HELP! Lame Horse!

[Finn]

Ok....so my Thoroughbred came up lame with a hoof abscess a week ago, he was super lame from it for a day or so and then he started to look lame in his knee. I had the vet out and he said his hoof had cleared up, but was concerned with his knee. He thinks it's a bad sprain from compensating from sore hoof or he has a bone chip?!?! I get the radiographs back soon...has anyone had any experience with knee problems or fractures in the knee? Help I'm worried about my horse.

Thanks.

[Lizard]

i know nothing about knee issues...but where's the chip??? is it in the knee??

[theprancingpony]

from what i hear, knee chips can heal and he can be perfectly sound on it, but sometimes if they jump or if they step on it the right way the chip can slide and he'll be lame again.

i don't actually have any experience with this kind of thing, but that's what i've heard from people.

[Finn]

Hey, We got the radiographs back, but they were fuzzy because he had a hard time holding his leg still. The vet doesnt see and major chips or fracturer but will retake them tomorrow. He seems to be walking better, but is getting sore and tight in his hindend since he on stall rest. I hope he gets better soon!

[Lizard]

i was talking to a vet about it...her horse has a chip in his knee(well, right above it), and said that the chip shouldn't bother the horse unless it floats into the joint. Her TB is 10 now and has gone prelim, and his chip hasn't bugged him at all....

[Palomino]

Bone chips arent really too bad. My mare right now chipped her fetlock when she was three months old. Since she does halter her old owners made the decision to surgically correct it, honestly i dont think she needed it. My older gelding Joker had a bone chip in his knee and I showed him for four years in hunters after that. It never bothered him.

[Finn]

The x-rays were re-done last week. The vet found that his 4th carpel bone is shattered and his knee has shiffted because of the lask of support. Sugery is not possible to fix this bad of a fracture. I was given the choice to put him down or keep him as a pasture pet. He's right now doing 3 months of stall rest, the vet says he will have 10% movement in that knee at best. I'm really sad....and worry his other leg won't hold up with this weight and stall rest. He has a figure eight bandage on and stable wraps for support...he's getting tons of love and seems to like hanging out in the barn.

[Lizard]

I'm so sorry......that's so sad................BUMMER

[Finn]

Thanks...It's really hard, but the good thing is I still will have him as a friend.