Swollen up - not sure what to do?

[Trewsers]

Joe came in last night (not noticably lame) but OH checked his legs over and one of his front ones (lower part) felt swollen. We put the Armadilo cooling thingy on it for 10 mins and again this morning. I know its probably a nebulous question / description but could it be something simple like just a strain thats caused the swelling? I know he was hoolying about yesterday like mad:rolleyes: as the farmer was moving a load of sheep and cows and he gets rather excited about it!!! I've put him out this morning and he looked ok (not limping) but did look a bit unsure about putting it down when he trotted off. should I get the vet out? I have some bute - should I give him some tonight? Sorry for the long post - any ideas welcome. OH is really convinced its gonna be something dramatic:o Joe doesn't do things by halves. Last time he had a damaged suspensory ligament. Could it be something and nothing? Any thoughts most appreciated.:)

[eventerbabe]

he could well have just pulled/knocked something in the field :) i'd monitor it for a day or two and if still not happy then maybe get the vet in. it's amazing the damage they can do to themselves in the field. I just had my rolfer therapist in for toby and he had tight shoulders and hind quarters, all from kezzie battering him in the field! i'd be inclined not to bute, then you'll see the full extent of the problem should you get the vet in. I'd keep with the cold therapy :)

[Trewsers]

Thanks for that - I'll keep the cold pack on and see how it goes. Yes, I know what you mean about the bute, OH wanted to give him some last night, but I thought it would just mask anything this morning. So, I'll just see how it goes for now. He doesn't look in any pain - he still had a jaunty little trot around the paddock this morning - obviously we won't ride him for a couple of days as well. You're right about the damage they can do in the field - honestly, they both throw themselves around at times!!!!

[Bertie]

he could well have just pulled/knocked something in the field :) i'd monitor it for a day or two and if still not happy then maybe get the vet in. it's amazing the damage they can do to themselves in the field. I just had my rolfer therapist in for toby and he had tight shoulders and hind quarters, all from kezzie battering him in the field! i'd be inclined not to bute, then you'll see the full extent of the problem should you get the vet in. I'd keep with the cold therapy :)

I would agree with EB, avoid bute at the moment as it can mask problems and monitor him for a day or 2, although bute does have anti-flammatary properties.

It's a hard one but hope he feels better soon :)

[Trewsers]

Thanks Bertie - I'll just keep an eye on it over the weekend and see.

[Trewsers]

Well, tis still swollen - it has responded to cold packs but, OH reckons is a job for the vet now. He's coming tomorrow - fingers crossed its nothing like last time (he damaged his suspensory ligament which took 6 months to heal). Didn't help yesterday as just when I thought things were going well (managed to ride Storm without Joe being joined at the hip) when I put them both back out in the paddock due to their seperation anxiety Joe had a right hoolying do - wouldn't leave Storm alone and the pair charged about for about 10 minutes........OH was furious with me for riding Storm, but hey, I didn't know it would provoke that kind of reaction!!! Joe seemed quite happy munching away - he didn't look at all stressed until they got turned out together again!

[Trewsers]

JUst thought I'd let you know - it was worse than we thought. Vet came and its definitely suspensory ligament damage again. Poor lad is now in a postage stamp sized paddock looking very very sad. I don't know how long its going to take - last time it took 6 months of box rest. At least its not as bad this time. Its a different leg - which vet said was better than a re-injury of the old one. I've no insurance - so am dreading next week when vet is scanning - thats going to be pricey I know - it was all covered last time. Storm can't work out why she can't be with him, she is keeping guard outside his paddock - at least he's not on box rest (yet). oh dear. I guess it could have been worse but I could really do without it - specially as we're having alot of fencing done which is likely to wind him up! (At least he can't get any speed up in there tho).

