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Post by zebradreams07 on Oct 28, 2009 16:12:35 GMT -5
My 3 yo mustang appears to have developed a splint on the inside of his left front leg. I've never owned a horse this young before, so I've never had this problem. Right now it is slightly swollen - not puffy, it still feels like a bone, but larger than the right leg. It's slightly warm. He doesn't appear lame on it; he's slightly reactive to touch but he's still sensitive about his legs in general so I'm not sure whether it's soreness. At this point I don't intend to call the vet unless it gets worse, but I would like suggestions as to treatments that could help it heal faster. One friend suggested cold hosing, but I think the work involved in getting the water on his leg would be more likely to stress it.
He was trimmed right before this happened, but it was not an aggressive trim. I think this was more likely caused by his aerial displays while doing ground work with a tarp.
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Post by hollynanne on Oct 28, 2009 21:08:13 GMT -5
When my jumper mare, Zelda, popped a splint, she just turned 2. She was a total fruitcake at that age, but we did standing wraps and took them off to hose and hand walk. Splints will heal on their own, with no intervention. It just takes time to calcify. I would probably put him in a small paddock, or a stall with a paddock attached. Whatever will not stress him out and have him pace/run/etc. If you know how to do standing wraps (this was when I learned- when she popped her splint), and you feel comfortable with that, then do it. (obivous statement next.... make sure you wrap the opposite leg... both fronts, both backs, etc... i said it was obivous!  ) If you don't think he'll respond to hosing, then don't worry about it. Zelda, as I said before, was a total fruitcake, but got really good at standing for the hose. I think it felt good. Good luck! It sounds like you know what you're doing. Just make sure you look for all the "call the vet stuff." eta- we didn't even Bute Zelda, when she popped hers. I figured, if it hurt a little, then maybe she'd stay quiet. (mean mommy!) |
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Post by zebradreams07 on Oct 28, 2009 21:32:38 GMT -5
He's about 3 1/2 now - coming 4, but since he was born in the wild his bday is probably not before about May. He's currently in a large paddock with open shelter, and I haven't seen him do more than a slow walk unless something spooks him. The last time I tried to introduce him to the hose (before it got cold) I barely got it on his coronet band in 1/2 hour or so. I might try it, but I'm worried that any more acrobatics on his part would do more damage. His paddock is too muddy to attempt wraps at this time, and I won't worry about bute as long as he's not favoring it. Thanks for the advice. How long do they generally take to heal?
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Post by hollynanne on Oct 28, 2009 22:55:49 GMT -5
I think you're okay with just letting him be, then. Zelda took about 2 weeks to where she was bucking and farting again. You're good to go when he's not ouchy to the touch in that area. Being a Mustang and a little older, I bet he heals up quick.
Check him again this weekend. I bet he'll already be better by then. I will say that *sometimes* they might get more ouchy before they get better. As long as he isn't really bad off, he'll be okay.
Keep us updated on how he's feeling!
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Post by zebradreams07 on Oct 28, 2009 23:13:47 GMT -5
Hard to say since he wasn't particularly ouchy in the first place, if it wasn't for the heat I would have shrugged it off. Heat is pretty much gone now, but it's still bigger than the other leg - will it stay like that?
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Post by hollynanne on Oct 29, 2009 1:50:51 GMT -5
Bigger? As in swollen? There will be a calcified part that is a little bit bigger (about the size of a pencil-ish and 3 or so inches long), but I never really thought about it, in terms of boots, wraps, etc. It never wore when she wore her galloping boots or her open-fronts or anything.
If it's not warm, then it *should* be fine... if it's noticeably swollen, then that's different.
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Post by zebradreams07 on Oct 29, 2009 3:12:47 GMT -5
Read the first post - not puffy, no fluid. It seems like the splint bone itself is actually larger, or farther away from the canon bone. It's not really obvious looking at it but I can definitely feel a difference.
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Post by hollynanne on Oct 29, 2009 11:37:30 GMT -5
Yup! That's forever. That's what you're looking for. That's a good sign that he's probably almost done calcifying.
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Post by hollynanne on Nov 12, 2009 16:04:17 GMT -5
How's your splint-y boy, zebra?
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Post by zebradreams07 on Nov 13, 2009 1:15:52 GMT -5
Seems to be fine, heat is gone and he never acted sore in the first place. Haven't had a chance to ride though *glares at the sky*
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