How do you treat sore hocks in horses?
3 min read
Asked by: Drew Beasom
If symptoms flare up, rest and cold hosing (or other cold therapy) can help. So can nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as phenylbutazone. But soreness often returns when the horse goes back to work, and long-term treatment with NSAIDs may have harmful effects.
How do you get rid of hock sores on a horse?
Treating Hock Issues
- Check Stall Bedding. Because stall bedding is often the culprit behind hock sores, taking a look at your current stall setup is a good place to start. …
- Try a Salve. If the wound is large or open, you can apply some cream or salve to help it heal. …
- Apply a Wrap and Hock Shield.
How can I improve my horse’s hocks?
6 Simple Exercises to Strengthen Your Horse’s Hind Quarters
- Stretch the leg forward as if you are trying to touch the opposite front leg with the back hoof.
- Stretch the leg backward like you would if you were cleaning out his hoof. …
- Stretch into high flexion. …
- “Baited Carrot” stretches.
How do I know if my horse has hock pain?
With pain in the back legs, horses will shorten their gait to take weight off their back. If the pain is severe, they may even shift more weight onto their forelegs, ending up in a hunched position.
How do you treat a hock injury?
Hock splints for dogs and other dog hock brace options are the most common forms of treatment. However, a particularly bad hock injury may result in surgery where pins are inserted to help repair any fractures in the bone. For a ligament injury, pins are used in conjunction with a suture to aid in recovery.
How do you wrap a horse’s hock?
Up over the area of the sutures. And then using this roll gauze wrap relatively loosely just tightly enough to hold the gauze in place underneath. And with hocks or anything with a bony protuberance.
How do you put on hock boots?
So you're going to just gently apply them at the start and then slide them down so that the hair is flush straighten everything out make sure nothing's tucked.
What can I put on a swollen hock?
Apply an ice pack under an adhesive bandage for 20 minutes three or four times a day for the first 48 hours. In between ice treatments, injured tendons should be bandaged to limit tissue swelling – bandage with a firm, uniform pressure but do not apply bandages too tightly as this can lead to further tendon damage.
When do horses need hock injections?
Here are some more visible signs that your horse might be in need of hock injections: Issues with Jumping – One of the most common signs of hock pain can be seen in the horse’s ability to jump. In order to jump, horses need to shift their weight backwards. Their hind legs also get a significant amount of extra weight.
Can you ride a horse with fused hocks?
Once the hocks are fused, any discomfort or lameness tends to be eliminated, and the horse should usually be able to carry on in normal work.
How old are horses when their hocks fuse?
Reach approximately 46% of mature weight by 6 months, 65% by 12 months. Reach approximately 84% of mature height by 6 months, 94% by 12 months. Most lower limb growth is complete by 12 months. Long pastern bone fuse by 6 months, the hock by 12 months.
How long do hock injections last in horses?
Hock injections can be effective anywhere from 6-12 months. If your hock injections are only lasting 8-10 weeks, your horse may be a candidate for laser arthrodesis (surgical fusion).
