BAEN Message Board

Splint bone injury? Experience? Advice?

Posted by irish horse on 7/3/2012, 9:37 pm
198.228.216.146

After my ride tonight (normal fast-paced 5-mile trail ride) and hosing my horse I noticed a hard raised lump on his outside front cannon bone, right at the splint bone. No tenderness or lameness, trotted around and rolled in pasture. I left for the evening and of course will check on him in the morning, but now some reading about splints makes me nervous. I will certainly call the vet if needed, and pay the holiday fee (always happens at a holiday or weekend!) but has anyone dealt with this? He's a performance (endurance) horse, 9 years old, otherwise healthy, good diet and hoofcare. He's my baby and now I'm nervous!
Auburn Foothills
http://trails-and-trials-with-major.blogspot.com/

if he isn't lame or tender or any heat

Posted by KellyW on 7/3/2012, 10:02 pm, in reply to "Splint bone injury? Experience? Advice?"

sounds like it may have already healed (if it is indeed a splint). unless there is an issue tomorrow, I would wait until Thursday......from what I remember we just limited my gelding from strenuous exercise and let it heal.

Napa, California

I missed that it was outside

Posted by KellyW on 7/4/2012, 2:55 pm, in reply to "if he isn't lame or tender or any heat"
207.200.116.7

never dealt with one of those. Sounds like something to watch.....

I do remember a horse that fractured a splint bone, but he was noticibly lame....
Napa, California

Re: Splint bone injury? Experience? Advice?

Posted by Gail Ivey on 7/3/2012, 10:40 pm, in reply to "Splint bone injury? Experience? Advice?"
66.245.46.208

On the outside of the leg? Not a splint bone injury. The splint bone is on the inside.
"Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for." -
Socrates

Re: Splint bone injury? Experience? Advice?

Posted by irish horse on 7/4/2012, 6:35 am, in reply to "Re: Splint bone injury? Experience? Advice?"
198.228.216.151

I read in my horse medical book that they have splint bones on inside and outside. Inside is a more common injury. I'll be contacting my vet.
Auburn Foothills
http://trails-and-trials-with-major.blogspot.com/

Re: Splint bone injury? Experience? Advice?

Posted by sm on 7/4/2012, 4:45 am, in reply to "Splint bone injury? Experience? Advice?"

I had the same issue. My horse never showed lameness, only slight stiffness (farrier and trainer didnt see any either). Turned out she had a fracturd splint bone. The vet prescribed rest and gradual increase hand walking over a period of months. We also used Surpass. I would have it x-rayed as a precaution. I felt terrible after I found out. It was a small round hard bump.
Edited to add, hers wsa on the inside of the cannon, so maybe not the same thing?
Santa Rosa, CA

Lateral splint bone

Posted by Jane on 7/4/2012, 7:10 am, in reply to "Splint bone injury? Experience? Advice?"
72.173.32.39

injuries are almost always caused by a trauma of some sort, unlike medial splint bone injuries. Why not ice the area and put a standing wrap on for a couple of days? If you do have a damaged splint bone, that will be the course of treatment and maybe early intervention will help. It certainly can't hurt.

Thanks

Posted by irish horse on 7/4/2012, 7:57 am, in reply to "Lateral splint bone"
198.228.216.146

Good advice. I'll call the vet Thursday, since it's nothing acute. Luckily he's the type of horse where if it did bother him he'll just rest.
Auburn Foothills
http://trails-and-trials-with-major.blogspot.com/

Update

Posted by irish horse on 7/4/2012, 9:28 am, in reply to "Splint bone injury? Experience? Advice?"
198.228.216.158

This morning the hard "lump" was smaller. Totally cold, no swelling, push and prod with no flinching, trots out sound. Maybe just a hard whack? I'll keep an eye on it and see if it progresses/changes. Thanks for the advice.
Auburn Foothills
http://trails-and-trials-with-major.blogspot.com/

Re: Update

Posted by sm on 7/4/2012, 10:36 am, in reply to "Update"
99.61.162.202

I hate to say it, but that was how my mare's was and it was a fracture. Although hers seemed to stay close to the same size. Hope it's not in your case.
Santa Rosa, CA

How'd you find out?

Posted by irish horse on 7/4/2012, 11:42 am, in reply to "Re: Update"
173.16.197.168

I'll be watching closely. With your mare, with no lameness, etc, how did you figure it out?
Auburn Foothills
http://trails-and-trials-with-major.blogspot.com/

Re: How'd you find out?

Posted by sm on 7/4/2012, 1:36 pm, in reply to "How'd you find out?"
99.61.162.202

The vet happened to be at the barn looking at another one of our horses and I showed her the bump and asked what she thought of it. After palpating she suggested x-raying it and the fracture turned up.
Santa Rosa, CA

Get an x-ray

Posted by BarbaraC on 7/8/2012, 12:22 am, in reply to "Splint bone injury? Experience? Advice?"
67.164.52.232

I am not an expert, but I do know that you are trying to compete with your horse. If it were me, I'd think that an x-ray was some cheap insurance to find out NOW what is going on with him. I think I would want to know, if it's something to watch, and can be recovered with careful rehab, or if it's going to always be a problem, or if it's the end of his (that) career.

Not trying to be negative, but I would want to know my options. Maybe it's nothing, but I would think it not that expensive to do a couple x-rays, just for peace of mind.

Keeping fingers crossed for you and your super-cute horse, Major. I am so partial to those bay Arabs...
Gateway to Almaden Valley/Southwest San Jose
Saving one dog's life may not make a difference, but it makes all the difference in the world to that one dog.

Update to update

Posted by irish horse on 7/8/2012, 4:18 pm, in reply to "Splint bone injury? Experience? Advice?"
198.228.216.155

I talked with the vet who said it wasn't emergency enough for the holiday call. But took Major down to Loomis Vet for a work up. X-ray confirms small splint fracture. Dr. Fielding was great, as an endurance rider too (though way beyond my level!) he assured me that this is usually minor and should be fine. No absolutes of course, but just rest, ice, and some Surpass (which is super expensive). All worth it of course.

Now how to see how both me and the horse handle forced rest!

Thanks for all the advice, this boards are very helpful.
Auburn Foothills
http://trails-and-trials-with-major.blogspot.com/

Re: Update to update

Posted by sm on 7/9/2012, 8:47 pm, in reply to "Update to update"
99.61.162.202

Good luck on the healing proces! Good to know what it is you're dealing with so you can be back in the saddle shortly down the road. So funny how they dont show much with a fractured splint.
Santa Rosa, CA

« Back to index

[ BAEN Message Board ]

CLASSIFIED ADS