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  Discussion on Horse caught in a fence
Author Message
Member:
klmcbri

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2017 - 11:42 am:

I am trying to help a friend who discovered her horse had caught his left hind in her fence Sunday morning. She had the vet out several times for xrays and has ruled out fracture in the lower part of the leg. Vet has also ruled out a tear to the extensor tendon. He drags his left hind toe and cannot seem to put weight on that leg. Tuesday the vet suggested a fractured femur but said she cannot confirm that in the field with her equipment. My friend is not sure he could get on/off the trailer. His opposite leg is starting to stock up from putting all his weight in it. The vet said if he is not improved by Monday that he should be put down. She believes it is too soon for that. Is there a way to post a video?
Member:
lsweeney

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2017 - 12:07 pm:

Google videos on
Upward Fixation of the Patella. Does it look like that? Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBQ2xJM3a-8

Here is Dr. O's article on it: https://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/4/5357.html
Member:
klmcbri

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2017 - 12:22 pm:

Laurie, Looks kinda similar but this horse won't put any weight on the bad leg, but that might be because he can't get the foot under him.

Here is a video of her horse:
https://youtu.be/ivv3qSMejIY
Member:
lsweeney

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2017 - 12:29 pm:

I don't know that you can post a video to this site, but you could upload it to Youtube or other site, and then provide a link.
Member:
lsweeney

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2017 - 1:08 pm:

What about some pain meds so that he can use the leg more, and shift some of the weight off of the other hind leg? I know that this might be counterproductive for healing on the injured leg, but it might protect the other one. My sense is to look at what it could be, and then analyze what the treatment would entail. If the treatment would require a sling and months of hospitalization, then the pocket book might control your decision making.

My friend had a filly that had upward fixation of the patella on two back legs, and I figured it was over - dragging both hind legs around. The vet came out and snipped two ligaments, and the horse recovered quickly and lived to an old age. If this were my horse, I would probably try to eliminate some of the pain, and then see if there was any recovery, at least to get to a treatable stage or render the horse trailerable (Putting some weight on the leg) so that you could get it to a hospital for further diagnosis. I would also consider getting a second opinion.

Unfortunately, horses need 4 legs. I euthanized my 33 year old mare after she damaged a hindleg and was on 3 legs, hopping. It was a pulled ligament, that could have been fixed, but it would have been a long haul and at her age, I put her down. I knew once she layed down, she would have not been able to get back up.

These are agonizing decisions, I know. They are such big and strong animals that can be so vulnerable at the same time.
Member:
lsweeney

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2017 - 1:15 pm:

I don't know if horses get injuries to their back like people do where you might have a pinched nerve that is causing severe pain? I just bent over the wrong way, and I was instantly incapacitated. It left me slithering on the ground like a snake for days.
Member:
lsweeney

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2017 - 1:38 pm:

I found articles on fractured femurs here and out on the web that did not dictate euthanasia.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Feb 2, 2017 - 7:50 am:

Hello Kathy,
Generally the instability of a fractured femur can be seen and crepitus heard when the leg is manipulated. Can the foot be placed under the horse? If the problem is the inability to extend the coffin jt forward so the sole of the foot can be placed on the ground a splint can be fashioned to extend the toe. If the owner is not confident in the vet's opinion by all means get a second opinion.
DrO
Member:
klmcbri

Posted on Thursday, Feb 2, 2017 - 8:06 am:

Dr. O She is getting a second opinion this morning to try to get a firm diagnosis. Would the peroneus tertius rupture cause the coffin joint not to function so he could put the sole of his foot on the ground? Do you have any pictures of the type of splint you are referring to? I think the bandage he has on at the moment is only for the cut he got during the accident.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Feb 3, 2017 - 9:52 am:

Hello Kathy, most of the time with PT rupture the horse is still able to extend the foot but there are some types of rupture where this may not be true, see the article for more on this. No I don't have any pictures but the veterinarian ought to be able to do this. There are several ways but using casting material to fashion a splint would be one way.
DrO
Member:
lsweeney

Posted on Friday, Feb 3, 2017 - 6:28 pm:

This product might help? https://www.dynasplint.com/divisions/veterinary/
Member:
lsweeney

Posted on Friday, Feb 3, 2017 - 6:40 pm:

Here is a splinting chart that includes hindlimbs: https://www.acvs.org/sites/default/files/files/EQ_Frac_SplintingChart.pdf

Another splint that UC Davis uses: https://kimzeyweldingworks.com/hind-leg-splint/
Member:
klmcbri

Posted on Monday, Feb 6, 2017 - 9:25 am:

Sadly the horse was euthanized on Thursday. Thanks for reading.
Member:
lsweeney

Posted on Monday, Feb 6, 2017 - 11:32 pm:

I'm very sorry. So heartbreaking. :-(
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 7, 2017 - 8:01 am:

Kathy was there ever a firm diagnosis?
DrO
Member:
klmcbri

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 1, 2017 - 2:15 pm:

Fractured femur
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Mar 2, 2017 - 3:07 pm:

Thanks Kathy,
My condolences to your friend.
DrO
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