Hock injury or OCD? ***UPDATE***

DackelMom · 09-07-2008, 12:31 AM

My sweet little boy, Handsome (16 month old QH), may have a problem with his hock. I'm worried and sad so I'm turning to my HT friends for support.

Last Saturday, I noticed that his left hock was very swollen. I assumed that he injured it in the pasture. No signs of a bite or kick. He was using the hock and leg but was limping. I cold soaked it a couple of times a day and the swelling was going down but not by much so I called my vet.

Upon exam, vet stated that most of the swelling/fluid was in the top half of the hock. (Not in the small bones in the middle). He was able to actually press the bulge of fluid on the exterior of the hock and have it move through the hock and fill the other side. I did it my self as well. It didn't cause any discomfort to my boy.

Vet prescribed bute 1 mg per day and gave me a prescription gel, Surpass, to rub into the hock twice a day. Surpass details: http://www.idexx.com/equine/pharmaceuticals/surpass/

Vet came back the next day for xrays of the hock. Took five pictures and did the initial reading right there on the spot. The good news is that nothing jumped right out at him. No big ah hah! But...and he reviewed the pics with me, there are several suspicious areas, perhaps lesions from ocd but no floaters yet? This was yesterday so he's taking the xrays back to his office to view on a better computer and will consult with a surgeon as well as a few colleagues. He also saw signs of arthritis (showed it to me) in my yearling

.

Handsome is not limping at all and I continue to treat with bute and surpass. The swelling is still present but not as bad as a few days ago. I hope to hear from the vet early next week.
Lots of emotions running through me. I love this little boy so much and I hoped that he would be "the one" and we'd have lots of trails and maybe a few little shows in our future. I know I'm jumping the gun but I worry about his long term soundness. Anyone have experience with hock problems in yearlings?
I'll let you know what the vet says and I'm adding a few pics of my boy below.

kindredspiritranch · 09-07-2008, 03:07 AM

Sounds like your colt has bog spavin. My 17 month arabian colt just went through it. His back left hock was swollen and full of joint fluid, there appeared to be no injury and the vet did xrays and it wasnt OCD. There's really nothing you can do for it. I just let Bacardi (arab colt) off for a little while from working and the swelling is gone. He was never lame from it and still isnt lame. Ask your vet if its bog spavin. My guy had a severe case of it, worse than the pics in the text books

**seerfarm** · 09-07-2008, 07:06 AM

I am sorry to hear this about your young guy.

There is alot of things that can be done to help slow down the progression, and help reduce further degeneration.

Read up and study as much as you can in concerns to OCD. A biggy is diet, overall weight and exercise. Dietarily look at all that he get feeds wise...Copper in particular Copper Oxide, is not absorbed well and can be a big contributor of mineral over supplementation.. Copper sulfate however is readily utilized...feed, minerals and supplements all can contains these.

Unfortunately, some horses are predispose and all that you can do is monitor and control the three biggies above. Young horses and foals usually show signs first but sometimes it does show till a horse enters work. Horses that are bigger than 15 hands tend to also be more at risk.

Bog Spavin as previously mentioned or (boggy hocks) are also signs of OCD.

I might also suggest looking into RecoveryEQ..talk with your Vet and see if this is something that could help your Handsome.

Thoughts and prayers.

I have also added some links if you wish to read up some more.....

http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/s...cle.cfm?id=234

http://www.recoveryeq.com/osteochondrosis_pro.htm

http://www.equineortho.colostate.edu/questions/ocd.htm

DackelMom · 09-07-2008, 10:41 AM

Just bumping this up with a few pics of Hany's left hock. These were taken the first day that I noticed the swelling. Please excuse his dirty legs, we have tar weed in the pasture. (sorry that the pictures are so huge!)

lbequ4002 · 09-07-2008, 10:44 AM

It looks like a bog spavin to me. I would just wait until the vet has time to really review the x-rays. We had a 2 year old that we thought had an ocd lesion and it turned out she didn't. He's a very pretty boy by the way.

csimmons · 09-07-2008, 11:24 AM

First, you have a beautiful boy. I've had a few horses come in like that after wrenching a hock from running and playing. You are doing everything right. If his x-rays are negative, all you can do is treat him for a soft tissue injury and wait. I assume you are limiting his activity. You can also cold hose him before you put the surpass cream on him. I don't know if you can use a neoprene hock boot on him with surpass, but I've found that they can help reduce swelling. I usually treat injuries like this with a systemic anti-inflammatory and topical DMSO with cotisone. But, I'm an old timer, not cutting edge.
Just remember that even when the hock comes down and he is sound again that the healing process may not be complete. Return him back to the pasture slowly. These things usually heal up completely and leave no lasting effects. Let us know how he makes out.
Good luck!

