Mulligan update

Gosh time flies by and I really must make more effort to update on here as its a great place to read back to remember details. 

After a few physio sessions (advised telephonically by my vet) she agreed she needed to come out and have a look.  As mentioned previously my lovely vet was in a horrible car accident and is still on crutches.  She has a locum vet (out from Italy) helping so Muls had the added advantage of two pairs of eyes.  He was still fine in walk and still lame in trot - after flexion tests he was actually crippled on his left hind - 7 /10th lame in fact!   A few days later he was sedated and xrayed - the stifle is showing mild arthritis but the big shock was the fracture to the hock!!!  The cartiledge has slipped back and the hock joint does show wear and tear and arthritis but nothing degenerative thank goodness.  There is a hairline crack to the bone and a few pieces missing off the side.  I have been told I can get copies of the xrays so will post them up at some point. 

Anyway it was decided that the best course of action was an injection into the joint which would be like a power blast of anti-inflammatory.  He had this done after we came off holiday and we had to stop all sugar, haylage and NO GRASS due to the steriods in his system which could set of laminitis.   He has now done a week of complete box rest and has started walking daily in hand around the yard.  I am so lucky that is such a sweet laid back horse and is so not bothered about living in his stable.  On Saturday we are to stop all his painkillers and the vets are back on Wednesday to re-assess.  Depending on how improved he his (everything crossed please) we may re-xray to see how bone is healed otherwise we just keep on with the box rest.  He can go out for a couple of hours a day in a pen from Monday which he will love as he loves a good roll and is moulting like crazy and could do with some sun on his back.

Will post again about him next week after our 'check up' visit.

One of my favourite pics of him from last year :