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Location: WA | There isn't much on here regarding windpuffs... I have a 4 YEAR OLD with wind puffs already! I know they are cosmetic, but also an underlying strain. Every time I look at them it makes me sick like I am not taking proper care of her! What can I do to keep her from straining those tendons more? Is it just cold hose after riding? Any supplements or massages you guys have done? This horse is freaking amazing and I feel like 4 is much to young. She is a big girl, but hasn't even started racing yet and gets turned out daily and has an adequate pen aside from her stall. I've never had to deal with them before. My vet said she was concerned because she is so young, but that there isn't much I can do. She said I could X-ray if I wanted to, but do you think its worth it? | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
 
| If you and/or the vet don't feel like she's being overworked or worked on hard or deep ground enough to cause the wind puffs; I'd say get x-rays and maybe even a sonogram to see if there isn't an underlying cause (ligaments, tendons, etc..). It's also possible her feet are the issue (i.e. unbalanced, wrong angle, etc...). | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383
Location: Sweet Home Alabama | Hate to sound ignorant, but can someone explain to me what wind puffs are exactly? I've seen horses advertised with them but idk what it is. Thanks | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Ashton94 - 2017-07-26 3:19 PM
Hate to sound ignorant, but can someone explain to me what wind puffs are exactly? I've seen horses advertised with them but idk what it is. Thanks
Totally not ignorant!
Wind puffs or can also be called wind galls are "puffiness" around your horse's ankle. They are distention of a tendon sheath, bursa, or joint capsule on a horse's legs; usually on the fetlock. They normally don't produce heat or pain or any lameness unless there was an acute injury. Most times it's just excess fluid.
Horses with upright pasterns are prone. Younger horses that are overworked on hard and/or deep ground can suffer from them. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| blazinunicorn - 2017-07-26 2:08 PM
There isn't much on here regarding windpuffs... I have a 4 YEAR OLD with wind puffs already! I know they are cosmetic, but also an underlying strain. Every time I look at them it makes me sick like I am not taking proper care of her! What can I do to keep her from straining those tendons more? Is it just cold hose after riding? Any supplements or massages you guys have done? This horse is freaking amazing and I feel like 4 is much to young. She is a big girl, but hasn't even started racing yet and gets turned out daily and has an adequate pen aside from her stall. I've never had to deal with them before. My vet said she was concerned because she is so young, but that there isn't much I can do. She said I could X-ray if I wanted to, but do you think its worth it?
Wind puffs aren't cosmetic, a lot of vets overlook them, but they are actually a sign of inflammation in the joint. Left ignored you will have arthritis later on in life.
First thing check the angles in the feet, secondly look into supplements injectible or oral. | |
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wind puffs