Horse hip pain?

Gem is off on her left hind. I don't exactly know when it started. She vetted in fine after the race last weekend and travelled well. Checked on her monday and she was fine. Then I got terribly ill and only left my house to go to the ER from Tuesday night after work to sat morning. I finally made it back to the barn sunday morning and she was definitely off to the left hind. I couldn't find any swelling or heat and the hoof itself was fine. Gave her some banamine and told the barn manager's daughter to keep her in today, but some miscommunication must have happened because when I went out to the barn after work to see if she was any better, she was outside. Once the smoke cleared from my head exploding, I pulled her in and she was still off, but was putting about 50% more weight to the left hind. I flexed, palpated, and poked everywhere around the hoof and hock and got no response. Then I made my way to her hip joint and she got very angry very fast. When I walked her out she was stiff to the left hind and when I asked her to turn to the right she swung the left hip out in a wierd rounded motion.

Ok, long story, but does anyone have any information on hip pain? There is so much out there on hocks and stifles and frogs etc..I gave her a dose of Firocoxib and she WILL be on stall rest tomorrow. I will be calling the vet in the morning and having them out, but am now worried and just looking for any information I can get in the meantime. Poor Gem :(

I'm sorry to hear of your troubles.
I hope whatever it is is minor.

Perhaps she pulled something during the race and it took a while to become inflamed enough to cause the soreness. She may be better off moving about rather than confined as it improves circulation.

Does she have full range of motion? Can she pick her leg up to her belly? If so, it makes a hip dislocation more remote. We had a pony at the clinic I taught in Canada dislocate her hip. She exhibited similar symptoms, though probably more severe. We were able to relocate the hip after a LOT of team work. The vet wasn't too sure we would be able to do it at all.

Has a vet seen the horse? In the case if a dislocation, it is the sooner the better for a good outcome.

Good luck and I sure hope it is just a mild strain.

She was even better after the night in her stall and the NSAID, but still not normal. When I checked on her last night she had an audible click to her left hip when I asked her to move her haunches to the right. She moved and didn't show signs of pain, but there was a noise that was never present before :( The vet is coming out at 4 pm to take a look at her.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Hoping whatever is wrong isn't too serious! Also keeping my fingers crossed for you

Thank you for all the well wishes. SHe walked and trotted out normal for the vet and had her normal spunky personality back for the first time yesterday. The clicking in the hip was still there intermittently though. Stall rest adn antiinflammatories until sat then walk/trot under saddle sat and if she is still sound canter on sun. If clicking continues she recommended an xray. She said she was in great shape and fit otherwise which was good to hear. I am going to get her a massage (vet approved of it) and start her on a joint supplement. Hoping all goes back to normal.

Good to hear.
My horse Icky makes so many cracks & pops it's hard to tell where they originate. She's always been like that & is sound so I'm used to it.
I can understand your concern though when something strange just starts like that.
I hope this is nothing to worry about.

Those massges work wonders! Hope it works for gem!
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