What to do about a suspectected stifle injury???

Question

I was told by my farrier that my 7 year old barrel prospect has a very mild stifle injury, and with exercise and muscle build up in his back end he would be fine. He said that he has had horses with the same problem, and with time, and exercise they healed fine, and he continued using them in roping. I do not want to do more damage to my horse, but i also do not want to pay an arm and a leg for a vet to tell me the same thing my blacksmith told me. I know that my farrier is not a vet, but i do respect his opinions, he has been around horses and rodeo his whole life. How serious is this?? what should i do?? Please Help!!! Symptoms that I have noticed : limping while bending and turning, popping noise in his back end, having problems changing leads, and while trotting he drags his back legs. Before i noticed these symptoms, i found that anytime i asked him for speed, he would buck. the bucking thing is totally out of character. He has no heat, and i cannot find any swelling.

Answer 1

Contact your veterinarian for an immediate evaluation of this injury.....I do know that a stifle injury requires a lot of good care.

http://www.horses-and-horse-information....

Excellent website with information for you on the stifle and its complexities.

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx...

You'll be paying a veterinarian for his expertise in dealing with this injury, it's not up to one lacking a DVM degree....well worth monies spent as this injury is not of the "blow it off" kind.  It's proper healing, if it is the stifle, will take some time to heal...the stifle area is complex.

Had a good friend with a TB who had stifle surgery done and it was many months of recuperation.

Answer 2

Being around horses and rodeo doesn't earn a medical degree...if it did, a lot of us would be vets!

No one should diagnose this other than your veterinarian; there is no way of knowing the seriousness without knowing the diagnosis.

Answer 3

These are questions you should be asking your vet, not us "Yahoos".

Please make an appointment. Injuries are nothing to guess at or take chances with.

Good luck, I hope it all turns out well for both of you.

Answer 4

well, I'm also not a vet but my horse had a suspected stifle injury (even though it was his hocks..)  

but

he got 1 week complete stall rest (he could move for his stall to be cleaned and for grass, but that's it)  and then i slowing brought him back into work doing walk/trot.

i did one lap walk each direction, and then 2 long sides (ONLY! NOT CIRCLES!) of trot each direction... slowing increasing each day i rode for about 2 weeks.. then i introduces cantering, and trot poles, set a little long so he had to stretch A LITTLE (! not too much, that becomes dangerous)

hills are also REALLY important and small cross rails are good.. and remember the trot and walk build up more stifles then a canter does, no fun.. but better for your horse.

you could also give him a week and a half/two weeks of small turnout only, and no riding, and then do the riding i suggested above...

like i said, I'm not a vet! but this is what was suggested to me by my vet... so you could try it and if nothing changes, call the vet.

good luck!

but PLEASE! if he gets worse, call the vet.  Stifle injuries and be very debilitating and uncomfortable for you horse, so if seems to be in pain forget everything i said and call the vet!

Answer 5

These type of injuries are very hard for vets to diagnose. There are also a lot of injuries that can be referred to as a stifle injury.

It sounds like a locking stifle that is unsticking itself instead of having to be popped manually. It may stay stuck one day, and a vet will have to show you how to unlock it. If this is what is happening, it is dangerous to ride this horse.

If this is caused by development, then lunging and working in circles in deep footing will help build the muscles. If this is due to injury, then that will only worsen the case terribly. Flat hard ground, straight lines, lots of trotting.

I would definitely recommend a vet visit though things such as this can be far worse then originally thought. It isn't cheap but unfortunately it come with the territory.

Best of luck and hope everything goes well.

Answer 6

My 11yo cleveland bay sport horse had this same problem, I had it investigated & they suspected early onset of arthritis, I had him on glucosamine & it seemed to help.  I also took him to a very well known chiropractor which also helped.  It is serious & it is something that will need investigating unfortunately :( You could try glucosamine in the meantime & if that shows improvement than it's most likely arthritis but I'd get it checked all the same.  Good luck xoxo