Horse_Orderly · 09-07-2008, 12:17 PM

Hopefully, it's nothing but OCD isn't a death sentence. We see OCD horses of various ages (6mos to about 4 or 5 years old) at work all the time. The surgery isn't too invasive and they go on to lead very productive lives. Make sure that you get a second opinion on those radiographs. Some lesions are hard to see.
My friend's horse was diagnosed with some lesions and she got a second opinion from where I work and they explained what exactly that they saw and it wasn't a lesion.

GOOD LUCK! He is very handsome!

kanoo32 · 09-07-2008, 12:25 PM

I don't know..............from what I see in the pics, there are a lot of dings on the hocks there that would lead me to suspect some kind of blunt trauma that could lead to bruising. I would just continue treating with the anti inflammatories and you will be fine. I doubt you will ever have a problem again. as far as the OCD etc. I think you are overthinking it. Good that you took pics, now you have a baseline for future reference, but I would look to the most obvious first, and those dings are obvious!

DackelMom · 09-07-2008, 04:35 PM

Thanks so much for the assurances everyone, I tend to overreact and I knew you would walk me through it sensibly. I really appreciate you sharing your experiences with ocd and injuries.
He is in a small paddock right now so no running through the hills for a while.

kanoo32, the dings (sores from laying down) are on the non injured hock. He has no external signs of injury to to the swollen hock.

kanoo32 · 09-07-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DackelMom

Thanks so much for the assurances everyone, I tend to overreact and I knew you would walk me through it sensibly. I really appreciate you sharing your experiences with ocd and injuries.
He is in a small paddock right now so no running through the hills for a while.

kanoo32, the dings (sores from laying down) are on the non injured hock. He has no external signs of injury to to the swollen hock.

I can see that they are on the uninjured hock but because of them it would leas me to believe it were possible for him to have at the very least sustained a bruise to the hock in question.

DackelMom · 09-07-2008, 04:41 PM

kanoo32:

oh, I get it, thanks!

lady dumpling · 09-07-2008, 05:26 PM

Handsome is Definately Handsome!I know nothing about OCD and I hope I'm not making myself look totally stupid but I was wondering if he has some swelling or something going on in his front left knee.I'm not trying to alarm you or anything like that, I was just wondering if I am seeing things or not.Sounds like you have everything under control.

DackelMom · 09-07-2008, 05:43 PM

Lady dumpling, interesting that you should mention his front left.

I said the same thing to the vet. He felt the knee and didn't seem too concerned. I'll run it by him again when he is out next. I'll be staring at his knees and hocks everyday looking for any problems!

EquineAlberta · 09-07-2008, 06:20 PM

good luck with your boy. I hope the vet gets a clearer idea of what is going on with the better viewer of the x-rays. Did he x-ray the other hock for comparison? If he thinks that joint has an issue, then I would likely get shots of the other main joints as well as OCD would usually affect both hocks and/or other joints, whereas an injury might only affect one. It could give you a better idea of what is going on. I agree that OCD is not a death sentence, but it does need to be managed as soon as possible to limit damages.

Karen

DackelMom · 09-07-2008, 08:33 PM

EquineAlberta, the vet asked if I wanted to go ahead and xray the other hock (addl $200). He stated as you did, that ocd will generally occur in the other hock as well.
I decided to hold off until they reviewed the xrays. If they feel its ocd or the surgeon recommends it, I'll go ahead with the other hock.

Thanks again all for your advice and support. It is much appreciated! I'll let you know what the vet says.

boisegirl78 · 09-07-2008, 09:30 PM

You are doing all the right things with your guy, having the vet check him out. OCD isnt a death sentence, and the surgeries are usually very successful. Also, joint problems in the hocks are probably the easiest to manage. Joint injections are usually very successful at managing minor problems, and the hock joint, because it is a very low motion joint can be fused when they are very arthritic (and will often fuse on its own in some cases). The horses have a slightly altered stride, but can still trail ride and do low impact disciplines like western pleasure, lower level dressage, etc. I highly doubt your boy will be anywhere near that bad for a long time if ever, but if you are going to have leg problems, hock issues are HIGH on my list of manageable, versus having something like navicular, tendon/ligament issues, ring bone, stifle issues..which are all WAY worse to manage.

