuff. The vet also injected corticosteroid around it and took xrays etc.
In the end he had a course of shockwave therapy and came sound immediately and it hasn't been a problem since.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can i ask, how old is your horse?
 
He's 11 coming 12 now but was 6/7 when he did it

ETS: I really would get it xrayed, not sure why the vets are reluctant to do this.
My vet is around the £100 mark to come out with machine and then you pay per picture, think its around £10 ish
 
How much did the corticosteroid and shock wave etc come to? Pm if you prefer!
Its always been a weak spot on her, but through her career never realy presented a problem! Only now when shes slowing down does it seem to want to make a regular appearance!
 
can't remember on the corticosteroid, not at all expensive from memory.

The shockwave is on the expensive side. £120 a session and you need 3-4 each 10 days or so apart. Plus if your horse is a bit twitchy you may also need it doped.
 
My horse (young dressage horse) had lots of problems with a splint last year. It too got HUGE, and he was hopping lame. Had it x-rayed and turned out it was fractured, leaving bone chips pressing around the suspensory. He had surgery to remove the chips and the broken bone, it was completely successful (back in work after around two months).

But it was done under a GA, and I guess you wouldn't want that with an older horse unless seriously necessary.

I'd have it x-rayed at this point and possibly have the area ultrasound scanned to see if there is any damage to the soft tissue.

Fingers crossed for you and Dol!
 
No she wouldnt be put under GA for that, too risky for something that may not work.
But then where do you stop, how much money do you put into ultrasound etc etc for a horse who as precious, and as much as i love her, won't compete again.
Dont jump on me, just wandering and thinking aloud.
 
Totally understand of course. It is worth checking by x-ray if it is fractured though, as there are other ways of helping the healing without resorting to surgery. X-rays are relatively inexpensive; I think the ones I had done came to around £170 or so.
 
This is probably of no help at all but my horse fractured his radius last year and there were multiple fragments of bone arround the area. Most dissapeared on there own but one was too big to do that and caused problems so it was removed. He had it done under heavy sedatin as it was imperative due to the closeness to the tendon sheath he stayed still. Apart from a mild colic that night he was fine and it was a success.
Good luck I hope you get to the bottom of it.
 
Was going to suggest the same as HH. When Goddy threw his huge splint last season, he had 4 spa sessions, and then 6weeks in the field, the splint (touch wood) has got smaller, and hasnt caused a prob in the 4weeks he's been back in work. he is also always worked in magno therapy boots which I swear by as have helped a foreleg splint before.
 
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