Opinions wanted....my first ever stifle injury on
horse.....
Mare was injured 2 and a half weeks ago....in my
area of "safest fencing" go figure. In disagreement with neighbor horses,
she apparently got front foot stuck in Horse-no-climb fencing....shoe caught in
wire, so she struggled and fell into pipe panels, knocking over entire
row....had metal-pipe panel markings on her right side, slight lacerations on
all four legs....more around right stifle....was very sore and limping on right
hind. I got her to barn, cold hosed for 15 minutes, and observed. She
could put weight on it, and walk, but really didn't want to. Picked up
injured back leg, all joints flexed...picked up other hind; she could stand on
injured leg no problem.....
Called vet, ran down whole story....she said just
monitor for next 24 hours, didn't sound like anything broken, so don't bring in
yet.
Gave bute twice a day...over next 2 days, stifle
area was hot and swollen. Horse was confined to paddock. Bute for 4 days, cold
hosing.
A week later she was walking and trotting almost
normal.....swelling gone
At a week and half we watched brief trot in
round pen....both directions; looked fine. Did flexion tests on right
hind,
looked fine. But on occasion, at liberty,
when she had to turn or move fast, I saw "offness"on that leg.
Today shoer came (two and half weeks)...I asked him
to watch her trot (didn't tell him was was wrong). Second time out he said she
was not pushing off as evenly on right hind, he guessed stifle injury (I was
impressed)....he is excellent horseman also.
Everyone is telling me stifle injuries are serious;
he said pull shoes and lay horse off a month at least....she is 5, give plenty
of time to heal...but he didn't think it was that bad or serious.....he had a
mare with a really bad stifle injury and laid her off 8 months....
Becuase it seemed to resolve fairly quickly, I
didn't do vet visit....maybe should have ultrasounded? I am hoping leg was
only badly bruised or strained....and no torn muscles or
ligaments....
Okay....any opinions appreciated, what would you do
or handle this?