DackelMom · 09-08-2008, 08:18 AM

Thanks boisegirl78 for your positive comments, this is just what I need to hear.
I'm learning that I have to take each day as it comes with the horses. I worry way into the future and "what if" myself crazy. Take care of them to the best of my abilities and hopefully we have a long and wonderful life together!

myboyjake · 09-09-2008, 01:59 AM

I have a 2 year old that had ocd in both stifles. he had surgery and is doing great. I thought it would cost a fortune and stories of upwards of 2000.00 to 3000.00 it was 1,500 for both sides. I was told by the vet that if you catch it early enough that I would have about an 80 to 90% chance of him going back to being a performance horse and if I waited and was to go with other treatment that it could drop that down to about 50 t0 60%.. I hope yours is o.k and good luck...

DackelMom · 09-10-2008, 05:38 PM

Thanks for your input myboyjake. I hope that your boy continues to do well.

DackelMom · 09-10-2008, 05:52 PM

Well, I spoke with our vet today and there is no sign of OCD in his hock!!
This is the opinion of two vets and a board certified surgeon that reviewed the xrays. They feel that the swelling and lameness was caused by a traumatic injury to the hock.
He no longer favors the leg and is moving well within his paddock. The swelling has subsided quite a bit but not quite gone. Vet said to reduce the bute to .5 gram per day and use the surpass once per day. Early next week, if all goes well, we will stop the bute and surpass and see how the hock does (doesn't swell back up again).
I'm so relieved but still concerned about how it happened in the first place and will it have any lasting effects. I'll be nervous to let him out into our pasture and am hesitant to let him bust a move in our round pen. The sand is probably too deep. I don't lunge him on a line but I've moved him around, changing directions, get him to face me etc. When he first hits the pen, he goes a bit bonkers, running, stopping, cutting etc. Maybe I should wait a few months before working him again?
Thanks everyone for your support. It is much appreciated!!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Horse kicked another in the hock. WK. # 4 pics added of 'busted' hock	DDD	Health & Nutrition	101	07-10-2008 07:27 AM
Hock injury	ChevyGirl84	Health & Nutrition	4	05-12-2008 08:06 AM
ocd---help	myboyjake	Health & Nutrition	9	04-11-2008 11:43 PM
OCD in the Hock	PinkPony	Health & Nutrition	2	12-12-2007 09:26 AM

09-07-2008, 12:31 AM
DackelMom Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 395	Hock injury or OCD? *UPDATE* My sweet little boy, Handsome (16 month old QH), may have a problem with his hock. I'm worried and sad so I'm turning to my HT friends for support. Last Saturday, I noticed that his left hock was very swollen. I assumed that he injured it in the pasture. No signs of a bite or kick. He was using the hock and leg but was limping. I cold soaked it a couple of times a day and the swelling was going down but not by much so I called my vet. Upon exam, vet stated that most of the swelling/fluid was in the top half of the hock. (Not in the small bones in the middle). He was able to actually press the bulge of fluid on the exterior of the hock and have it move through the hock and fill the other side. I did it my self as well. It didn't cause any discomfort to my boy. Vet prescribed bute 1 mg per day and gave me a prescription gel, Surpass, to rub into the hock twice a day. Surpass details: http://www.idexx.com/equine/pharmaceuticals/surpass/ Vet came back the next day for xrays of the hock. Took five pictures and did the initial reading right there on the spot. The good news is that nothing jumped right out at him. No big ah hah! But...and he reviewed the pics with me, there are several suspicious areas, perhaps lesions from ocd but no floaters yet? This was yesterday so he's taking the xrays back to his office to view on a better computer and will consult with a surgeon as well as a few colleagues. He also saw signs of arthritis (showed it to me) in my yearling. Handsome is not limping at all and I continue to treat with bute and surpass. The swelling is still present but not as bad as a few days ago. I hope to hear from the vet early next week. Lots of emotions running through me. I love this little boy so much and I hoped that he would be "the one" and we'd have lots of trails and maybe a few little shows in our future. I know I'm jumping the gun but I worry about his long term soundness. Anyone have experience with hock problems in yearlings? I'll let you know what the vet says and I'm adding a few pics of my boy below. Last edited by DackelMom : 09-10-2008 at 05:39 PM.

