“My horse cut his near fore fetlock joint 10 weeks ago and punctured it so that joint fluid was coming out, this has healed beautifully but he is still very lame. “…

The vet has done more x-rays and said that it could be that the ligament is damaged or there are shards of bone floating around. The joint looks and bit ‘jagged’ on the x-rays so it could be that that is the problem but they aren’t sure. He has been on box rest since it happened but initially there was nothing said about there being a ligament problem. From what I have said what do you think it could be and if it is a ligament problem can it be sorted, equally if it is the bone in the joint? What do you think his chances are? Any information you can tell me at all would be very helpful and appreciated! Thank you

Dr. Jack Sales’ Answer:

Hi Sara,

I wish I had good news for you but with the history of a joint puncture wound it is very likely that the horse has developed cartilage damage within the joint from infection that will not get better. The roughness around the joint that was seen on the x-rays sounds as if it could be indicative of osteoarthritis that is beginning within the joint, which is a very common aftereffect of joint wounds. Usually this osteoarthritis usually will continue to get worse rather than better, unfortunately. Talk to your Vet about his/her thoughts on the future soundness of the horse.

“Her ankle bends but is very enlarged…”
We rescued an Arab mare, about 5 years old from starving to death. She has an enlarged hind fetlock. What is it? She favors this hind leg but can run and buck. Yet at a trot she limps. Her ankle bends but is very enlarged, about twice the size of her other back ankle. God bless you and thank you. Tony and Cyndi

Dr. Jack Sales’ Answer:
Hi Tony and Cindi, it sounds as if your Arab mare has had a previous injury to this hind ankle. It could have been anything from a dislocation to a fracture of one of the bones in that area. When a horse injures itself around a joint area very severely, usually it will heal with some osteoarthritis, which would show up as an enlarged joint that is usually mildly painful. It is unlikely that this problem would get much better, and the horse will probably have it from now on. In order to be completely sure of the prognosis of this injury, a Vet could take an x-ray of this ankle area and give you a good indication of the chances of that area ever being normal again. I would think that this would cost about $60 to $100. depending on how close a vet might be to you. You could also find out exactly what might be done to possibly improve the mare’s condition.