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Opinions/Experience dealing with this???

T

the_jersey_lilly_2000

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Feb 16, 2005
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11,308
Location
South East Texas
What you done....what your vet said....etc. Toilet Paper has been to the vet. But I'm really concerned about this knot and swelling...altho he shows no lameness at any gait. Just curious to know if any of you out there have ever delt with anything like this. There is swelling...and all area's besides the area that's pointed out in the middle picture is just puffy. The knot, isn't hard...but it's not real mushy either. Sweating it has helped ALOT! It's not near as swollen as when these pictures were taken. Just kinda ticked off...went to the vet....asked if it was windpuffs (because that's the only thing that seems to fit with what's goin on) He done a lameness exam, no lameness, gave him a shot to make him droopy...shaved his foot, and ultrasounded it. Then turned around and charged me $205 to tell me it's windpuffs basically. I still think somethin else is goin on. Because no where in my "windpuff's research" did it mention a knot like TP has.

Side view
2010-03-02-012.jpg


Back view
2010-03-02-013jpg-arrow.jpg


Front view
2010-03-02-014.jpg
 
"Windpuffs (US) or Windgalls (UK) are distentions of a tendon sheath, bursa, or joint capsule on a horse's legs, usually on the fetlock.

Windpuffs usually occur when a horse is young, especially after he begins work, and are a chronic problem often lasting the rest of the animal's life. They are fluid-filled sacs that are firm to the touch, almost always soft, and are usually found on the fetlock just above the sesamoid bones. Windpuffs should be cool to the touch.[1] If the swelling is hot, it is most likely an acute injury (such as one from trama) or a more serious osselet, than a windpuff.

Windpuffs tend to increase with size after strenuous work. Concussion irritates the windpuff, causing the area to produce excessive lubrication fluid (a natural role of the tendon sheath or bursa). This causes distention of the area, resulting in swelling.

Because they are harmless, windpuffs are considered a "blemish" rather than a "lameness," but do indicate excess strain. This excess strain could develop into arthritis, tendinitis, or bursitis.

Windpuffs are especially common in horses with short, upright pasterns due to the excess concussion that type of conformation places on the legs."

Just not sure that, that's what this is......
 
I would run cold water on it twice a day for no less than 10 minutes each time. I don't know if it will do any good where he is not lame but wrapping it with vet wrap for support may help also. I haven't ever used any but have you thought about joint supplement like Lubrisyn.
 
I have seen a horse or 2 stock up like that Lilly,If they are new its the first sign of over workin a horse,reason why the arena folks always have a backup including barrel racers,I would rest him good and dont drain the fluid off the joint.
I know yall dont shoe horses over there,but I sure would use a shoer that knew how to balance a hoof.
good luck

PS Do Not Drain the fluid.,rest ole TP and keep your fingers crossed.
 
Looks like Wind puff's to me - but it's hard to tell from here.
In my younger years (the 50's) I worked for a Ranch in the Half Moon Bay area that laid-up Race Horses. My main job was to Pony Horses on the beach and in the Ocean - the Pacific is colder than the East Coast.
The sand and cold water did wonders for some horses.
A friend made up a Wirl-pool with buckets and a Punp - works well.

Goggle - Wind Puffs
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Windpuffs&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Some good Notes:
http://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/4/9808.html
 
Here's pictures of TP's leg.
First picture is the day we took him to Colliers. March 2. (the vet that said windpuffs :roll: )
2010-03-02-013.jpg


Next picture is 5 days after injecting with steroids at Dr. Honnas' (one of the best leg men in the state) on Friday April 2nd. The night before she'd riden him easy, just doin slow work, while helping another little girl with her horse. She brought him to the trailer, unsaddled, and was saddling her other horse. I untied him and was goin to rinse him off...as you walk off from a trailer you know how horses pivot on their hind legs. Well when I did that he was gimpy gimpy on that leg. But soon as I got him strait and walkin off...no limping. But I knew then that this wasn't a windpuff for sure and certain. Was the first lameness he'd shown at all. So I called first thing the next mornin and took him in that afternoon. They ultrasounded, xrayed, and injected that joint with steroids. As well as gave him an injection of bute, and put a pressure wrap on it. Which was on there for 5 days. Then I sent pictures to the vet and he said to sweat it for several days.
2010-04-07-004.jpg


Yesterday, April 13. BEFORE Dr. T done the lazer therapy on it, and after 4 days of sweating.
2010-04-13-026.jpg

I will take pictures in a couple days to see how much progress the lazer made.
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
Who the heck is wearing flip flops around a horse? :mad:

Improper foot wear is a pet peeve of mine.

Hope TP comes along he has sure been a trooper for ya. :D
Click to expand...

MINE TOO Big Muddy.....I've told her and told her...one of these days someone's gonna step on her foot....Normally she does wear boots. But on occasion...when she thinks it's just a small thing to go out and do....she'll run out with her flip flops on...and I tell her every time I see her do it. :mad:
 
No there's no bone change. I seen that for myself on xray. Everything you see is fluid. Even the knot on the side. It's a pocket of fluid. Plus fluid build up in other places in the tendon sheaths.

He'll be ok. Just gotta get all the swelling gone. He said, think of it as a minor twist to your ankle or an over extention.....then doin it again in a week's time.....then doin it again in another weeks time. You can still walk....without a limp, there's minor discomfort because the tendon's have been stretched beyond where they should stretch. It'll take some time for that to heal. Even tho on ultrasound the only thing that shows up is fluid build up....on a cellular level there is minor tearing that occurs. Those tears hafta heal. The only way you could see the damage that's occured is under a microscope.

Fluid in there is the bodies way of cushioning things. But....on a horse...there's no muscles that far down on the leg. This fluid contains proteins that are larger than the body can reabsorb quickly. It takes longer to reabsorb, so the proteins hafta break down to be reabsorbed. The sweating helps with that process.
 

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