X-ray results :(

longdog

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Scarlet went for her x-rays Weds, the vet has just phoned. They recommend another op to see why her hock is not healing. Her accident was 4 months ago & she is still lame. The ins has run out (I would recommend vet fees cover for £10,000, I really would) The x-rays do not show enough detail as it is such a tricky area to x-ray. We are devastated by this. Our one consolation is that she is in no pain.
I just don't know what to do now.
 

Worried1

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Didn't want to read and run, firstly I am really sorry. I don't know the full story but if she is not in pain why not turn her away for a year? We had a lovely mare who dislocated her hind pastern and did massive collateral damage as well as damage to her hock. We turned her away and She returned back after having a foal sound x
 

Jesstickle

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Kicked on the hock last January. Major op on hock to flush out wound site. Vets for 2 weeks with leg in cast. Still lame :(

Is it the case that the wound won't close? Or is it all closed but she is still lame?

I only ask as mine did something similar so I might be able to dredge up something from the recessess of my mind that might help!
 

longdog

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Wound has healed up fine. It appears to be damage to the bone that is causing the problem. A bone chip was suspected, then a hairline fracture which wasn't picked up initially. The bone appears to be rough & therefore not allowing the tendon to heal correctly. The bone is roughened where it has thrown up new growth, but it is where the tendon runs across the top of the joint. this is preventing the tendon from repairing & resulting in her continual lameness. We were going to invest in an ARC Equine unit, but were unable to buy one as they appear to be unavailable.
My instinct is to turn her away for longer & see what Mother Nature can do.
 

longdog

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Would it be worth referring to a more specialist vet ? Which practise are you with?

I did suggest this to L but the X-rays have been sent to Newmarket for assessment, so I don't know if we could go better than Matt Smith? He seems to be the main man!
 

YasandCrystal

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Wound has healed up fine. It appears to be damage to the bone that is causing the problem. A bone chip was suspected, then a hairline fracture which wasn't picked up initially. The bone appears to be rough & therefore not allowing the tendon to heal correctly. The bone is roughened where it has thrown up new growth, but it is where the tendon runs across the top of the joint. this is preventing the tendon from repairing & resulting in her continual lameness. We were going to invest in an ARC Equine unit, but were unable to buy one as they appear to be unavailable.
My instinct is to turn her away for longer & see what Mother Nature can do.

Yes I would turn away too and also invest in a Microtherapy unit the Arc or the Microvet. I used one on my mare following tendon surgery and I have no doubt that sped up the healing immensely and she is sound and in full work again nowand was actually 6 months after the op.
 

Jesstickle

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O golly, what rotten luck :(

I was very, very lucky that nothing was interfered with. My horse still has a big hock but has been mercifully sound throughout. What do your vets suggest? I imagine nothing but time can help? If they shave the bone off they presumably run the risk of it chucking up a load of new stuff all over again? It is terribly hard hving a reactive horse. My story is posted in vet on the show us your injuries thread if you want to see it. My horse was a nightmare case so I know how you fewl only too well

ETS i recommend Fran at the cambridge vet school and andy at rossdales wholeheartedly if looking for opinions
 

longdog

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Thank you, JT, I have looked at your report & pics. Is your horse now sound?
I've added our pics plus a link to Laura's blog about it all to the "Post your pics" in Vet forum
 

Jesstickle

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O my goodness you have been so unlucky :(

May I be brutally honest? If she were mine I would be bracing myself for her to become a field ornament and I would be turning away rather than having more surgery. Just my opinion though and feel free to ignore me!

Mine is sound now but I think mine was also a lot more superficial than yours. I so totally feel for you. I remember how stressed and despondent it made me.
 

Jesstickle

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Perhaps your vet will come up with another option if you mention you aren't hugely keen on more surgery. I was terrified whilst Nits was knocked out that she wouldn't survive a GA. i don't think I could go through it again. Horses are such heartbreakers.
 

lachlanandmarcus

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Yes, I think you may be right. she is such a sweet tempered mare, I really do feel sick at heart.
LD

You poor thing. I suppose the only positive thing if she doesn't recover enough to be fully fit is if she is well bred you might be able to breed yourself a son or daughter (if that was appropriate and you wanted to), whereas with a gelding there's not that option.

But fingers crossed that things will go better than that, am rooting for her and sending positive vibes.
 

Boxers

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Very sorry to hear this. My daughter's young horse has justmhd x-rays and found OCD in his stifles. The op costs £5000 and I have vet cover on insurance up to £3000 :(

I hope your horse comes right. If I were you I would probably put her on grass livery somewhere for a year and see what she is like next spring.
 

Optimist

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We were going to invest in an ARC Equine unit, but were unable to buy one as they appear to be unavailable.

So sorry to hear this, but can I suggest you email Ian Thirkell at Arcequine directly - his email address is in the long arcequine thread, he is incredibly helpful and may well be able to help you.
 

Optimist

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Just re read my reply and I meant so sorry to hear about your horse, not about the arc equine unit which is how it reads......
 

laura-c

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I am really sorry to hear this.

My horse was in an accident 3 weeks ago, he got caught up in a trailer hitch and had to have joint flush surgery to a wound on his fetlock... it severed the extensor tendon and hit the joint. Thankfully no damage was seen to the bone through XRays so he had the joint flush, stayed at the vets on IV antibiotics for a week and then came home. He looked pretty sound post-surgery with 5 mins walk in hand for a week until he had the stitches out on Friday, and has gone horribly lame since.. Vet tells me to persevere with the in hand walking and bute but I am thinking there is something more sinister going on!
 

RCP Equestrian

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So sorry to hear this :(

I agree with people saying to turn her away

Sometimes the best thing for injuries is just time

Really hope everything turns out ok x
 

Minstrel101

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Hi all, I am the wretched owner of young Scarlet - Longdog is my mother. Thanks for all your support, it makes me feel a bit better :/

Laura-C, your horse's injury sounds eerily similar to Scarlet's, with the tendon damage and coming dangerously close to bone. I would say, given that your horse has gotten more lame, to not rule out bone damage - the vet couldn't seen any bone damage initially, even with the first op, but her progressive lameness pointed to bone damage, which has been confirmed with scans and x rays. The bone basically disintegrated after the kick, which is why it wasn't picked up on before.

Not to worry you, but please keep it in mind!
 
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