Unexplained lameness

[GrecianDawn]

Horse was off on his left hind leg, no swelling, no heat. Ultrasound clear, no reaction to hoof testers. Showed some hock pain so vet injected and horse was sound for maybe 3 days? Rested him for 2 weeks and back in work and he shows up with swollen hock like bog spavin. X-rays are taken, nothing to be seen, not even signs of osteoarthritis. Vet treats the horse again, and in one week time swollen hock again and 3 legged lame in box. But once you take him out he walks normal and is even willing to try and buck and play. Now on strict box rest, waiting for additional x-rays(whole leg) and nerve blocking today. Blood work came normal. Any suggestions/ideas?

 

[Pinkvboots]

Could be infection somewhere that would cause swelling and pain, what did they blood test for? infection would show if they tested white cell count though.

 

[GrecianDawn]

Could be infection somewhere that would cause swelling and pain, what did they blood test for? infection would show if they tested white cell count though.

They did complete blood work and white cell count is totally normal. Would an infection in joint itself show up in blood tests? And it is going on for a while now, so no clue.

 

[Goldenstar]

Very strange .
could be a occult spavin which does not show on a X-ray or a soft tissue damage that they missed Or can’t be seen on ultrasound .
nerve blocking will should Help find the answer .
you might need an MRI .
good luck .

 

[Pinkvboots]

They did complete blood work and white cell count is totally normal. Would an infection in joint itself show up in blood tests? And it is going on for a while now,
Yes it would have been covered if the white cell count was normal, agree with GS mri might be your only option now

 

[GrecianDawn]

Very strange .
could be a occult spavin which does not show on a X-ray or a soft tissue damage that they missed Or can’t be seen on ultrasound .
nerve blocking will should Help find the answer .
you might need an MRI .
good luck .

I just read about occult spavin on internet. If it was occult spavin, joint wouldn't swell am I right? So a small update now. Nerve blocks do pin point the lameness to his hock, so vet suggested we take more x-rays, like from more angles. But today he is walking normally around his stable. Everyone is confused, vet said with his lameness, he would expect a clearly visible fracture, but not even a bone chip was found. And he didn't react to hoof testers, they were also applied today.

 

[Goldenstar]

I suspect you might need a mri .

 

[AandK]

My horse has had recent hock lameness and bog spavin type swelling. Had xrays, thought it was a bone chip. Turned out to the the Lateral collateral ligament in his hock. Only found this when he went in for an arthroscopy.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I just read about occult spavin on internet. If it was occult spavin, joint wouldn't swell am I right?

You are right. My pony had occult spavin and nothing to be seen, just acute lameness.

 

[GrecianDawn]

I suspect you might need a mri .

Same.

 

[GrecianDawn]

You are right. My pony had occult spavin and nothing to be seen, just acute lameness.

Sorry about your pony. :/ At least one thing to take off of my mind. :/

 

[GrecianDawn]

My horse has had recent hock lameness and bog spavin type swelling. Had xrays, thought it was a bone chip. Turned out to the the Lateral collateral ligament in his hock. Only found this when he went in for an arthroscopy.

Thanks for sharing! Did your horse recover?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

When my pony was diagnosed with occult spavin it was back in the 1970's so rest was the suggestion. He was only 5 or 6 at the time. My Horace Hayes Vet manual said 'Treatment was speculative' which did not fill me with much hope. He was checked at intervals over the year he was off and didn't seem to be improving. My vet finally told me to put him back into work for a fortnight then to take him to be x-rayed. I did, he came sound and x-rays showed the bones were finally fusing. Apart from being slightly stiff in the hock he stayed sound for the rest of his life. I lost him to a gut problem when he was 23. Dr Green is quite often the best medicine along with patience.

 

[GrecianDawn]

Sorry about your loss, but that is quite a positive story! What is worrying me with my boy is box rest. He is not used to be stabled 24/7. And vet said he can't even go out for in hand grazing. Maybe this is a dumb question, but why will it harm him if he walks in hand compared to moving around his box?

 

[ester]

So the vet treated the horse with injections twice in two weeks? what were the injections?

 

[AandK]

Thanks for sharing! Did your horse recover?

He had the arthroscopy 2 months ago so he’s still in rehab. Vet has given him a good prognosis and I expect to be able to get back on him end of Jan.