Swollen hock ("cap" and front)

[WindyStacks]

He had an accident - I don't know for sure what happened - needless to say, nobody is any rush to come clean.

Initially we thought capped hock but fluid does not appear to be hardening and under vet's approval this week started a fitness programme - led out in hand one day, walked out by lightweight - so obviously nothing strenuous and NO Lungeing. Anyway the hock is now swelling again, very fluid and a small pocket at the front at the bottom of the joint. Prodding these does not appear to cause him discomfort.

He's tracking up but something isn't "quite" right - but he's moving "well" when grazing and the wind excites him.

The vet wants to start imaging (we'd think crippled by now if bone - x-rat done in this joint just 3 months ago which was clear so you'd hope not massive degeneration in just few months).

Anyone have any ideas? Unfortunately he'll have to meet his maker if prognosis poor - and I feel so cheated that my "horse of a lifetime" has been injured under someone else's care.

 

[Auslander]

He had an accident - I don't know for sure what happened - needless to say, nobody is any rush to come clean.

Initially we thought capped hock but fluid does not appear to be hardening and under vet's approval this week started a fitness programme - led out in hand one day, walked out by lightweight - so obviously nothing strenuous and NO Lungeing. Anyway the hock is now swelling again, very fluid and a small pocket at the front at the bottom of the joint. Prodding these does not appear to cause him discomfort.

He's tracking up but something isn't "quite" right - but he's moving "well" when grazing and the wind excites him.

The vet wants to start imaging (we'd think crippled by now if bone - x-rat done in this joint just 3 months ago which was clear so you'd hope not massive degeneration in just few months).

Anyone have any ideas? Unfortunately he'll have to meet his maker if prognosis poor - and I feel so cheated that my "horse of a lifetime" has been injured under someone else's care.

Impossible to say without investigations. It could be anything.
You seem exceptionally gloomy about it - mentioning PTS, although you've said he's not that lame. Is there history here that we don't know about?

 

[WindyStacks]

Investigations seem to be hindered right now due to lack of communication between vets - I've just moved a few hundred miles and new vet is reluctant to work until old notes received - old vet reticent.

You're right - I am gloomy ;-) - it's just dr google does suggest hock = hopeless cause (note to self - stop googling!).

There is no history with this leg - I suppose this adds to my gloom - I've had problems with two others since I bought him - so have only ridden him a dozen times since I bought him. Two other incidents not overly serious - 1 nasty kick to knee which was joint-tapped and an abscess - otherwise great sound horse.

 

[diamonddogs]

My mare capped her hock about three months ago, and it's still wobbly. The vet said he'd drain it if I wanted but said as her existence doesn't depend on her looks it was best left. He'd said it could be a long job, but wasn't concerned but if she went lame he needed to see her immediately.

Sorry, not much help I know!

 

[WindyStacks]

Ok, kind of good news. The vet has received notes and going back over history it looks like (to me, obviously I'm no vet but ive out-diagnosed them before ) - long digital Eflexor tendon.

So good news and bad news. Good news in that I) the vet can persue diagnosis in this direction and hopefully give it a good steroid jag and ii) if you're going to bust a tendon there are worse ones to do and iii) hopefully with a confirmation of diagnosis we can get a plan.

Still have no idea how he's done it as he wasn't being worked and stupid nag won't tell me.

I feel a lot happier about it - assuming vet agrees!