Suspected Stifle

epeters91

epeters91

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My youngster has had problems with her stifle locking as she's been growing up (now 3) in the last few weeks I've seen some of her problems come back. She's started dragging her toe slightly in the affected leg, struggling with the farrier which isn't like her and after staying in the stable for one night she was properly snatching her leg up again.

The vet gave me some anti inflammatory pain killers and she went back in the field but this didn't have any affect... I've been in contact with my vet most days giving her updates on how she was going but after seeing no improvement th vet came out again last night.

I brought my girl into the stable a few hours before hand as it was raining and by the time the vet turned up she was clearing dragging her toe and uncomortable. The vet said there is slight swelling of the stifle but nothing worrying and she's not sure what the root cause is. She tried flexing both back legs and the one that's stiff my horse put a big fight up and even tried to nip which is completely out of character for her.

We're bookng in for x rays next week then there is the possibility she will need to have stifle surgery or if that isn't the cause then we will have to move onto nerve blocking.

I've had a horse pts previously after x rays showed she'd broken a small bone in her hoof after being chased into a fence by another horse and since then any leg injuries get me a little panicky. I got quite upset after the vet left last night but I know it's silly because she will probably be fine. Just need to contact my insurance before booking anything to make sure they will cover costs and ge the x rays booked.

My family aren't very horsey and I keep my horse on their land so I haven't got many horsey people to talk to so thought I'd post in here and see if anyones had any experience of stifle surgery and recovery? She's an unbroken 3 year old we had started doing light groundwork but obviously all that's on pause now until she's right and if she needs to be a field companion then she will be with me forever (hoping thats the worst outcome we could have)
 
You are doing everything right, try not to worry too much until you have let the vet do investigations.

I had a Shetland with a locking stifle, he was 18 months when we got him, and he would get proper stuck. The vet advised some work, turnout but also long reining, and once he was 3 years old lungeing too. The lungeing was what "cured" it, starting slow, and building muscle around the joint.

It was younger than I would like for lungeing and work, but it worked to stabilise the stifle.

Rolo has a happy life, when he was 4 I backed him, and then he had kids ride him, including pony rides at fetes, which he loved. Polos all day :-)

With yours I would not change his management or work him right now, as he also had heat and pain, I an just trying to say that if you can get over this acute phase, have treatment, a stifle is something that can sometimes be overcome once the horse can get fitter. I do hope that is the case for you and your horse.
 
Thank you for your reply Red! We have quite a steep driveway so when my last horse had a touch of it after being of work for a while we used to walk up and down the drive to build his muscle up so hopefully once we isolate the problem we can deffinitely get her building the muscle and strength up in it I think it's just going to be a slow process. I'm sure I'll be calmer once the x rays are done and we have a better idea of what's wrong :)
 
Im in a similar situation myself so I know how you are feeling :( Im on a large yard and I feel quite alone with this as everyones busy with their horse and no doubt they dont want to hear my worries.
Lots of hill work has helped my horse massively, I realise its not as simple when they are babies but our problem is back and the vet is booked for tomorrow. Im not sure where the problem is, we thought back at first but his stifle has recently started to click and he had an odd gait back end of last week, totally sound the next day but then just not tracking up right on the affected leg on a circle. He seems sound in walk so did think he was improving until yesterday when I seen him trot across the field so it looks like Im on the merry go round now of trying to find out what is wrong. Hope all goes well for your girl.
 
It's a horrible situation when your worrying about your horses health :( I hope your boy is feeling better soon! Definitely let me know how you get on with the vet. I've spoken to our insurance company this morning its my first time making a claim so wasn't sure how it would go but they seem ok so far! She's booked in or x rays and a full lamness inspection on Tuesday I'm borrowing my bosses pick up with a tow bar and my friends horse trailer and have the day booked off work so I can get up there if they need me. It's going to be her first time being dropped off and left somewhere without me I'm not going to want to leave her haha!
 
My girl had stifle surgery last July. She came sound and she was back in work (hacking) for around 4 months. Unfortunately we're now bilaterally lame & we think it could be SI joint as both hinds aren't right. Just got my insurance go ahead to refer to a bone scan as we have no idea what's wrong despite nerve blocks & xrays. She was very happily hacking & went lame after doing the most amazing trot work
 
That's very sad news ilvpippa how old is your girl? Fingers crossed you get her right soon! Is she happy enough in herself or quite sore? My gil drags her foot and seems uncomfortable in the stable or turning to sharply but grazing in the field she's not too bad. Lying down and getting up and a little tiff for her though.
 
tomorrow is the day we find out what's going on I really can't wait my poor girl has gotten worse over the weekend she's uncomfortable having her feet picked out as she's not too happy on her bad leg, she doesn't want to move over in that direction and yesterday in the field she lay down to itch her foot then got up again :( feel horrible watching her be uncomfortable so I'm anxious to get her x rays done and hopefully find the cause so we can put it all right!
 
Best of luck for tomorrow - it will really help to know exactly what you're dealing with. My youngster has had some problems with her stifle but it seems to be only when she is going through a growth spurt so we have just about been able to manage it, and she is 4 now so i'm hoping she will have grown out of it and starting work this year will hopefully help as well. Please keep us updated when you have news from the vet, I hope it is something that can be dealt with easily and fingers crossed your girl will be happy again soon
 
Well we went to the vets yesterday, my girl got a bit worked up she's normally kept at home with a shetland so it was a lotbusier than she was used to!

Typically for the first time in weeks she didn't look lame haha. X Rays were done to be safe but all looks good, the vet doesn't want to operate on her stifle because of her being only 3 and I agree if there's nothing they can see wrong then they definitely shouldn't.

We're on 4 weeks of rest. 1st week in the stable, 2nd week with a couple of hours in a small field turn out, 3rd week longer turn out in a bigger field and 4th week try an inhand walk up and down our hill to see how she is.

Normally after spending a night in the stable her stifle locks completely but this morning she was fine which is a great sign :) she's kept on my parents land and my dad has also checked her and tried to say she looks fine put her in the field so I've had a serious conversation with him and explained I'm following vets instructions, they are the experts and I'm not risking setting her off again. Fingers crossed we will continue to see improvements if she goes bad again the vet said we will have to re-consider doing the operation early so I'm hoping we don't have to have that conversation.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and helping me keep calm xxx
 
It's normal to worry :)

My daughter backed a four year old pony last year that locked its stifle, was observed in the field since a foal.

Funnily enough never had any problems for the day she arrived until the day she left! She stayed the whole summer and went to lots of mini sj/ht comps.

I would, with the ok from your Vet start to back her when you are ready, often regular work stabilises the stifle. If she is suitable for the operation then I believe they wait until they are older.

You are doing everything right, good luck with her :)
 
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