Lameness Issue... A cut has healed but left behind a calcium deposit?! Anyone else have this happen?

Question

Three months ago my horse got a slightly deep cut between the hoof and the fetlock joint on his front leg. Worst place for it, I know. Anyway, it took quite awhile for it to heal but he was on intramuscular penicillin shots which kept the infection away, thank God.

However, it has been completely healed up for about a month and a half now. Where the cut was there is now a very noticeable calcium deposit. Which is wierd, because my trainer said that cuts don't usually leave calcium deposits. It feels like the calcium deposit over a splint, but there is no heat in it and the size of the deposit hasn't changed.

My horse hasn't been sound for over 3 days in a row since the cut healed. He only limps on circles to the left [it was on the left front leg] but has been crabby even on his sound days, which makes me believe he is still in pain. My trainer said she has NEVER seen anything like this.

*****My dad and I ARE taking my horse to get x-rays on Friday. I finally convinced him [mainly 'cause I said I would pay for the x-rays myself]. It took about a month to convince him, too. But don't worry, we ARE scheduling x-rays.

I just wanted to know... has anyone else experienced this?! I know my trainer said she thinks it will have to be surgery [she suspects a floating chip that the cut caused to move around] to get it fixed, but we both know she isn't a vet and it might not be the case.

I'm just getting very angry with this cut. We haven't been able to do anything fun [we both LOVE to jump. After the racetrack, I turned him into an eventer and he LOVES his job. After he was healed up, he stuffed his face in his bridle, wanting some work to do. But then he was still off so we couldn't do anything...], and I HATE it when he is in pain. It makes me want to develop a sympathy limp. haha.

Also, any suggestions on how to treat it until the x-ray results get back?

Answer 1

It's not unusual for any traumatized tissue in a horse to calcify.  It's not a deposit, more like a calcium infiltration of the tissue that stiffens the tissue and makes it unable to stretch or bend.

These often don't cause any problems, but it depends what it's near and what's effected.  Sounds like your horse IS effected, so I'd consult the vet.

I know one thing they'll often do is use shock wave therapy to break up the calcification.  That's a sonic device that vibrates everything and calcium is susceptible to it.  This therapy usually does a great job on it.

Good Luck with it!

Answer 2

I'm wondering what the full nature of the original injury was.  How did he sustain the cut?  Could there have been more to the injury than what you originally thought?  Was it at the back or front of the pastern?  And, when did the bump first appear?  Could a foreign object have been embedded deep within the wound?

EDIT....I keep thinking that something may have embedded and the body sealed it off, but gradually brought it to the surface, and that is what you're feeling.  There could also be an abscess that hasn't surfaced, and that is located more behind it, which could account for the lameness.  It's a stretch, but I've seen it happen.  And it's been just about the right amount of time after the injury for it to be the case.

Answer 3

Are you ABSOLUTELY sure it's a calcium deposit?  It could very well be healed over proud flesh.  That happens at times, I know several horses that have finally had a wound heal only to have a lump of proud flesh scar tissue to remain.

Answer 4

I have a horse with a similar lump in the same place, caused by an old injury.  It happened years ago, before we bought him but the lump is there... looks like splint but in the wrong place, rock hard and with no heat.  You can poke at it all day long, it will not bother him.

It's definitely a blemish but does not affect his soundness at all. Several vets have looked at it (including the vet who previously owned him) and none have ever shown concern about it.  

Wait until the x-ray gets back... their may be more to the unsoundness than just the calcium deposit.  If you are taking him to a good equine clinic, they will use digital x-rays and should be able to give an answer quickly.

Answer 5

Xray first. You may be able to sweat it out.

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