Stifle lameness

[Horseface]

My just turned 3 year old gelding, had quite bad locking stifle when stabled overnight. It lasted for around 2 months.
Last week he was on a weeks box rest due to somehow managing to get mud up his sheath, sheath swelling and a slight adema which required a vet visit, sedation and a good clean of his sheath. He was refusing to come out of his stable during that week and I’d just put it down to being highly uncomfortable.
This week however he is incredibly uncomfortable on his is stifle so much so he’s not wanting to walk and if he does walk he’s almost walking sideways, I have turned him out in the hope that moving even just a little bit will help him.
I’ve given him Bute and danilon as per my vets recommendation, and to keep him on it for 3 days to see how he goes.
Can I do anything else to help him? I hate seeing him so uncomfortable.
Note the stifle is no longer “locking”.

 

[Nocturnal]

Are you using an equine vet? Personally if he’s that uncomfortable I’d want a bit more input from the vet than ‘see how he goes’. i would call the vet back out to have another look.

 

[Horseface]

The vets we use, which are the only vets in our area are small and large animal vets.
Not specifically an equine vet.
I will call them back out tomorrow morning to take another look at him.

 

[Midlifecrisis]

Please find an equine specialist to advise…my mare had issues last year and I had to self refer to a more experienced team to help with her stifle issue.

 

[Horseface]

Please find an equine specialist to advise…my mare had issues last year and I had to self refer to a more experienced team to help with her stifle issue.

Please can I ask just out of curiosity what was wrong with your mare?
I’ll contact my vets tomorrow and ask for a referral to an equine specialist/hospital.

 

[Nocturnal]

I imagine you are not in the UK from the sounds of it? If you can’t get an equine vet then you’ll have to make do, but best to research as much as possible. I had a horse with stifle lameness (scans just showed general inflammation around the stifle joint), treated with steroid injections successfully. If your vet isn’t sure what to do I’d suggest getting scans and X-rays done, then send them to an equine vet for a second opinion.

 

[Horseface]

I imagine you are not in the UK from the sounds of it? If you can’t get an equine vet then you’ll have to make do, but best to research as much as possible. I had a horse with stifle lameness (scans just showed general inflammation around the stifle joint), treated with steroid injections successfully. If your vet isn’t sure what to do I’d suggest getting scans and X-rays done, then send them to an equine vet for a second opinion.

I live in the Scottish highlands, sorry I maybe should have said on my original post.
I have been researching and reading as much as I can, and have read a lot of very conflicting articles. Some say turnout as 24/7 or as much as possible and others say box rest. I’d have thought that as much turnout as possible would be better to help with movement?
I have emailed my vets this evening, and I will call as soon as they are open tomorrow to get them out again to reevaluate him and I will ask for a referral to Edinburghs dick equine hospital too for X-rays etc.
I may be completely overreacting I’ve owned him since he was 6months old and he is my absolute pride and joy. I know he is ok in himself as he still very much has his appetite it’s just I hate to see him off like this, uninterested in everything and anyone else but his food. Which isn’t like him at all.

 

[Midlifecrisis]

Horse face I’m not sure the issue had a name that has stuck in my mind…she had/has a sub luxating patella and lameness which one vet thought came from hip but another team said was stifle. No tendon problem but some inflammation in the joints there so she had steroid type injections and I had/have to keep her ridden and muscled.

 

[SEL]

You really need to know what you're dealing with rather than "just" assuming it's a sticky stifle. Ideally a check by an equine vet who can x ray to confirm the bone structure is ok, and possibly scan the ligament too. If everything looks ok then it's worth involving a physio who can give you some exercises to strengthen the quad muscles

 

[Horseface]

You really need to know what you're dealing with rather than "just" assuming it's a sticky stifle. Ideally a check by an equine vet who can x ray to confirm the bone structure is ok, and possibly scan the ligament too. If everything looks ok then it's worth involving a physio who can give you some exercises to strengthen the quad muscles

I have emailed my vets this evening and I will phone them first thing tomorrow morning to arrange another visit and a possible referral to an equine hospital for X-rays and anything else that may be required.
I was just asking if anyone else had had a problem similar to my own. Dr google isn’t overly helpful with very conflicting articles. Hopefully we will get to the bottom of his problem as soon as possible and then come up with a plan/solution for him.

 

[SEL]

I have emailed my vets this evening and I will phone them first thing tomorrow morning to arrange another visit and a possible referral to an equine hospital for X-rays and anything else that may be required.
I was just asking if anyone else had had a problem similar to my own. Dr google isn’t overly helpful with very conflicting articles. Hopefully we will get to the bottom of his problem as soon as possible and then come up with a plan/solution for him.

I did have a problem hence the advice!

 

[Horseface]

I did have a problem hence the advice!

Apologies I didn’t mean to come across as rude.
I hope your horse is ok and that you got to the bottom of your problem.