How to treat a stifle injury in a horse?

Treatment of Stifle Injuries in Horses. Once your veterinarian has diagnosed the stifle injury in your horse, treatment will vary based upon the specific injury or disease. Rest will be recommended in order to alleviate the swelling and provide the opportunity for the joint to begin to heal.

Where is the stifle joint located in a horse?

The most complex joint in the horse is the stifle joint. The joint includes the kneecap and its ligaments, which give structural stability. Similar to the human knee, the stifle is located on the horse’s hind limbs. Encircling the whole stifle joint is a thin capsule that has a special fluid that assists with shock absorption and lubrication.

When does a mare tell her foal she is pregnant?

Your foal is currently an embryo and is quite active compared to other species. The embryo enters your mare’s uterus around day 6 and moves around (moving between the uterine horns up to 10-20 times/day) to tell the mare she’s pregnant. The embryo stops moving & settles in place around day 15-17.

What kind of injury does a horse have in the front leg?

Traumatic injuries in the front legs include bone, muscle, joint, and ligament injuries. Bone and joint breaks and sprains are similar to those in humans. They are most commonly accrued by competition horses in the bottom half of the front leg. Ligaments and muscles are frequently involved in the break or sprain injuries as well.

What should my mare’s body condition be during pregnancy?

You want to keep your mare around a body condition score of 6 throughout pregnancy and foaling, so that she has adequate energy stores to support the beginning of lactation/milk production. All the extra weight puts considerable strain on any joint, tendon or ligament problems the mare may have.

What happens in the first stage of foaling?

We usually divide foaling into three stages. Stage 1: Pre-delivery. The mare’s cervix gradually relaxes. The mare’s uterus starts to contract, pushing the placenta, foal, and fluids against the cervix. The mare’s cervix dilates. The mare’s water breaks. This process lasts 1 to 6 hours and may go unnoticed.

Can a primiparous Mare have uterine torsion?

Primiparous mares may show recurrent signs of discomfort because of a large fetus. The ﬁrst rule- out during transrectal palpation is uterine torsion. Mares with uterine torsion may show severe pain on palpation of the broad ligament (see below).

Is there a cure for a stifle joint?

Without this, all treatment is pointless. Inject the stifle joint with the new Veterinary treatment (Veterinary Opinion received this week advised that this treatment only lasts about 6 weeks and is not a cure.) Veterinary prescribed anti inflammatory drugs for a period with work.

What kind of problems can you have with a stifle?

Stifle joint disorders. 1 Osteochondrosis. Osteochondrosis is a disease of the stifle that is more common in younger horses, and it is found across many breeds. 2 Subchondral bone cyst. 3 Osteoarthritis (OA) Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone. 4 Patellar fractures. 5 Soft tissue injuries. …

What should I do to make my stifle stronger?

Progressive stretching and strengthening exercises that target specific muscles and ligaments can keep this important joint in peak condition. Progressive stretching and strengthening exercises that target specific muscles and ligaments can keep this important joint in peak condition.

What’s the best way to strengthen a stifle?

The most common one is backing up, which is often recommended to include daily. Another common recommendation is to include hill work, if possible. Going up and down hills regularly is especially beneficial for strengthening stifles.

Where is the stifle joint in a horse?

The stifle joint is, of course, in the horse’s hind leg. It’s analogous to the human knee joint. However, the horse’s stifle is quite a bit different from the human knee. For example, the stifle “joint” is actually made up of three separate joints.

Why do people call a horse’s knee the stifle?

ASIDE: Just so as to keep things confusing, the joint that most people call the horse’s knee is analogous to the human wrist. I have no idea why this is. Even the Unabridged Oxford English Dictionary says that the word, “stifle,” is “of obscure origin.” Horses have been observed to have problems with the stifle joint for a long, long time.

What kind of injuries can a horse have?

Soft-tissue damage, such as cruciate-ligament tears and meniscal (fibrocartilage discs between the femur and tibia) injuries, are generally less common in horses than in humans because of the increased stability of the equine stifle. These types of problems, however, are serious and can end a horse’s athletic career. ADVERTISEMENT

How can a stifle injury on a horse be detected?

“A horse could certainly slip in the paddock while playing and pull a ligament,” says Baxter. “And years of riding and concussion of any type can take a toll on the joint, leading to arthritis, which is simply a long-term chronic injury.” Stifle injuries can be difficult to detect.

What are the problems with a stifle injury?

Often the biggest problem is getting an accurate diagnosis of the stifle injury. The stifle joint involves soft tissues that connect, support, and surround the joint, such as cartilage, ligaments, muscles, and membranes. The soft tissues of the stifle are often damaged in trauma.