Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

We had a horse that had wind puffs when we bought him at age nine, and he 
had them when he died at age 32-1/2.  In the meanwhile, he did some quite 
phenomenal things in endurance and ride & tie. The windpuffs seemed not to 
have bothered him.

Barbara

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ridecamp Guest" <guest-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 7:18 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] Wind Puffs


> Please Reply to: Bruce Weary bweary@xxxxxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> ==========================================
>
> Okay, I'm not a veterinarian, but I did stay at a Holiday
> Inn Express last night.;) Wind puffs are a distension in or around
> the fetlock joint,usually as a result of hard work or direct
> trauma. Joints are lined with a synovial membrane that produces
> synovial fluid, which keeps the joint lubricated and allows for
> the exchange of nutrients to the tissues of the joint. When the
> joint is traumatized or overused, a synovitis can occur, and the
> synovial membrane produces too much fluid as an exaggerated
> component of the inflammatory process. The fluid is produced at a
> faster rate than it can drain off, and thus the wind puff forms.The fluid 
> can collect in the joint capsule, tendon sheath, or bursa. The synovial 
> membrane is not very pain sensitive, so the horse may not be lame at all. 
> The fluid can be localized to the fetlock joint, or may travel up the 
> cannon bone. I have seen it occur from exercise induced injury, or from 
> kicking a fence
> or getting kicked. While the increased fluid itself doesn't do
> real harm, it's an indicator that inflammation (which damages
> tissue) is continuing and should be stopped.
>  Treament should be conservative, including rest, cold water hosing, mild 
> antiinflammatories (ask your vet) manual massage toward the heart (wear 
> your helmet) and hand walking until
> all fluid and local tenderness are gone. A gradual return
> to work while watching closely for any return of the fluid will
> help ensure recovery without exacerbation.
> As my mentor taught me, "Every patient is entitled to more
> than one problem." Obviously, if lameness persists, or progress
> is unsatisfactory, call the vet. There could be chip fractures,
> capsulitis, bursitis and all kinds of other things going on
> that could complicate your horses recovery. Remember, God made
> veterinarians as a reminder that we all make too much money.:)
>  See you all at convention.    Bruce Weary, D.C.
>
>
>
> Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
> Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
> Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
>
> Ride Long and Ride Safe!!



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=