Splints?

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lirago

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Well after not posting in this section for a while as my mare has been sound for nearly seven months I ifnd myself here needing your advice again but for a different matter she has gone lame again but this time I think she is throwing a splint on the inside of her near fore there is a small raised boney lump both me and YO think it is a splint going to ring the vet latter as I wont take any chances with her after all our problems. But I have never had a horse throw a splint before so I dont know what to expect or how to treat other than rest so was hoping you lovely people could give me some advice please x
 
Rest is the most important thing I have found. Resuming work before it has fully settled will not have any benefits and will just prolong recovery time. Application of cold is also really helpful in the early stages of a splint. This should reduce the inflammation and hopefully result in a smaller end splint!

Once formed it shouldn't cause any problems unless it grows huge (like my horse had and had to have it surgically removed). But this is very unusual I am told! Or they can sometimes interfere with the suspensory ligaments.

If she is sore when you apply pressure to the splint bone its likely its a splint. Usually they are a bit squishy early on before there is calcification. There are various things you can get to apply to splints that are supposed to help them resolve faster or reduce in size, such as Splintex. However I've tried a few of these religiously and they never had any effect. Cold and rest is the best as far as I have found. Some splints resolve really quickly an others can take months. Not sure if there is any way to know in advance how long it will take!! I had one mare pop one up one day and was never lame or sore on it and never missed work! Think alot depends on where they are located and what caused it (Sprain, concussion etc).

So your aim really is just to rest and apply cold as often as you can. What age is she? They normally get splints fairly young before the cannon and splint bones fuse.... Hope she gets better quickly!
 
Our 9yo retrained racehorse has just thrown one
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despite not fitting the normal profile. Vet has injected steroid right into the lump, having Xrayed; and said 10 days box rest; if he's sound after that, crack on but try to stay on the soft and hopefully compete after 4 weeks.

I've tried the blister products in the past, and wouldn't do so again - they just caused massive skin irritation and didn't help the splint - hopeless
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Hi there, I've just been through this, so thought my experience may help. My mare, 'threw a splint' over a day. Showed no initial signs of lameness - however as she is so precious I had my vet out. He prescribed DMSO (topical anti-inflammatory) and bute for a week. Coupled with box rest and ridden work in walk only. She was hosed twice a day.
After the week, he cortisoned behind the splint as she was still 1/5th lame and we carried on for another 2 wks in walk and box rest, stopping the bute. Hosing the splint continued.
After this, she trotted up sound. My vet gave me the all clear to bring her back into full work and turnout.

The splint is causing her no problems now, but I am very careful. So I apply cooling gel after riding and after jumping always apply cool gel and bandage. She is sound and happy now, but it takes time... Listen to your vet would be my advise! Hope this helps and lots of luck....
 
thanks all for your replies the vet is coming out on wed just to be on the safe side as both myself and the vet dont want to take any chances after everything we have been through with her, I have rested her and been cold hosing trotted her up last night and she was hardly lame at all so hopefully it wont be too long before she is feeling better. thanks all again i will keep you posted on her progress x
 
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