My Horse Has Swollen Rear Hocks

The rear hocks on a horse can be found on the back legs. A hock is the backward looking knee joint between the tibia bone and the tarsal bone. It can be found on other animals such as dogs, cattle and giraffes.

  1. Cause

    • A variety of issues can cause a horse's rear hocks to swell. If your horse kicks something and accidentally hits it with the hock, the joint will swell. One of the most common causes is lack of exercise. This cause does not lead to pain. It can also be caused by osteochondritis dessican or bog spavin. Bog spavin is a natural excess of joint fluid caused by a fracture. Osteochondritis dessican is a defective skeletal disease. It can also be caused by arthritis.

    Treatment

    • If your horse has not been active, take it out for a ride. If the swollen hock is due to inactivity, the joint will not be painful and the swelling will dissipate. If your horse is limping, call your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose the problem and administer medications, such as anti-inflammatory or arthritic drugs. Also, you can place a cold compress on the hock and keep it in place with a large animal Ace bandage.

    Prevention

    • Make sure your horse gets exercise. Do not just turn it out to pasture and hope it will run around. Get out there, saddle your horse up and go for a nice run.