Suspected stifle injury

LadyGascoyne

LadyGascoyne

Still Fig-uring it out...
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My 3-year-old filly came in lame yesterday, dragging a toe of the left hind and generally looking uncomfortable behind.

She was weight-bearing to the point of being happy to rest the other foot, and nearly sound on the flat and straight. She was demonstrably uncomfortable turning or walking uphill- downhill looked better. She seemed uncomfortable to touch around the whole side of her flank/ quarter but with no marks or heat.

I kept her in last night and this morning she looked a little better.

She is now only showing she’s sore if you press around the stifle itself. She is still moving deliberately through the left hind but not dragging the toe. There still doesn’t appear to be much heat but I suppose the stifle is such a complex structure.

She was lying down when I got there- not unusual for her- but had no trouble getting up. She’s eating, drinking, passing droppings and very chirpy.

I’ve kept her in the stable with some licks and a ton hay.

My feeling is to rest it today and reassess this afternoon. Does that sound reasonable? I’m trying to strike the delicate balance between cautious and neurotic.
 
Just put a reply on your other thread. Could it possibly be a slipping stifle or locking patella?
It's quite common in youngsters and they often grow out of it.
If it is that then exercise is the best thing. Maybe get the vet to be on the safe side?
 
My youngster had it and vet said that exercise especially hills etc was the best thing. Obviously it might not be that but worth checking.
Mine was quite dramatically lame but making him back up sort of released it.
 
I think if she has tweaked the stifle that there isn't a huge amount to be gained by very early intervention. If it had been locking stifles I would have expected you to have seen or felt it before now - has she ever had any trouble picking the foot up when asked to? I wouldn't expect soreness around the joint either, locking stifles isn't an injury, it's a ligament that's too long.

Because she is weight bearing and happy to have the other leg picked up, then If she was mine I would have her turned out to stop it stiffening up, and wait a day or two to see if it improves. I had one who was similarly built who twisted badly fighting not to load one day whose injury sounds very similar. She was unsound in the field for a while but came right as rain after about a month.

Fingers crossed, she's such a lovely little mare.
 
I agree with ycbm, it sounds more like a tweak than anything else which should resolve fairly quickly, I would also turn out and let her quietly mooch about, if it is a bit sore that should keep her steady and less risk of her having a major hooley if you keep her in until she is better then turn her out.
 
Stifles are potential career ending nightmare seek good advice early .
I would be crying in a dark cupboard with the vet on speed dial .
 
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