Where is the fetlock on a horse’s leg?

The fetlock is a joint between the cannon bone and the pastern on the back of a horse’s leg, above the hoof.

What is the difference between pastern and fetlock?

As nouns the difference between fetlock and pastern

is that fetlock is a joint of the horse’s leg below the knee or hock and above the hoof, also called the “ankle” while pastern is the area on a horse’s leg between the fetlock joint and the hoof.

What are the parts of a horses leg called?

Each hind limb of the horse runs from the pelvis to the navicular bone. After the pelvis come the femur (thigh), patella, stifle joint, tibia, fibula, tarsal (hock) bone and joint, large metatarsal (cannon) and small metatarsal (splint) bones.

How do you treat a fetlock injury?

Treatment for this condition involves rest, in combination with joint injections. Low dose corticosteroids in combination with hyaluronic acid (a joint ‘lubricant’) are very effective in controlling the inflammation within the joint and alleviating lameness.

What is a horse’s ankle called?

Fetlock
Fetlock is the common name in horses, large animals, and sometimes dogs for the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints (MCPJ and MTPJ). Although it somewhat resembles the human ankle in appearance, the joint is technically more similar to the ball of the foot.

What is the purpose of a fetlock on a horse?

Injuries and disorders in horses fetlocks (ankle joint)

The fetlock joint itself is a complicated high motion joint which is subjected to extensive force during locomotion, supported by several soft-tissue structures which play a vital role in supporting the horses movement.

Can a horse recover from fractured fetlock?

The outlook for recovery in large fractures at the base of the fetlock bone is poor, regardless of the treatment. Very severe damage to the suspensory ligaments, including fracture of both sesamoid bones, is a catastrophic injury and can cause a compromise of blood flow to the foot.

Can a horse heal from a broken fetlock?

The less complicated the fracture, the more likely the horse will recover. Greenstick and stress fractures are incomplete fractures, and these can be treated successfully. Simple fractures, where there is one clean break, are more likely to heal successfully than shattered bones.

What causes a swollen fetlock?

Usually caused by a penetration wound from wire or a kick, it can happen when any foreign material enters the sterile area of the joint capsule. The pain is so severe that the horse will hardly bear weight on its leg. The fetlock will be swollen, hot and painful, and a small cut is usually visible.

What is a fractured fetlock?

The small sesamoid bones at the back of the fetlock joint act as a form of ‘pulley’ for the suspensory ligaments. Fractures of these bones occur quite commonly in young foals, often as avulsion fractures (see above) at the attachments of the suspensory ligaments.

What to do if your horse has a swollen fetlock?

Always rest a horse with a potentially injured leg until your vet can assess the problem. Assess the affected area yourself, feeling for heat, a pain response to pressure or flexion of the limb, reduced range of motion, or any other abnormalities. Send a photo of the swelling to your vet.

Can a horse survive with 3 legs?

Horses can’t live with three legs because their massive weight needs to be distributed evenly over four legs, and they can’t get up after lying down. Horses that lose a leg face a wide range of health problems, and some are fatal. Most leg breaks can’t be fixed sufficiently to hold a horse’s weight.

What causes Windpuffs in horses?

Windpuffs may be caused by an acute insult or trauma and the tendon sheath is stretched, allowing for extra accumulation of fluid, but the horse is no longer lame. … Some horses have windpuffs on all four legs, or on both hind legs, where there is effusion in the tendon sheath.

What is a slab fracture in a horse?

Slab fractures extend from one articular surface to another articular surface. In the carpus, slab fractures occur in both frontal and sagittal planes.

Where is stifle on horse?

The stifle is the area where the tibia (the bone that forms your horse’s gaskin) meets the femur (the bone that extends up to his hip) and it can be compared to our own knees – when you pick up a horse’s hind leg, the joint bends forwards, just as your knee does when you walk up stairs.

How do you get rid of Windpuffs?

There is usually nothing you can do to prevent the formation of windpuffs. Even bandaging and sweats will only temporarily decrease the effusion, which will usually return a few hours after bandage removal. Once windpuffs have developed, there is rarely anything that can be done to correct them.

Can a hoof abscess cause fetlock swelling?

If a hoof abscess has worsened over time, it can cause inflammation and swelling that extends into the pastern and even further up the leg past the fetlock joint. The pastern or heel bulbs and the coronary band may also be swollen.

How do you get rid of Windgalls?

Treatment of Windgalls in Horses

Often, modifying your horse’s training or work can help to reduce the irritation and inflammation that lead to the wind galls. Ice and bandaging may also be recommended and can help your horse avoid becoming sore.