Consult with the Surgeon and Lexi

December 2012
I trailered Lexi to the surgeon's office where he carefully examined her right hind fetlock and did a lameness exam to see if she would be a candidate for surgery.  He had me walk and trot her in hand on the asphalt driveway so he could see how she was moving and stepping on that leg.  He also did a flexion test by holding the leg up and putting pressure on the fetlock for a minute or so, then had me trot her down the driveway again.  I could tell that she really limped after the flexion test.

The last thing that he wanted to do to make sure that it was only the bone chips bothering her was a fetlock block.  This is where the vet does a hock injection that makes the horse's fetlock numb, then determines whether or not there is any improvement in their way of going while the pain from that specific area is temporarily eliminated.  The criteria is that the horse must show at least 60% improvement in soundness while the effects of the bone chips are "blocked".

After the injection, we had to wait for 30 minutes for her hock to get numb.  We walked around a little bit and I let her eat some grass to pass the time.  The surgeon examined her again and we did the same tests as before; walking, trotting and another flexion test.  She did show a lot of improvement and the surgeon was satisfied.

We talked about the surgery, recovery time, and whether he thought it was the right thing to do.  I know that it is.  I know that without surgery her condition will only get worse, and she'll have a poor quality of life.  He agreed, and I scheduled the surgery that day for January 28.

In a nutshell, this surgeon charges a flat rate for everything.  $1800 for the surgery, anesthesia, medication, and an overnight stay.

Recovery time would be two months, best case scenario.  Four months, worst case.  Lexi has a stall with paddock, so we will have to block off the paddock and keep her in her stall for the next few months to avoid injuring the fetlock.  During the first two weeks, she will be able to come out briefly to get brushed or graze a little, but that's it.  After the stitches come out, I believe we can start hand-walking, but I'll get full post-op instructions after the surgery.  It will be a minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, and the surgeon said it will take about an hour and a half.

January 2013
So we have been waiting patiently for surgery day ever since.  I am not doing a lot with her, and her condition has gotten worse just in the last two weeks.  She doesn't want to flex the ankle, and at times she'll even try to walk on her toe to avoid putting weight on her foot.  A few weeks back I started her on some Smart Tendon and Smart Calm Ultra supplements, along with her regular Sho-Flex Vitamins, just to pump her up before the surgery.

She was becoming grouchy and fearful from not feeling well.  The Smart Calm Ultra really took the edge off, and it should help her deal with her recovery.  My mom gave her a jolly ball with an attached lick-it for Christmas, and I plan on hanging that up in her stall to give her something to play with and lick while recovering.  I hope it will help her pass the time.  I will be out at the ranch every day for quite some time to make sure she is ok and to get her through her recovery time.  I'm hoping for the quickest possible recovery time, and that we will be riding and showing again by May.

Stay tuned for pictures on surgery day January 28, and when I bring her home the following day.