Posted 2011-02-23 7:54 AM (#130621) Subject: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
My two foxtrotter mares have butt-kicking contests when they accidentally get together. (A neighbor down the road's stud got out, jumped into our property, took some of our electric fence out,etc...) Anyway, my husband's mare kicked the ____ out of my mare's stifle area. We had the vet out (needless to say, I couldn't load her crippled), he did not feel any fracture or chips, but she had a horrendous gash right on the joint. That was a little over three weeks ago, giving 2 gms bute/ Pen-G/ Unaprim etc... trying to get her back together. The would has finally healed in nicely, but she still does not want to bear weight on that leg. What do you know? have you experienced an injury like this? Thanks in advance for your help.
Posted 2011-02-23 10:44 AM (#130634 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
Thanks, Gone. I know instinctively that radiography and ultrasound are the logical approach, but, since we can't load her and haul her yet.... I am hoping that I can bute her up and take her in within the next couple of days.
PS: I told my husband if my mare's injury doesn't heal right, I would take a sawzall and cut his mare's leg off...hahahahaha
Posted 2011-02-23 11:26 AM (#130640 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
I have an 18 yo stallion that has been crippled since age 2 from a stifle injury. Unfortunately it is not a postiive outcome, depending on what was damaged. The stifle is a very complex join with several small bones and ligaments. My stallion completely severed his cruciate ligaments. Career ending injury. Nothing can be done to fix it. With a stifle injury, a horse can usually back up just fine, but has difficulty walking forward and bearing weight. Really there is no reason why you shouldnt load the horse and go to the vet. I would put her in a slant trailer so she has side support. You cant really rule out a fracture without an Xray. Torn ligaments can often be felt through palpation. I would find the very best lameness diagnostic clinic I could find. Keeping the mare confined and on anti-imflammatories is the best you can be doing. Might also use some hydro therapy on it. If the ligaments are just stretched she may become sound again. If they are torn there is little that can be done. I have no experience with stifle fractures. Good luck and let us know.
Posted 2011-02-23 1:04 PM (#130647 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: Ohio
If I can add a little hope, this identical scenario happened with my in-laws horses. They brought a new horse home and you know how well that goes. The dominant was a gelding over 2 mares, the new horse was a gelding. Naturally they went at it and the new one caught the old one just like yours. He limped around and wouldn't hold consistent weight on it for about 5-6 weeks. They kept him stalled and had the vet out. They determined it was severely bruised and he cleaned out the nice big gash that it left..That was in October. He has since ridden him a fair amount and he trucks right along with zero issues.
Posted 2011-02-23 4:16 PM (#130662 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
Digital radiographs can be done at your farm. This will give you precise and exact information so you Will know how to proceed. Good luck with this. You could have just a lot of soreness, or a mechanical repair may be needed. It would be nice to know....hoping for the best!
Posted 2011-02-23 5:16 PM (#130669 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
Thank you so much for your info and moral support! this has absolutely broken my heart. I am trying to give her daily hydotherapy and walk her slowly to try to loosen her up some. We have some nice cutting horses/part time trail horses now, that will take up the slack for KoKo... she is the most precious, smooth dream I have ever ridden. It would figure that it would happen to her. I am calling the vet to have him come out tommorrow for x-rays.
Posted 2011-02-24 12:48 PM (#130721 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Newton, NJ
Not that I'm suit happy, but have you considered the stud owner's liability in this? If you are racking up some big vet bills, you may have recourse against him/her for negligence in keeping the stud confined.
Posted 2011-02-25 9:27 AM (#130778 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376 Location: Missouri
Jane, every injury is different. I've found sometimes you need to immobilize the joint and give it time to heal before trying to exercise it.
Be a good idea if you could find someway of transporting her to a good clinic. Maybe consider, carefully tranquilizing her enough to let her lie down in the trailer. Once she is down, then give her enough to keep her down until you arrive. May need to have someone ride in the back with her with a walkie talkie to communicate with the the driver. If you ride in the back be sure and have a good partition between you and the horse. You do not want to be in the way if she starts trying to wake up and get up.
Posted 2011-02-25 7:19 PM (#130802 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
OMG! She is 16.1HH/1150#... I would have to remove the dividers from the big trailer and coax her in...I am so upset about this injury I am having panic attacks daily. Thank you all for your concern, and know that I am not some drama queen who thrives on this. It will be one month tommorrow. Why do these things seem to happen to the best horse around?
Posted 2011-02-25 9:27 PM (#130806 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
If she is avoiding weight bearing on the leg, you'd want to think carefully about medicating her into a recumbency. Often in recovery they struggle awkwardly to rise, accentuating the weight-bearing on often oddly articulated joints.....not good for a stifle held in place primarily by ligaments, of which one, or all, may be currently impaired....your veterinarian can best evaluate her situation at home before attempting transport....also, she needs at some point to have sole support put into place on her non lame limb, as the hoof is experiencing internal stresses that can cause some hoof capsule malformation over time, no need to panic right now, but something to think about in treatment........good luck with this~~
Posted 2011-02-27 12:16 AM (#130840 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 781 Location: La Cygne, KS
I can't stand the suspense. What did the vet say?