[redfoxylady]

Hi, I was wondering if you could offer some advise ref the ligament damage, we are taking our mare into the equine hosp next week for nerve blocks and scans if needed. She has been intermittantly lame for 3 weeks but only on the lunge/circle. The vet came out at the beggining and at the time she was just not tracking up as well and stiff on one rein. The vet could not identify a limb lameness and recommended a chiro/physio and rest. She has not been ridden but we have continued to turn her out as she is a bit of a pain to keep in (vet agreed). Chiro said she was a bit tense across her pelvic area, but otherwise could not see anything in particular. after 2 weeks of resting the yard owner recomended that we just start to hack her in a walk and see if she improves (in case it is just muscular). Now it does look like a limb lameness but very difficult to see as she may nod occasionally, still very difficult to see which leg but possibly the fore left?.
I was reading about the suspensory ligament and that it tends to only show up on a circle so am really worried that it is that now.
so with the last injury, how long did you have to do box rest:eek:
and did your horse return back to normal work eventually?
as it has happened twice in your horse, is there a reason for that? such as conformation or just bad luck? poor you, 6 months of rest, sounds like forever!

[redfoxylady]

PS. how has he diagnosed that definately the ligament? before he has scanned? My mare has not had any swelling or heat at all? but it does say that as some of the ligaments are surrounded by boney structure it does not always show swelling, hoping that I am worried about nothing. Good luck with your horsey.

[eventerbabe]

oh no trewsers, that was NOT what i wanted to read :( i was so hoping he'd just tweaked something minor :( give joe lots of big cuddles from me. You guys got him better before, you'll be old hands at it this time :)

[Trewsers]

PS. how has he diagnosed that definately the ligament? before he has scanned? My mare has not had any swelling or heat at all? but it does say that as some of the ligaments are surrounded by boney structure it does not always show swelling, hoping that I am worried about nothing. Good luck with your horsey.

The year before last he went lame and vet came out and more or less said right away that it was the suspensory ligament. But she needed to confirm it with scans - they showed up the extent of the damage - it was quite bad but with strict box rest it gradually improved - we kept having regular scans. It seemed to take forever but then eventually Joe was allowed 5 minute walks a day (very difficult when he'd been kept in a box with no exercise:eek:) and we just built it up from there to ridden work in walk and a tiny amount of trot. We finally managed to put him out into a tiny paddock which he promptly trashed the fence on :eek: but luckily for us - the injury had healed completely and vet gave him a final scan and the all clear. Its a long journey - but I'm hoping this time he's not damaged it quite so badly - vet didn't seem to think so anyway. Fingers crossed!!

[Trewsers]

oh no trewsers, that was NOT what i wanted to read :( i was so hoping he'd just tweaked something minor :( give joe lots of big cuddles from me. You guys got him better before, you'll be old hands at it this time :)

Aw, will give Joe big hugs:D Its funny but it does seem a tad easier this time, probably as we've got him at home and can cater for his needs better, like making several tiny paddocks - and keeping him interested by being there - also its good cos Storm can still see him and groom him over the fence - and once a day for a couple of hours I put them in one of the small paddocks together - so far no legs in the air or squealing, they just seem happy to have contact with each other:) Just hoping we don't have really bad news next week on the scans.

[Trewsers]

as it has happened twice in your horse, is there a reason for that? such as conformation or just bad luck? poor you, 6 months of rest, sounds like forever!

Thats an interesting question - I feel it may be due to a conformation fault - he does dish anyway (whether that is relevant I can't say). He is a typical tb type tho, seems to get himself into the most impossible situations at times, he is too clever for his own good as well:) I am inclined to believe its just the result of hoolying (like I said, typical tb who gets overexcited at next to nothing) and the field wasn't exactly ideal at the time - it wasn't very level - it was quite wet weather too (nothing new there:rolleyes:)

[redfoxylady]

My mare first showed signs of problems when we had the farnborough air show!! so she was probably hooling around too! she does like to gallop across the field, bucking and f**ting especially if we get down a bit late! bless her.
thanks for your advise,. We are of to Liphook equestrian hospital on Thursday for nerve blocks and scans, am really worried sick. Good luck with yours.

[Joyscarer]

Just spotted this thread. So sorry you are going through all this again. Thank goodness you have him at home now :)