capped hocks?

lbequ4002 · 09-07-2008, 10:48 AM

the shirex mare I bought a couple weeks ago seems to have capped hocks. She travels sound but has a slight cold edema on the point of both hocks. One is more noticeable than the other. I believe her hocks are capped and judging by the condition I got her in I doubt if there was an injury it was treated at all. From what I've found capped hocks are considered a blemish not an unsoundness. I've been coating them with a tightening gel but it really hasn't done anything. I'm assuming this is old. Is there a way to drain it or some way to get rid of the edema? Has anyone ever had an unsoundness issue with a capped hock?

Texas Paints N Arabs · 09-07-2008, 11:03 AM

One of my broodmares has a capped hock. Her swelling was intermittent though. When it would swell I would rub with DMSO and adminster bute once a day until the swelling was gone. It would stay away a month, two months, no real definitive time frame, when it would reoccur I would go another round with meds. It never caused any soundness issues only looked ugly.

DackelMom · 09-07-2008, 11:15 AM

We're still waiting for a diagnosis on my yearling's swollen hock. I'm not sure if its true for capped hocks but my vet suggested that depending on the diagnosis, they can drain the fluid and inject something (can't remember name) into the hock.

kanoo32 · 09-07-2008, 12:29 PM

With a capped hock you can drain the fluid and inject a corticosteroid and it will take care of it. It most likely bothers you more than her. It will come back no matter what you do. You can also try keeping hock boots on her at night to keep them sweated down, this usually will work quite well. You can put a light coat of DMSO and then the boot on top or use furacin or whatever sweating agent you prefer. Numotizine works well on these too.

Sirita_88 · 09-07-2008, 12:36 PM

I was going to suggest DMSO. I had a horse that had a splint(i think that's what it was called), Anyways, it was a bump on his cannon bone. I used a rotation of DMSO and Mineral ice (always washing in-between) and it went away within a few days.

I have a horse that nearly capped his hocks. It had nothing to do with neglect, though. He just started kicking his stall... Luckily he didn't cap his hocks. But I have been told that capped hocks are just a blemish, no reason to worry about unsoundness unless it was caused by a severe injury.

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09-07-2008, 10:48 AM
lbequ4002 Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Central AL Posts: 761	capped hocks? the shirex mare I bought a couple weeks ago seems to have capped hocks. She travels sound but has a slight cold edema on the point of both hocks. One is more noticeable than the other. I believe her hocks are capped and judging by the condition I got her in I doubt if there was an injury it was treated at all. From what I've found capped hocks are considered a blemish not an unsoundness. I've been coating them with a tightening gel but it really hasn't done anything. I'm assuming this is old. Is there a way to drain it or some way to get rid of the edema? Has anyone ever had an unsoundness issue with a capped hock?

09-07-2008, 11:03 AM
Texas Paints N Arabs Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,174	One of my broodmares has a capped hock. Her swelling was intermittent though. When it would swell I would rub with DMSO and adminster bute once a day until the swelling was gone. It would stay away a month, two months, no real definitive time frame, when it would reoccur I would go another round with meds. It never caused any soundness issues only looked ugly. __________________ Horses help take us to a place which we cannot reach by ourselves

09-07-2008, 11:15 AM
DackelMom Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 395	We're still waiting for a diagnosis on my yearling's swollen hock. I'm not sure if its true for capped hocks but my vet suggested that depending on the diagnosis, they can drain the fluid and inject something (can't remember name) into the hock.

09-07-2008, 12:29 PM
kanoo32 Started Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,362	With a capped hock you can drain the fluid and inject a corticosteroid and it will take care of it. It most likely bothers you more than her. It will come back no matter what you do. You can also try keeping hock boots on her at night to keep them sweated down, this usually will work quite well. You can put a light coat of DMSO and then the boot on top or use furacin or whatever sweating agent you prefer. Numotizine works well on these too. __________________ Even if your on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there!

09-07-2008, 12:36 PM
Sirita_88 Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mt. Juliet, Tennessee Posts: 1,269	I was going to suggest DMSO. I had a horse that had a splint(i think that's what it was called), Anyways, it was a bump on his cannon bone. I used a rotation of DMSO and Mineral ice (always washing in-between) and it went away within a few days. I have a horse that nearly capped his hocks. It had nothing to do with neglect, though. He just started kicking his stall... Luckily he didn't cap his hocks. But I have been told that capped hocks are just a blemish, no reason to worry about unsoundness unless it was caused by a severe injury. __________________ Paradise Performance Horses. http://www.freewebs.com/paradiseperformance/index.htm