Splints and Windgalls in Horses
SYMPTOMS OF SPLINTS AND WINDGALLS
- Splints are a bony growth on the metacarpal or metatarsal (splint) bones
- Wind galls are a soft fluid swelling behind the fetlock usually caused from working on a hard ground.
- Change in your horse's performance
CAUSES OF SPLINTS AND WINDGALLS
Overwork in young horses, poor confirmation, incorrect shoeing, tendon ligament or joint capsule tears, injury of articular cartilage in the joint.
DIAGNOSIS OF SPLINTS AND WINDGALLS
Diagnosis of windgalls will usually be confirmed from examination. Heat, swelling and tenderness of the fetlock will be present. X-ray, ultrasound and tenoscopy can be used by your vet for confirmation.
Diagnosis of splints confirmed by examination are bony growths below the knee and above the fetlock joints.
TREATMENT OF SPLINTS AND WINDGALLS
Treatment plan is to modify the work regime, anti-inflammatories, icing and bandaging if required.
PRODUCT & DOSE RATE
ProflamAid Plus 50g Continue with this dose until horse is dramatically improved, usually a minimum of 4-6 weeks. Once your horse is comfortable you can drop the dose to a maintenance level of 5-15g per day only increasing prior to an event or hard work and hard ground.
