Horse HELP!!!!

[chickiemom]

I have a wonderful gelding Applousas. I noticed this evening that he has a swollen knee and a quarter size bulge on the knee. I have called the vet but no return call yet. Do I need to call the emergency vet or wait until tomorrow and what does this sound like. He is only 9 never been used for work (ex: rodeo, cutting, nothing!!) There is no cuts on him so I rule out getting caught in the fence. I also dont have holes in the ground so no twisting from that at least. Any ideas. Thanks

 

[equine chick]

I wonder if he bumped it and the bulge could be a hematoma. Does it seem tender if you touch it? I would put an ice wrap on the knee, or run a cold water bath over it, depending where you are from and how warm it is right now. I definitely would stall him, til you talk to the vet. Do you have msm(it's an antiiflamatory), i have it for one of my mares for heaves but have given it to my other horses when they have had injuries and works great for inflamation. What are his vital signs like temp, pulse, respirations? Anything out of the ordinary?

 

[chickiemom]

it feels like fuild on the knee. Vitals all seem well. I was watching him walk and he seems to put pressure on the knee. and doesnt seem to favor it. I think I will try the ice wrap. I am worried about him. He is my horse and he doesnt like my hubby or most other men. We bonded great and he's my baby, BIG baby!

 

[CarriBrown]

If you're able to get to a feed store, pick up some poultice. It's a clay that has aloe and some other things in it to soothe the soreness and pull the fluids out.

This is what I use, but you can buy Absorbine or whatever other brand you come across.
What I do is put a thick coat on and around the area. Take a bunch of wet paper towels or an old wet towel and wrap it. Wrap it again with vet wrap, a leg wrap, or whatever you have handy. Keep it on until you take him to the vet, up to 24 hours.
Keep him stalled so he doesn't walk too much on it.

EDIT: One of my rope horses will stock up if he's not riden consistantly, and I use this on him. I also used it when my mare kicked him in the knee. You can use it for pulled tendons, muscle aches, and a lot of other things. Even if you can't get it this time, it's handy to have around and I recommend buying it and keeping it in case there is a "next time". You can even use it yourself if you pull a muscle or have some swelling.

 

[Frizzledhen]

It sounds like it may be a hygroma to me, leaking of the synovial fluid in the knee.
Gayle
Chi lady in Michigan

 

[Frizzledhen]

If it is a hygroma, you don't want to use a poltice on it. With a hygroma there is no pain. What the vet did for my show horse was to put a pressure bandage on the knee. They actually make a special bandage pack for the knee to use on horses with this condition. In most cases, the horse lives with a lump on his knee unless they have come up with new surgery to repair the synovial sack. I really hope it is nothing but if not, a horse can live quite comfortably with a hygroma, it just doesn't look too pretty in the show ring.
Gayle
Chi lady in Michigan

 

[eichenluft]

The very best thing to do is get a vet out to look at it. If you are not experienced in wrapping legs, you can do much more damage by wrapping too tight or incorrectly (too loose or with wrinkles in the wrap) - than you will by leaving it alone or up to the vet. Especially on a joint - very difficult to wrap correctly and in a way that will stay put. Best thing is, if your horse is not lame - leave him out and let him walk around, keep the circulation going. If he is lame, then keep him in a stall if you can, or confined until the vet can look at it. Don't give him any drugs that might mask the symptoms (pain, lameness, swelling, fluid buildup) so the vet can't see what is going on. Good luck.

molly

 

[Frizzledhen]

I agree with Molly.
Gayle

 

[Henriettahen]

hmm, I emailed u a link.


I'm not sure about the knee tho...

 

[helmstead]

All very good advice. Get a vet ASAP and apart from cold hosing, leave it alone until you've had a consult. Please keep us updated!

Oh...and as a breeder of the fine animals...it's Appaloosa. Please take no offense...:-D