when to call the vet

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kerrylou123

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I checked my horses at about 6pm last night- all were happily moving around and grazing. I then got a phone call at 8:45 saying my horse was lame on her left fore. So.... off we went to the yard to check.
anyway, mare is quite lame, with some (or little) heat and swelling around the fetlock area, so i cold hosed the leg, applied cooling gel, and then bandaged her up, and kept her in.
I'm going to yard shortly to sort her out, but at what stage to do you think we should call the vet? I thought i'd see how she is, and if no worse, i'd keep her in today, and reasses tomorrow, and if no better call the vet! Obviously if the leg is much worse today, i'll call the vet out this morning!
Am I doing the right thing? I have some bute, but didn't have it at the yard last night, so she didn't have any. Should i give her some this morning.
I think she's tripped and jarred it somehow... silly girl!

Sorry if this is a really thick post, but in all the years i've had/ worked with horses, its never been my horse that had been lame for this reason, so i've never had to call the shots!
 
Bute will mask any symtoms if you need to call the vet. I would cold hose again and just monitor for a day or two unless very lame and not improving. I do also feel with some lameness, standing still makes things worse, stiffening up. If you have a suitable area maybe lead out to graze for half an hour.

Best of luck and let us know how she is today

Jane
 
thanks for your replies. All heat and swelling gone this morning and is 95% sound, so turned her out with my oldie, as she gets stiff left in al day (spavin). Have cold hosed and bandaged again, so will see how she goes, but i'm quite sure its nothing too serious- think she's just jarred it.
 
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