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Discussion on Elbow lameness
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 18, 2004 - 5:17 pm:
Dear DrO,
My 5mo colt seems to have damaged his elbow a bit. I think that he lost footing while getting up in the morning and he crashed on his elbow, on very hard flooring. The barn owner saw him crash while getting up, and I found a couple of skid marks in the corner where he sleeps.
His elbow joint is very slightly swollen all around. No particular swelling or pain on the point of the elbow. His tricep is very painful to rub but there's no heat. The point of the shoulder and the scapula seem to be ok.
He came dog lame out of his stall this morning, but he was almost perfectly sound with half hour turn out in the paddock. In the afternoon he was a bit lame out of the box and absolutely sound after half hour of grazing.
Unfortunately, I have no access to radiographs or a vet that could give me a diagnosis, and I happen to care a lot for this little one.
Any thoughts, Doctor?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 18, 2004 - 6:11 pm:
Hello Christos,
If the horse was absolutely sound at a trot in a circle both ways there is very little chance of a serious injury. To be so lame and then exercise out of it suggest bruising to the muscle to me. However it does not let out the possiblility of joint or bursal inflammation that may go from low grade enough not to have obvious lameness to a chronic problem if not cooled out quickly and rested until healing is well under way.
I suggest a compromise while the injury straghtens itself out. How about paddock rest with a healthy dose of bute until 3 days after all swelling and lameness are gone. Then allow turn out.
DrO
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 - 4:53 pm:
I dared not lunge him in fear of making things worse. But I am very familiar with his balance and movement, I can tell if something is wrong even on a straight line.
Today he was much much better. Perfectly sound both ways in 20m circles, though obviously minding his step (he doesn't pull any of his usual stunts and he doesn't gallop).
I'm out of bute (hard to find around here) so I started him on 0,5 mg/kgr banamine twice daily, which I'll keep for 3-4 days, though I could see no swelling today.
I have no paddock, it's his stall or the pasture, so I'll hand walk him for an hour a day and see how it goes.
Thanks a lot for your help.
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