10/30/2025
🐴 A Splint Bone Success Story!
This handsome 12-year-old Quarter Horse gelding presented to Dr. Cooley for evaluation after his owner noticed swelling and soreness in his left hind leg. He has a bit of a reputation for kicking the stall walls, and that habit likely led to a fracture of his lateral splint bone — one of the small bones that runs along the cannon bone.
After confirming the diagnosis with radiographs, Dr. Cooley discussed treatment options with the owner, and together they decided that surgery to remove the fractured segment would give him the best chance for a smooth and comfortable recovery.
Surgery went beautifully, and post-operative radiographs showed the fractured piece was completely removed. Two weeks later, at his recheck, he was healing great and moving comfortably — we’re so pleased with his progress!
We’ll see him again around 45 days post-surgery to check on continued healing, and if everything looks good, he’ll be ready to return to training about 60 days after surgery.
We love helping our equine patients get back to feeling their best — even the ones who occasionally kick their stalls a little too
