Lana
Lana was rescued in April 2025 as part of a group of high risk horses on the verge of entering the slaughter pipeline. We were told she had fallen in a horse trailer during transport from an auction on CO’s western slope and heading for the northern part of CO’s front range (north of Denver).
Lana was being trampled by other horses when she was down in the trailer. She was seen immediately by an equine veterinarian we had scheduled ahead of time for the incoming horses.
Veterinary exam revealed: Lana is approximately 15-18 years old and underweight with a body condition score (BCS) of 3 out of 9. She has palpable TMJ pain and a palpation of her cheek teeth indicates irregular oclusal surfaces (in other words no proper dental care).
All of her lower limbs were crusted with puncture wounds with mild inflammation/swelling, but there was no sign of pitting edema, no heat or palpably painful lesions.
However, there was mucus discharge from two punctures directly over her lateral fetlocks in the right forelimb and hind limbs. Oddly noted was that punctures and blood are symmetrical on all four limbs, lateral to fetlock regions.
Lana’s right forelimb had the most significant swelling and the concern is for a possible septic fetlock, although sepsis was not suspected at the time of the initial exam. When standing, Lana did not bear normal weight on the left forelimb, slightly flexing the carpus and balancing without full carpal extension.
The medial aspect of the left forelimb’s flexor tendons and ligament have generalized heat, moderate swelling, and palpable discomfort throughout. It is suspected that blunt force trauma may have occurred in that area when she was down in the trailer or transport, and could be due to trampling.
The right forelimb poses the greatest short-term risk for septic joint; her caretaker(s) were instructed on signs of joint sepsis in order to get veterinary help immediately if any of the signs developed.
The left forelimb poses the greatest concern for long-term soundness and comfort, if the medial aspect of the flexor tendons was seriously damaged creating core lesions, partial tears, adhesions or more permanent or more challenging treatment/rehab conditions that would require more advanced veterinary intervention and more stringent stall-rest and active rehabilitation measures.
Lana was prescribed medications and a treatment plan for the immediate and short-term with a vet re-evaluation at 2-4 weeks depending upon her symptoms. She is quarantined away from other horses on the property due to coming from an auction and being trailered with other horses, all exposed to potential contagious illness. Lana is within sight distance of other sanctuary horses.
Further care and evaluation will be provided by the end of April if Lana does not take a turn for the worse. She did very well during a bath and having her wounds cleaned and treated.
She has shown a very good appetite and has become very “chatty” with her caretakers especially at feeding times.
More About Lana
- In Assessment
- Palomino
- Mare
- 2008
- Paint Horse
- Colorado