09-07-2008, 03:07 AM
kindredspiritranch Halter broke Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 54	Sounds like your colt has bog spavin. My 17 month arabian colt just went through it. His back left hock was swollen and full of joint fluid, there appeared to be no injury and the vet did xrays and it wasnt OCD. There's really nothing you can do for it. I just let Bacardi (arab colt) off for a little while from working and the swelling is gone. He was never lame from it and still isnt lame. Ask your vet if its bog spavin. My guy had a severe case of it, worse than the pics in the text books

09-07-2008, 07:06 AM
seerfarm Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portal, Ga Posts: 7,732	I am sorry to hear this about your young guy. There is alot of things that can be done to help slow down the progression, and help reduce further degeneration. Read up and study as much as you can in concerns to OCD. A biggy is diet, overall weight and exercise. Dietarily look at all that he get feeds wise...Copper in particular Copper Oxide, is not absorbed well and can be a big contributor of mineral over supplementation.. Copper sulfate however is readily utilized...feed, minerals and supplements all can contains these. Unfortunately, some horses are predispose and all that you can do is monitor and control the three biggies above. Young horses and foals usually show signs first but sometimes it does show till a horse enters work. Horses that are bigger than 15 hands tend to also be more at risk. Bog Spavin as previously mentioned or (boggy hocks) are also signs of OCD. I might also suggest looking into RecoveryEQ..talk with your Vet and see if this is something that could help your Handsome. Thoughts and prayers. I have also added some links if you wish to read up some more..... http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/s...cle.cfm?id=234 http://www.recoveryeq.com/osteochondrosis_pro.htm http://www.equineortho.colostate.edu/questions/ocd.htm __________________ "To know the road ahead, ask those coming back".

09-07-2008, 10:41 AM
DackelMom Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 395	Just bumping this up with a few pics of Hany's left hock. These were taken the first day that I noticed the swelling. Please excuse his dirty legs, we have tar weed in the pasture. (sorry that the pictures are so huge!)

09-07-2008, 10:44 AM
lbequ4002 Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Central AL Posts: 761	It looks like a bog spavin to me. I would just wait until the vet has time to really review the x-rays. We had a 2 year old that we thought had an ocd lesion and it turned out she didn't. He's a very pretty boy by the way.

09-07-2008, 11:24 AM
csimmons Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: delaware Posts: 259	First, you have a beautiful boy. I've had a few horses come in like that after wrenching a hock from running and playing. You are doing everything right. If his x-rays are negative, all you can do is treat him for a soft tissue injury and wait. I assume you are limiting his activity. You can also cold hose him before you put the surpass cream on him. I don't know if you can use a neoprene hock boot on him with surpass, but I've found that they can help reduce swelling. I usually treat injuries like this with a systemic anti-inflammatory and topical DMSO with cotisone. But, I'm an old timer, not cutting edge. Just remember that even when the hock comes down and he is sound again that the healing process may not be complete. Return him back to the pasture slowly. These things usually heal up completely and leave no lasting effects. Let us know how he makes out. Good luck!

09-07-2008, 12:17 PM
Horse_Orderly Started Join Date: May 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,043	Hopefully, it's nothing but OCD isn't a death sentence. We see OCD horses of various ages (6mos to about 4 or 5 years old) at work all the time. The surgery isn't too invasive and they go on to lead very productive lives. Make sure that you get a second opinion on those radiographs. Some lesions are hard to see. My friend's horse was diagnosed with some lesions and she got a second opinion from where I work and they explained what exactly that they saw and it wasn't a lesion. GOOD LUCK! He is very handsome! __________________ State the obvious, I didn't get my perfect fantasy. I realize you love yourself more than you could ever love me! Taylor Swift

09-07-2008, 12:25 PM
kanoo32 Started Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,362	I don't know..............from what I see in the pics, there are a lot of dings on the hocks there that would lead me to suspect some kind of blunt trauma that could lead to bruising. I would just continue treating with the anti inflammatories and you will be fine. I doubt you will ever have a problem again. as far as the OCD etc. I think you are overthinking it. Good that you took pics, now you have a baseline for future reference, but I would look to the most obvious first, and those dings are obvious! __________________ Even if your on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there!

09-07-2008, 04:35 PM
DackelMom Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 395	Thanks so much for the assurances everyone, I tend to overreact and I knew you would walk me through it sensibly. I really appreciate you sharing your experiences with ocd and injuries. He is in a small paddock right now so no running through the hills for a while. kanoo32, the dings (sores from laying down) are on the non injured hock. He has no external signs of injury to to the swollen hock.

