swollen, warm fetlock

[Jacqui]

I caught my 18 year old gelding running like a crazy man in the paddock on Sat. I brought him in and checked him over and everything looked and felt fine. I rode him both Sat. & Sun (flat work, no jumping) and he was awesome. The barn is closed on Monday, he gets 2 hours turnout. On Tues. it rained and I ran to check on him quickly. His right front was warmer than the rest of his legs but it also was covered in manure and the hair was roughed up like he had just slept on it. Wed. it was still warmer than the rest and a little swollen at the back of the fetlock so I clipped his legs up and put a cold wrap on it for 20 minutes and jogged him for the barn manager. The swelling went right down so I got on and walked him in the paddock area(firmer ground) and trotted on a straight line and he was completely sound. Called my vet and she said she would be out tomorrow to check.

Vet came and we did a lameness exam, he flexed 2/5 in the right front. The ultrasound showed no fiber disruption of any tendons or ligaments, but he was sore to palpation of the suspensory ligament. She recommended 2 weeks of rest, cold therapy & bute and then a recheck.

Everything I read talks about a much longer rest period. Is it possible to just tweak the ligament slightly? Has anyone else's horse done this and recovered in a couple of weeks? My horse does the Adult jumpers and is in great condition for his age and has never been lame in the 5 years that I have owned him. I just want to do the right thing but not end up being paranoid!
Thanks!!

[scribbles]

If there was nothing on ultrasound and the suspensory is just "sore" then rehab might not be that long. She is rechecking in two weeks, and hopefully it was just a little sore.... and there isnt actually anything "wrong" with it.

[whbar158]

Generally with my horses if they come up off/slightly lame we can find the cause (like some swelling or heat) it is bute for a few days stall rest check to see if they are still sore without the bute, if better but still sore they stay up (also depending on the horse they might go between the indoor ring and their stall) then if not better very soon the vet comes out. Often the vet is called in the beginning to let them know that if it isn't looking 100% better in X amount of time they will be coming out.

About 2 years ago my horse seemed to know every time that 2 week mark was coming up, he would be almost sound then he would escape and run around like a crazy horse (we wish we could make him go that fast undersaddle haha) and it would get warm again and would take another week of rest.

But to answer your question, yes horses can just tweak things or knock themselves pretty hard and be sore. If the horse is 100% in 2 weeks he will be fine.

[Jacqui]

My vet came back to check on us today, I love her! She said that he strained his Superficial Flexor Tendon (low) and that will heal easier than a suspensory ligament. We are going to take it easy, cold therapy and bute and recheck in a week. It already seems to have less heat(hard to tell because both front legs were poulticed and wrapped last night) and swelling. I'm very encouraged.

[Jacqui]

So my horse has come along nicely from tweaking his SFDT in his right front. After the initial swelling and heat he was treated for a week with bute, cold hosing, wrapping and rest. Then walked under saddle for 2 weeks, no signs of any swelling or heat, no lameness. We ultrasounded again and tendon sheath swelling is down. So back to trotting and cantering with no problem.
Had a flat lesson yesterday and it was warm out. When we were done both front legs were warm and veins were popped but the RF felt a little thicker so I cold hosed and wrapped for the evening.
Went to the barn today and removed all the wraps and ALL his legs felt thick, so I hand walked and edema came down and his legs were back to normal except for a small pocket of fluid on the outside of his RF above the fetlock. No heat or pain just weird swelling. I call my vet cause now I'm paranoid. She came and palpated his tendon-Nothing! She said the swelling is a vein and his leg may be develop a wind puff also.
Anyone experience this???

[Fharoah]

I think that you will have some filling. Maybe a sweat or poltice will help keep his legs tight?

Best Wishes!