xray/lameness/splint questions

squirrelc17

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my sisters horse went lame 2 weeks ago. vet at burgie checked and after nights rest was improvement. was initially bit of swelling and heat on splint bone.
when she went home she stayed on box rest (but was wild and unhappy rearing in box etc)/
vet came 2 days later as still lame.
he siad looks like splint but she's too old to get splints (aged 8?????????????)
5 days danilon and field rest.

anyway she's still lame. not hopping and only obvious in trot.

but the vet has now said he wants to xray because she's too old for a splint.

my instincts is saying it is a splint (swelling has gone hard and isn't increasing) heat is reducing.

to me an xray is just going to show a little fracture which we basically know.
so a waste of money as i don't think it will change the treatment.

what do you think???
 
Go with your vets advice, they know best.

Your bill will soon add up and probably over your insurance excess now anyway so what have you got to loose my xraying it?

Hope horse gets sorted soon.
 
My mare is 12 and she threw a splint this year after falling into ice on the pond.

Didn't notice a splint for about two/three months after her accident, but it's right in the area where her scars are, so too much of a coincidence.
 
My old boy threw a splint in a hind leg at 14! Only a small one and didn't go lame, but still can happen.
 
that is exactly what i thought. ok young horses are more likely to get them but it can happen at any age!!!

i just think normally a splint wouldn't be xrayed and with the vet saying that about her age i'm not sure i quite trust him!!
 
Yep pogwash- our boy got splint at 8 just before we took him on when they retired him from racing.

Did he give you any tensolvet gel to put on the area or inject it? They can also be reomved in an op but usually if managed correctly dont casue alot of bother as long as not interfering with suspensory ligament once heat is gone and they are properly formed so hard and not soft.

Avoid hard ground once settled and do not trot on roads etc. Bioflow magnetic boot may help to increase blood flow to effected area.

Good luck xx
 
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