09-07-2008, 04:41 PM
DackelMom Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 395	kanoo32: oh, I get it, thanks! Last edited by DackelMom : 09-07-2008 at 04:43 PM.

09-07-2008, 05:26 PM
lady dumpling Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: alberta Posts: 847	Handsome is Definately Handsome!I know nothing about OCD and I hope I'm not making myself look totally stupid but I was wondering if he has some swelling or something going on in his front left knee.I'm not trying to alarm you or anything like that, I was just wondering if I am seeing things or not.Sounds like you have everything under control. __________________ Good thing my horses can't post about MY vices!

09-07-2008, 05:43 PM
DackelMom Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 395	Lady dumpling, interesting that you should mention his front left. I said the same thing to the vet. He felt the knee and didn't seem too concerned. I'll run it by him again when he is out next. I'll be staring at his knees and hocks everyday looking for any problems!

09-07-2008, 06:20 PM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,425	good luck with your boy. I hope the vet gets a clearer idea of what is going on with the better viewer of the x-rays. Did he x-ray the other hock for comparison? If he thinks that joint has an issue, then I would likely get shots of the other main joints as well as OCD would usually affect both hocks and/or other joints, whereas an injury might only affect one. It could give you a better idea of what is going on. I agree that OCD is not a death sentence, but it does need to be managed as soon as possible to limit damages. Karen __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...is it really that hard?

09-07-2008, 08:33 PM
DackelMom Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 395	EquineAlberta, the vet asked if I wanted to go ahead and xray the other hock (addl $200). He stated as you did, that ocd will generally occur in the other hock as well. I decided to hold off until they reviewed the xrays. If they feel its ocd or the surgeon recommends it, I'll go ahead with the other hock. Thanks again all for your advice and support. It is much appreciated! I'll let you know what the vet says.

09-07-2008, 09:30 PM
boisegirl78 Halter broke Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boise, Id Posts: 124	You are doing all the right things with your guy, having the vet check him out. OCD isnt a death sentence, and the surgeries are usually very successful. Also, joint problems in the hocks are probably the easiest to manage. Joint injections are usually very successful at managing minor problems, and the hock joint, because it is a very low motion joint can be fused when they are very arthritic (and will often fuse on its own in some cases). The horses have a slightly altered stride, but can still trail ride and do low impact disciplines like western pleasure, lower level dressage, etc. I highly doubt your boy will be anywhere near that bad for a long time if ever, but if you are going to have leg problems, hock issues are HIGH on my list of manageable, versus having something like navicular, tendon/ligament issues, ring bone, stifle issues..which are all WAY worse to manage.

09-08-2008, 08:18 AM
DackelMom Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 395	Thanks boisegirl78 for your positive comments, this is just what I need to hear. I'm learning that I have to take each day as it comes with the horses. I worry way into the future and "what if" myself crazy. Take care of them to the best of my abilities and hopefully we have a long and wonderful life together!

09-09-2008, 01:59 AM
myboyjake Halter broke Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: ohio Posts: 155	I have a 2 year old that had ocd in both stifles. he had surgery and is doing great. I thought it would cost a fortune and stories of upwards of 2000.00 to 3000.00 it was 1,500 for both sides. I was told by the vet that if you catch it early enough that I would have about an 80 to 90% chance of him going back to being a performance horse and if I waited and was to go with other treatment that it could drop that down to about 50 t0 60%.. I hope yours is o.k and good luck...

09-10-2008, 05:38 PM
DackelMom Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 395	Thanks for your input myboyjake. I hope that your boy continues to do well.

09-10-2008, 05:52 PM
DackelMom Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 395	Well, I spoke with our vet today and there is no sign of OCD in his hock!! This is the opinion of two vets and a board certified surgeon that reviewed the xrays. They feel that the swelling and lameness was caused by a traumatic injury to the hock. He no longer favors the leg and is moving well within his paddock. The swelling has subsided quite a bit but not quite gone. Vet said to reduce the bute to .5 gram per day and use the surpass once per day. Early next week, if all goes well, we will stop the bute and surpass and see how the hock does (doesn't swell back up again). I'm so relieved but still concerned about how it happened in the first place and will it have any lasting effects. I'll be nervous to let him out into our pasture and am hesitant to let him bust a move in our round pen. The sand is probably too deep. I don't lunge him on a line but I've moved him around, changing directions, get him to face me etc. When he first hits the pen, he goes a bit bonkers, running, stopping, cutting etc. Maybe I should wait a few months before working him again? Thanks everyone for your support. It is much appreciated!!