Fetlock is a term used for the joint where the cannon bone, the proximal sesamoid bones, and the first phalanx (long pastern bone) meet. The pastern is the area between the hoof and the fetlock joint.

What is a fetlock injury?

This condition involves a tear or strain of the suspensory ligament where it branches onto the bones at the back of the fetlock joint (sesamoid bones). These tears can be seen on an ultrasound examination, and horses may often have swelling over the affected branch, that may be hot or painful to touch.

What is the purpose of a fetlock on a horse?

The fetlock is a joint, a shock absorber, an energy storage system, and a stabilizer of the distal limb.”

Where is a fetlock located on an animal?

the projection of the leg of a horse behind the joint between the cannon bone and great pastern bone, bearing a tuft of hair.

Why is a fetlock injury fatal?

In the lower limb, the most common location is the fetlock, with breakdown injuries the most life threatening. These bones come together with the suspensory ligament to act as a ‘spring’, absorbing large amounts of energy and dispersing it back through the bones and into the horse.

Can a horse recover from a fetlock fracture?

The outlook for recovery in large fractures at the base of the fetlock bone is poor, regardless of the treatment. Very severe damage to the suspensory ligaments, including fracture of both sesamoid bones, is a catastrophic injury and can cause a compromise of blood flow to the foot.

What is the purpose of the fetlock on animals?

from The Century Dictionary. An instrument fixed on the leg of a horse when put to pasture, for the purpose of preventing him from running off.

How do you treat a fetlock injury?

Rest and recuperation are vital in treating all fetlock injuries. Further treatment will involve injections into the joint, often using low doses of corticosteroids in combination with hyaluronic acid acting as a joint lubricant.

What is the purpose of a hock?

The three smaller hock joints in descending order are the proximal inter-tarsal, distal inter-tarsal and tarso-metatarsal joints. For all practical purposes, the hock works as a hinge, moving by flexion and extension through one plane. Practically all of the movement occurs in the tibiotarsal joint.

Where is the fetlock located on a cow?

Introduction. The fetlock joint of cattle includes the proximal end of both proximal phalanges and the distal end of the third and fourth metacarpal/metatarsal (MC/MT III and IV) bones.

Where on a horse body would you find a fetlock?

Fetlock: Sometimes called a horse’s ankle, the fetlock is actually more like the ball of the foot on humans. Forearm: The area on the front legs of a horse between the knee and the elbow.

Where on a horse would you find a fetlock?

A ‘horses fetlock’ is a name of a joint between the horses cannon bone and pastern bone and is ‘ the ankle’ of a horse. At the rear of the fetlock joint is a small bone called the sesamoid. Unlike humans ankles, the horse’s leg has no muscles and are in fact more similar to our fingers than our arms or legs.

Why are horses killed when injured?

A horse with a broken leg is usually killed because it is very difficult to heal a horse’s broken leg properly. In addition, the blood flow of a horse depends on its hooves. Keeping a horse still for a long period of time to allow its bone to heal is an enormous risk to its life.

Why is a broken leg a death sentence for a horse?

“If there was a fracture there, there’s all the tendons, the nerves and the blood vessels that a sharp edge of bone could cut. So, down the rest of the leg, there’s no blood supply to it, so the tissue may die, let alone having enough blood supply to heal.”

Why are horses with broken legs killed?

Horses are euthanized when they break a leg because of the risk of infection, pain tolerance of the animal, and the slim chance of a successful recovery.

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