Thursday, August 6, 2009

Well, I Think I Was Wrong.........Injury

Not sure what yet. Reluctant to call Vet at this point, but I did take her out on a walk on the lunge line and I could see it. Right rear looks stiff and when she brings it forward, she brings it way under her center. Now this horse is cow hocked. She bears weight and brings it up. I stretched her way back and she didn't try and kick me or pull back. I flexed it up and forward and she tolerated that well. Then I cold hosed her rear right hip and leg and she lifted it and held it up in the air. I know she needs a trim and I wonder if that is contributing, balance and all. I also discovered a hoof mark below her hip bone, above her stifle, center to the muscle. She is walking around on it and the stupid dog scared them both and they bolted to one of the paddock. I don't want to bute or banamine her, because I want her to feel it and take it easy over the weekend. I don't see any obvious swelling anywhere. She has two bumps one her inside cannon bone and one lower on outside of that cannon bone and is not bothered by me pressing them. She also has that on other leg, but not as prominant. Has a history of splints. I'm wondering if a kick has caused some muscle soreness, well, I'm hoping that's it anyway. I think , I'll watch her over the weekend and see what she looks like on Monday and then I'll call Vet, unless I end up with a very obvious three legged horse. Don't know what to do right now. Shit!

8 comments:

Callie said...

Well, after talking with Jess,I decided to go ahead and give her some banamine. If it's the stifle, then banamine won't work, if it's bruised muscle then banamine will work and we'll watch how she moves.

Katharine Swan said...

Hey Callie! Goodness, I know what you mean about not knowing what to do. I hate injuries where you can't tell for sure how bad they are.

It doesn't sound super serious, but that's just my opinion. Hosing it down with cold water is an excellent idea. I think as long as you don't put her in a position where she can hurt it worse, and as long as you can keep a close eye on it, you should be fine to wait a few days and see.

But if the swelling gets any worse, if she starts favoring it worse, or if it doesn't show any signs of improvement by Monday or so, definitely call the vet!

Anonymous said...

Could be the kick - hope she feels better soon!

Jean said...

Phooey. I hate hind end lamenesses. First, they are hard to detect, and second, the list of possible causes is long. And if it is muscular, it's even harder to figure out.

If there is a kick mark, that could explain a lot. Once, my PJ got what appeared to be a small cut on his hind end. I took him to his show anyhow and it was a disaster. He simply did not want to trot...walk and canter were fine. I guess the trot jolted the injury making it hurt. He was sore, but essentially undamaged.

If it is something like that, your girl should be much better in a day or so. The banamine sounds good and the hosing is another plus.

I do agree that if it gets markedly worse in the next day or so...I usually go by the rule of three days to see something change...a call to the vet would be next on the agenda.

Callie said...

Well, the more I look at it, the more I think stiffle.........I'll Banamine her again in the morning and before I go to work tomorrow and we'll see, besides of which she is looking at me in the most pitiful way......... :(

Anonymous said...

The buckling rear leg you describe in your last post could very well be a catchy stifle - my mare gets this from time to time and it is remedied by getting her muscled up. If your mare toes out behind (cow hocked) this will make it more likely to happen. Or it could be the kick . . .

photogchic said...

That sucks Callie. Keep us posted on what is going on. Hoping it is just a little sore from a kick.

John and Regina Zdravich said...

I hate to hear that your mare is having a problem. Hopefully it is just soreness from a kick. It would sure help if they could speak English!!!