I have a mare that had partial medial fixation of the patella... basically loose ligament over the stifle joint. Old method to alliviate the problem was to cut the ligaments. New procedure with less side affects is to split the ligament. I had this procedure done last year and saw great improvement in my mares range of motion. She is also rideable now. It is very possible that she over extended her ligaments. My mare is dominant and the vet said he has seen more dominant horses in addition to performance horses with this issue. He said it is worse if the horse kicks and does not come into contact with an object, but rather kick the air. Here is some info about it: http://www.equinescienceupdate.co.uk/patlig.htm
I wish you luck in determining your horses cause of discomfort.
I agree with the other poster that the stallions owner has some accountabilty in helping pay for you vet bills and possible loss of use of your horse. Kansas has a stallion containment law as well as many other states.
Posted 2011-02-27 2:44 AM (#130842 - in reply to #130634) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by calamityj on 2011-02-23 11:44 AM
Thanks, Gone. I know instinctively that radiography and ultrasound are the logical approach, but, since we can't load her and haul her yet.... I am hoping that I can bute her up and take her in within the next couple of days.
PS: I told my husband if my mare's injury doesn't heal right, I would take a sawzall and cut his mare's leg off...hahahahaha
Confused???...Our vet has PORTABLE radiography and ultrasound that he brings to our farm
Posted 2011-02-27 7:29 AM (#130846 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
I am not confused. Not about this anyway... I have to get her to an equine sports medicine vet about two hours from here (on very curvy, hilly roads). I will call him in the A.M. to schedule since he did not reccomend loading her last week. I have weaned her off bute, the wound is completely healed without proud flesh or ugly scarring, but she still does not want to walk on it. She remains contained in her stall with limited turnout area closed off from the other horses.
Posted 2011-02-27 7:43 AM (#130847 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069 Location: MI.
I personally wouldn't wait. If your vet can get images taken at your place at least you will know further of any underlying issues. I second being concerned with her good limb due to the added weight it is bearing. I hope everything works out. I am curious to hear the outcome. Please keep us informed.
Posted 2011-03-02 6:44 AM (#130980 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
We took KoKo to our best equine sports vet yesterday. He dis the x-rays of her hip/stifle area. The prognosis is not good. Best case scenario would be that she heals and the supporting limb doesn't start having problems... at this point, we would gladly have her as gorgeous pasture art. Worst case would be multiple problems and euthanasia. We are confering with some ortho surgeons. I am sick about this. Right now, I feel like liquidating and folding up and dying.
Posted 2011-03-02 1:35 PM (#131012 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
I am so so sorry about your mare. Did she have a fracture or torn ligaments? Accidents happen sometimes, and I know that doesnt make it any easier. Our stallion has been a gorgeous pasture ornament for 17 years. He did sire around 100 foals, but we never got to train and show him.
Posted 2011-03-02 4:05 PM (#131026 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
She has a fracture/subluxation of the Patella. There are no doubt soft tissue/ligament injuries as well. We need to take her to a veterinary hospital for further evaluation and possibly surgery. We are keeping her contained in her stall with good bedding and a portable electric fence perimeter to keep our other horses distanced....
Posted 2011-03-02 8:13 PM (#131043 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
HoHo... down here we handle things a little bit differently. These particular neighbors are probably meth-heads or something.For instance, we frequently hear automatice weapons go off... After knowing just enough to render an educated guess... they are poster children for legal abortion. I will handle this as quietly as possible and hope I can get her pasture sound. I know I have lost her as my wonderful riding companion....
Posted 2011-03-03 6:55 AM (#131058 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
We have so enjoyed riding and camping for years... after KoKo's injury, I am re-thinking my lifestyle. I am giving serious consideration to selling our beautiful Freightliner and LQ...( then I'll get one of those hybrid vehicles to drive to town to pick up organic groceries and organic clothing...after that, I'll raise money for all those poor foreign countries that are taking over this one... even though we have unemployed starving neighbors over here).
Posted 2011-03-03 9:47 AM (#131068 - in reply to #130621) Subject: RE: Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
Calamity are you really serious? I know its a blow but maybe you need to give it some time. Perhaps your mare can become sound enough to raise you a beautiful baby to follow in her footsteps. Our stallion was injured when he was 2 1/2 in a freak accident where he stuck his leg through a panel gate. I had ridden him lightly about 30 days and he showed tremendous promise. He was purchased as an investment to run barrel futurities and is very well bred. At 18 yo he has get competing in calf and team roping and running 1 D and High School rodeo barrels. They have qualified for several finals in these events in various organizations. We changed disciplines to Competitive Trail and just camping and riding in 2003. Horses are no longer a business for us. That is my stress relief and mine and husbands together time and enjoyment in life. Dont let life kick you in the teeth. Its not really fair to KoKo to let someones careless actions cause you to give up what she helped you to achieve.
Any experience with severe stifle injuries???
