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<< What exactly are the vets
looking for when they bend the lower leg up and run their fingers
down the back of the lower leg? >>
Relaxing the entire suspension apparatus by bending the leg up allows the vet
to feel the anatomy behind the cannon bone--the deep and superficial flexor
tendons and the suspensory ligament, as well as the area of the check
ligament. The vet looks for reactions from the horse as he palpates these
organs and also looks for the origin of any heat or swelling he/she
encounters. Once an abnormality is located, the well-equipped vet will bring
in an ultrasound scanner for a more definitive diagnosis.
>>Filling in the carpal check
ligament?
Can there be filling around the deep digital tendon? How can you
differentiate in swellings of tendon or ligaments?>>
Ultrasound scanning will provide you with pictures of tissue deficits and
localized fluid pockets within and around these organs.
>What if they find some puffiness at a check, but the horse doesn't
seem at all sore, and trots out sound? Do they still pull?>
This would be characterisic of a check ligament injury. They're seldom hugely
painful--but they tend to get worse and worse if you don't pay attention to
them. they're slow to heal.
> Does anyone know what the beginings of a splint feel like? My
understanding is that splints are painful, and the horse would be
off some. >>
Splints, too, may or may not be painful--a lot of that depends on the
location. Little teeny splints that you can hardly see or feel can be very
painfull to the horse if they're in the worng place (up under the knee or
leaning into the suspensory ligament).
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