Week 8 at Littleton Equine

This Monday I spent the day with Dr. Toppin. We had a referral for a 19 year old Quarter Horse gelding with a shoulder injury.  The owners found the horse with the injury after being out in pasture for a few days so we assume that he was kicked by one of the other horses. The referring veterinarian pulled pieces of bone when exploring the wound and recommended they came to Littleton for shoulder radiographs to know the extent of the damage. The leg was extremely swollen all the way down the leg to the fetlock.

 

Based on radiographs, we could see 2 bone chips off the humerus with the larger piece being the deltoid tuberosity. Dr. Toppin was able to pull out the small piece of bone, but the larger piece of bone was still attached to too much muscle to pull out. He recommended that the gelding stay so one of the surgeons could perform a standing surgery to remove it. Tuesday night Dr. Murray along with Dr. Robinson removed the piece of bone. Dr. Murray was nice enough to let me put on sterile gloves to feel the bone chip and the humerus. The chipped piece was very sharp and the humerus was very rough. No wonder the sweet guy was so painful!

He was such a good patient during the procedure and his entire stay in the hospital. His little girls were so excited he was able to go home Thursday! 

On Monday,  we also went to do a recheck on the paint gelding that had pericarditis. I am happy to report that he is doing wonderful! His heart looks great on ultrasound and his heart rate is down to normal. It was so nice to follow up on him after caring for him during his stay in ICU.