Sudden lameness 10 days after injury (also in Vet)

Hippophilia

Hippophilia

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Saskatchewan, Canada
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My mare got kicked just below her right knee 10 days ago. There was initial swelling and an open wound but the leg seemed sound and there was no lameness. I spoke with the vet over the phone and he recommended cold hosing and daily washing & dressing. She was making a great recovery until this morning when the swelling is back (whole joint and lower leg) and she is lame. She can put weight on it but the leg describes a circle in walk and she is obviously in pain. Vet can't get out until Thursday, (I'm not happy about trailering her in this condition and they are the only equine vet in the area).
Does anyone have any advice/thoughts?
 
your vet cant come out till tuesday? get another vet!

if she was sound when it happened and is now lame and it is swollen it is most likely an infection and could possibly be serious i would have vet out as an emergency if i did not have any antibiotics to start giving
 
Hippophilia said:
Yes. They are the only equine vets in the city. :(
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Is the horse able to travel? Can you get the horse there? Would the Vet be able to see the horse quicker if you were able to do this?

Do treat this as an emergency, if the infection is in the joint you need to act fast.

OK Just read your post properly. Insist on an emergency call out - they must come pronto.
 
Just spoke to the vets again and they will be out tomorrow. Not til 3pm though...
Horses tend to get treated a bit more like livestock here (Saskatchewan), my YO didn't even think a vet was necessary. :eek: Will try not to worry (or google) until she's seen. :(
 
Hippophilia said:
Just spoke to the vets again and they will be out tomorrow. Not til 3pm though...
Horses tend to get treated a bit more like livestock here (Saskatchewan), my YO didn't even think a vet was necessary. :eek: Will try not to worry (or google) until she's seen. :(
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Well at least that's better than Thursday. Do you have some painkillers you can give her in the interim? Out of interest, what would happen if you had a colicing horse - not a slur on you, but how quickly would the vet be prepared to come?
 
Hippophilia said:
That's exactly what I said! Can't believe I had to try so hard to get them to come out, nobody here seems at all concerned about it. Weird and worrying.
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Yes, worrying, I agree. Are there any other vets in the area? Maybe you could post your specific area on there, I know there are a few Canadians on this site (and yes I know it is an absolutely massive country, but they might be nearby).
 
If i had a vet that told me to wait 2 days before they'd come out to a swollen joint after a wound, they'd be kicked into touch, hours can make a difference if the joint is infected, im so glad for you it is a tissue infection and not a joint one
 
What can I do though? They are the only practice who deal with horses in the area. I'm not happy about it but I am stuck with them. Am going to call their office today to clarify their position on emergencies. As you all rightly point out Missy and I are lucky her injury is not more serious.
 
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