| Title: | Equine Notes Conference |
| Notice: | Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151 |
| Moderator: | MTADMS::COBURN IO |
| Created: | Tue Feb 11 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Thu Jun 05 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 2080 |
| Total number of notes: | 22383 |
This whole problem started about 6 weeks ago. I came out to the
barn in the morning to find my fillies hind leg swollen and hot.
There was some minor sign of a cut so I immediately called the
vet. An examination showed that she had a small puncture which
had become infected. Solution: give antibiotics and flush daily.
After about a week the swelling and heat went away and the puncture
closed up nicely, except for a small lump. The vet says this is
not proud flesh and had me treat it with DMSO.
Approximately two weeks later I arrived at the barn to find a front
leg swollen and hot. I called the vet again, because it looked
like the same type of accident he recommended the same routine.
Again after about a week the heat and swelling disappeared, the
puncture closed up, and only a small lump was left which I am treating
with DMSO.
Here is the kicker. Two weeks ago I went to the barn and guess
what????? Sure enough on a hind leg right near the hock was another
sore with heat and swelling. This time because it was so near a
joint the vet had me do the same but in addition to the iodine flush
I was to also flush with a medicine that is commonly used on cows
for Mastitis, and use a poltice (Dr. Bensons). Two days later the
leg was 10 times worse. The vet recommended I stop the poltice
and the second flush. Only the iodine flush and topical Betadine
was to be used.
Well here I am one week later, the swelling has gone down in the
leg but minor inflamation in the hock is remaining. The cut appears
to be draining nicely but what worries me the most is that from
a side view of that bad leg the hock itself looks enlarged. I can't
think of it at this time but there is a name for an enlarged bump
on the back of the hock. The enlargement is soft in texture. And
the leg after two weeks still appears to be sore to walk on.
The vet believes the horse has no blood problem, that basically
three similar accidents and infections are due to nothing more than
bad luck.
Last week we moved the horses to our new farm, where hopefully because
the land is flatter and clearer she will not be as prone to accidents.
But the persistent sore and swelling scares me. I am waiting for
a call from the vet now but would appreciate and advice.
Karen DTN:214-3102 "one nervious horse owner"
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 700.1 | PBA::KEIRAN | Wed Aug 31 1988 15:30 | 19 | ||
Karen,
We had a horse that got injured in her right hock, and it appeared
that it was a puncture. We had the vet x-ray it to see if there
was something in there, and since metal was the only thing that
would show up, the x-ray was negative. We went through about a
year of the joint swelling and coming back down on its own, and
the last time it swelled, we took her to Rochester. It turned out
that a piece of wood or something got stuck in there, and was
causing pockets of pus to form in her leg. They operated and
removed quite a large mass from her hock, and told us we were
very lucky that the joint hadn't become septic, which would have
spelled the end of the horse. It sounds like you are doing everything
you should be, just keep an eye on it, and try to leave the horse
outside as much as possible to walk around and keep the fluid out
of the joint. Good luck.
Linda
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| 700.2 | capped hock | WMOIS::PORTER | Thu Sep 01 1988 08:10 | 19 | |
Well I spoke to my vet on the phone last night and from the sounds
of it he believes as I do that she has a capped hock. This is probably
not related to the other injury although they are in the same general
area.
The advice I was given was to rub DMSO on the hock just the same
way I do on the enlargements from the prior punctures. But at this
time he feels cleaning up the puncture is more important than the
hock.
From what I understand a capped hock occurs from a bump or kick
on the hock causing a fluid buildup (it feels like a water baloon).
Is there anyone who can tell me a little more about this. Could
it cause a physical problem or is it strictly cosmetic. Is there
anything else I can be doing about it before it's too late. Is
surgery likley to be the only answer and how dangerous and successful
is it.
Karen "The nervous mother of a three year old filly"
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| 700.3 | Just unsightly? | CHEFS::GOUGH | Thu Sep 01 1988 08:23 | 4 | |
I think - I'm not sure - that capped hocks are just cosmetic, and
don't actually cause any problems.
Helen.
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| 700.4 | Capped Hocks | MPGS::SCHOFIELD | Thu Sep 01 1988 11:19 | 20 | |
There are a couple of horses where I board that have capped hocks.
Some days it is more swollen then others. The stalls have wood
flooring and it tends to irritate the hocks when they lay down and get
up. Also sometimes they rub their hocks on the walls. I have seen
some rubbing on the fencing when turned out too.
One owner tried using hock boots. Beware, because their are two
types- ones that sweat the area and ones that protect.
Some horses get puffy knees, or elbows the same way the hocks get
irritated. I try to use plenty of bedding- especially in the center
of the stall where my horse lays down. I think rubber stall mats
would work well too.
As long as you catch the problem early and help to prevent it from
becoming worse it should not effect the horses way of going.
Good Luck,
Wendy
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| 700.5 | MEIS::SCRAGGS | Thu Sep 01 1988 11:28 | 9 | ||
When I first got my mare she was a stall and trailer remodeler.
She would kick nonstop. She had serious capped hocks, never caused
any problems. I just couldn't show her at halter very well. She
ceased her kicking, but the hocks will always be capped. I don't
expect any trouble from them however.
Marianne
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