Horses » lame on front with swollen fetlock and pastern.

debhorrocks

This question is related to: Pie the horse

Age:8
Gender:Female
Breed:trakehner
Neutered:No
Weight:750kg
Vaccination History:fully
Fed On:alfa a and mix
Kept:out full time in summer. in except for 3 days turn out in winter

lame on front with swollen fetlock and pastern.

Pie was very lame with puffy swelling to fetlock and pastern on her front left. Vet came and dug out her foot till it bled and gave her injection for pain(he said the swelling was from foot abscess. No puss came out) After night in she was great. After 2 nights she went out (1 bute a day and dressing on foot) after a week of hot poultice still sore (swelling gone down but could have been bute) but nowhere near as lame as at first. She has now been in for a week. swelling is back, still lame, had no bute for a week. Can any one help? dont know what to do next. Vets are a wast of time. I knew it wasnt an abscess. any ideas greatly received.

13/9/11

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stuart stuart

I suspect that the vet is probably right for the simple reason that common things occur commonly and there are not many conditions that cause puffy swellings of the pastern and fetlock and respond even if not permanently to relieving the pressure poulticing and a bit of bute.
Have a good feel for the digital pulse (just over the sesamoid bones) and compare side to side. a more prominent pulse on the affected side suggests that the problem is in the foot. You may also pick up that the affected foot is hotter or there may be localised pain around the coronary band indicating that infection is tracking up the wall.
Other conditions that could produce similar symptoms are fractures of the pedal or navicular bone or bruising of the bones . Severe strain of the distal sesamoidean ligaments, low flexor tendon strains, infection of the coffin or pastern joints, infected corns or even subcutaneous infection.
The only thing that I can reasonably advise you to do is get the vet back to re-examine the horse. I am however a vet!
|Good luck. please do let us know what is found

13/9/11
debhorrocks

Thanks for that. Sorry get a bit upset when my horse is in pain and i expect the vet to do miracles. I was going to try the farrier next but if you think it best for an other vet visit i'll give it an other go. I thought that with an abscess after the initial extreme lameness they came sound. I have noticed when she walks that a ligament ( not sure if thats what it is) stands out on the sore fore leg, down the front from knee to fetlock. Dont know if thats relevant because it doesn't on the other leg.

14/9/11
stuart stuart

the thingie standing out on the leg will be the extensor tendon and does indicate that there is pain present. Confirms to me the initial advice that you need a vet back to her. (no reason not to use the same on e or same practice)

14/9/11
debhorrocks

Just rang the vet and they are coming at about 3. so will let you know what they say. Thanks again for taking the time to answer my question, it's much appreciated

15/9/11
stuart stuart

any news?

15/9/11
debhorrocks

Vet came yesterday. They sent a different vet and she agreed with the first. However she said that he hadn't made the hole large enough to drain before healing. She made the hole bigger (makes it much easier to clean) 2 bute for 3 days then 1 bute for 3 days plus some antibiotics for 6 days. I have to hot poultice for 5 days then dry poultice for 5. Hopefully this will work. Being off on maternity with a new baby i could have done without the extra expense. Fingers crossed

16/9/11
stuart stuart

that's a relief could have been a whole lot worse!

16/9/11
debhorrocks

ok. So Pie is still lame. no improvement at all. Don't know what to do now. Nothing has come out of her foot and we haven't any drugs left. Surely this cant be an abscess

23/9/11
stuart stuart

time for further investigations. Selective nerve blocks to isolate the site of lameness and X rays.
keep the foot and leg supported and excercise to MINIMUM till a diagnosis is reached.

23/9/11
cute mouse

rt


I suspect that the vet is probably right for the simple reason that common things occur commonly and there are not many conditions that cause puffy swellings of the pastern and fetlock and respond even if not permanently to relieving the pressure poulticing and a bit of bute.
Have a good feel for the digital pulse (just over the sesamoid bones) and compare side to side. a more prominent pulse on the affected side suggests that the problem is in the foot. You may also pick up that the affected foot is hotter or there may be localised pain around the coronary band indicating that infection is tracking up the wall.
Other conditions that could produce similar symptoms are fractures of the pedal or navicular bone or bruising of the bones . Severe strain of the distal sesamoidean ligaments, low flexor tendon strains, infection of the coffin or pastern joints, infected corns or even subcutaneous infection.
The only thing that I can reasonably advise you to do is get the vet back to re-examine the horse. I am however a vet!
|Good luck. please do let us know what is found

24/9/11
debhorrocks

ok, an update. Had the farrier out to her and he said she has had an abscess and that she could be still lame because of the exposed soft sole. Still lame a few weeks later so got the head vet out and was prepared for nerve block and x-ray. However he thought her foot was unstable from all the digging and to put on egg bars.

Had them on on Friday and she is already a different horse.

Thank you every one for all your help and advice. Hopefully this is the end

30/10/11
stuart stuart

good to hear thanks.
I do hope that the improvement has been maintained.

8/11/11

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