What happened to my fillys fetlock??

[Norman]

My 5 month old filly has a hard bump on her hind fetlock

She's not lame at all, I just noticed it today when I was brushing her. I did some google-ing to try to figure out what it is and is sounds like an osselet. She goes out to pasture every morning with mamma and a retired qh gelding baby-sitter, and comes in every night. Yes she does run around like a maniac when she's feeling frisky, but no more than any other baby. This really bothers me that she could have already injured herself. It doesn't seem to be bothering her any but i just dont like the look of it, big nickel sized calcified lump in her leg. Is there anything I can do to make it go away???

 

[kbarrett]

Hi Norman,

I've seen lots of osselets in my day, they're relatively common to see in racehorses. When they first occur there can be some lameness or none at all, and are usually accompanied by heat. Cold hose for any heat, since she's not sore on it I'd stick to your ususal turnout routine.
Once the osselet is "set", no heat or lameness" you're left with the "big nickle sized calcified lump" which is bugging you. Unfortunately the bony callus will not go away. However your filly is young and it may appear to diminish as she matures. It's been my experience dealing with racehorses that once set, there is little chance it will flare up again. If it is indeed an osselet, it will not interfere with whatever discipline you have planned for her.

Wouldn't you just love to buy a roll of bubblewrap? With all of the ingenious ways they seem to come up with to injure themselves it sometimes amazes me that horses as a species have survived.

Good luck!

 

[Norman]

I know! If they can find a way to hurt themselves...it will happen. I see the baby running around playing, sliding stops up to the fence, whipouts when she cuts corners too sharply. I cant imagine if she were turned out with a bunch of other babies, there would be mass casulties. Even after "baby-proofing" everything, she still comes in everyday with a new little scrape geesh! Im gonna be all grey hairs and Im not even 30!

Thanks for the reassurance, I was afraid it would turn into a chronic issue if it didn't go away. I suppose ill just have to live with the bump...hmmm maybe ill buy some bulky shipping boots and a bumper helmet for her to wear everyday

 

[patandchickens]

a) Where on the fetlock is it?

but also b) Osselets, certainly *hard* osselets, is not something you should be seeing on a 5 month old.

I would say chances are she banged it on something and has a lump from that -- in my experience, as long as there was no fracture and the actual edges of the joint are not involved, there'd be a real good chance that it will go away in time.

However, it would not hurt to have the vet look at it if he's out in the next couple months -- you really do not want to mess around with things in the joint areas on babies.

Good luck,

Pat