Aries
Aries was rescued in late March 2024. She had been through an auction and ended up on a kill lot. She was very lame and had an enlarged knee from a past injury which must have been severe.
Veterinary exam revealed: 4 out of 5 lameness on the right front leg with bony proliferation on the front and inner side of the carpus. The range of motion for the joint was over 50% decreased. This indicated that poor Aries had been unable to lay down for some time, or if she had been able to, it would have been very painful to get down and then back up.
Xrays showed extensive bony proliferation throughout all carpal joints, and most significantly on the dorsomedial aspect of the middle carpal joint where a cruciform proliferative structure extends from the joint approximately 3/4″. The middle carpal joint was fused. This level of osteoarthritis is most likely from blunt force trauma or due to a previously septic joint, where all joints were impacted.
Sadly, there is no treatment for widespread carpal osteoarthritic proliferation and remodeling. In Aries, both lytic and proliferative lesions exist throughout all joints, including down into the spaces between the proximal metacarpal and both splint bone heads.
Aries was clearly suffering a great deal of pain and had been. It was agreed that humane euthanasia was the only option. Aries’ file contains video of how she struggled when moving.
More About Aries
- In Assessment
- Chestnut
- Mare
- 2006
- Appendix
- Colorado