Vet Appointments & Cool X-Rays
So for the people that wanted to know what was up with my boy's legs:
The last vet that came out (that just looked quickly at Fred moving) said that she thought Fred's hocks were bad and needed injected.
Well, today, we had one of the top lameness vets in the area come out and look at Fred. He did lots of tests but at first, was not sure what was wrong with him. Eventually, he said that his hocks are "bad" to a degree, but nothing serious-- just something that will be okay as long as he's on a joint supplement (which he is). He also had thrush in his right front hoof (underneath his frog). The vet cut out his frog and cleaned out his foot-- he gave us iodine to put in his foot for the next week and told us to keep it bandaged for 7 days and he should be good.
He decided the problem was actually in his right front knee (not his hocks) but he wasn't exactly sure what was wrong, so we decided to have him x-rayed.
X-rays showed that his splint bone on that leg was a bit messed up. The outside was fine, but the inside has active calcifications. That would be the reason for all his problems and pains; and the reason why he doesn't exactly move right. The vet decided to inject that side with cortazone (he did not inject the actual bone/joint) and said that he is fine to ride starting Saturday and we should start seeing improvements/differences by Sunday. He said that most likely, that one injection will help heal his bone and he won't need any more!
The good, smooth side of the splint bone.
vs.
The bumpy, calcified side of the splint bone.
So, pretty good news. A weight was lifted off my shoulders. Hopefully no other problems will pop up and maybe he will feel/move better. I am going to the tack store in a little bit to get him some vet wrap and such for his footy.
Have a good day! :)
The last vet that came out (that just looked quickly at Fred moving) said that she thought Fred's hocks were bad and needed injected.
Well, today, we had one of the top lameness vets in the area come out and look at Fred. He did lots of tests but at first, was not sure what was wrong with him. Eventually, he said that his hocks are "bad" to a degree, but nothing serious-- just something that will be okay as long as he's on a joint supplement (which he is). He also had thrush in his right front hoof (underneath his frog). The vet cut out his frog and cleaned out his foot-- he gave us iodine to put in his foot for the next week and told us to keep it bandaged for 7 days and he should be good.
He decided the problem was actually in his right front knee (not his hocks) but he wasn't exactly sure what was wrong, so we decided to have him x-rayed.
X-rays showed that his splint bone on that leg was a bit messed up. The outside was fine, but the inside has active calcifications. That would be the reason for all his problems and pains; and the reason why he doesn't exactly move right. The vet decided to inject that side with cortazone (he did not inject the actual bone/joint) and said that he is fine to ride starting Saturday and we should start seeing improvements/differences by Sunday. He said that most likely, that one injection will help heal his bone and he won't need any more!
The good, smooth side of the splint bone.
vs.
The bumpy, calcified side of the splint bone.
So, pretty good news. A weight was lifted off my shoulders. Hopefully no other problems will pop up and maybe he will feel/move better. I am going to the tack store in a little bit to get him some vet wrap and such for his footy.
Have a good day! :)