Ace Gets To Know The Vet

Well, I definitely jinxed Ace and I by writing a post entitled when do you call the vet. Thanks to Murphy’s Law we had not one, but two visits from the vet this week.

The vet came out to check another horse at my barn, and a few (including Ace) were scheduled to get their teeth floated at the same time. However, the vet was missing the piece of equipment that holds the horse’s mouth open, so he couldn’t float. Instead, I had him run a Coggins on Ace and also watch how he was moving to get some input.

I was hoping the vet would see him go and agree that it was a stifle issue. Boy was that asking for it, too.

I was right that it was a hind end issue. And I was correct that it was his right leg.

The vet did flexion test on his pastern, hock, and stifle, and he moved off about the same for all.

I went ahead an OKed a nerve block so we could pinpoint the exact location of the problem. Since his lack of reaction to the hoof testers made it clear it wasn’t a hoof issue, and because we both thought the problem was higher up, he did the first nerve block just above Ace’s fetlock. After giving it some time to kick in, lo and behold Ace moved off sound. The vet said the number one reason for lameness that low was arthritis. We’d do xrays when he came back to float his teeth.

Two days later the vet was back. Here’s a quick recap of the event in pictures:

Not HIM again!

Please don’t kick him while he’s under there with expensive xray equipment…

Double dose of sedative because he fought the first one

Vet’s comment: “His mouth is wicked!”

Drilling off the sharp edges

NOW the drugs kick in

His mouth is now in much better shape, and he survived the process. He was pretty hilarious while he was out of it.

Xrays came back clean, confirming that he DOES NOT have arthritis. Most likely he damaged his suspensory branch and will need at least 2-3 months off to  heal. I’m off to the feed store to pick up a jolly ball or something to help entertain him when he gets stuck on stall rest tonight!

Look for detailed posts to come both on how you float horses teeth and why, and on the suspensory injury and treatment.

Read this article here