Okay, here’s my blog post about dealing with sesamoiditis in my horse, written in a casual, personal style:
So, my horse, Champ, started coming up lame a few weeks back. Nothing major at first, just a little “off” after our usual trail ride. I figured he’d maybe tweaked something, you know? Rested him a couple of days, but it didn’t really clear up.
I started poking around his leg, feeling for heat or swelling. I know just enough to be dangerous, haha! I pressed around his fetlock joint, and when I got to the back, near those little sesamoid bones, he flinched. Uh oh.
The Vet Visit
Time to call the vet. I always hate doing it, because it’s never cheap, but Champ’s comfort is priority number one. Dr. Emily came out, watched him walk and trot, and then did some flexion tests. She confirmed my suspicion – probable sesamoiditis.
We talked about options. X-rays were the next step to see what was really going on in there. Luckily, the x-rays show inflammation, it isn’t broken.
- some anti-inflammatories to reduce pain and swelling.
- Strict rest.
The Recovery Road
I give some medicine to Champ every day.
It’s been a slow process, but we’re making progress. Lots of hand-walking, lots of cold hosing, and a whole lot of patience. I’ve learned so much about sesamoid bones and horse leg anatomy in the past few weeks – more than I ever thought I’d need to know!
Fingers crossed, Champ will be back to his old self soon. It’s a reminder that these things happen, even with the best care. We just gotta roll with the punches and do what’s best for our four-legged friends.
