heat in a hock
Q. I have a 3-year-old off-track Thoroughbred I purchased with a mild suspensory strain. He seems quite sound on it; however his hock on the affected leg is always warm compared his other hock and knees. Could this mean he’s compensating for the suspensory injury?

—Jody, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

A. It’s difficult to say whether the notable heat in your horse’s hock is related to the suspensory strain in his history. With injuries to the hind-suspensory ligament origin, a horse can have heat and swelling that is typically localized on the inside of the leg below the chestnut.

I would recommend having your veterinarian perform a thorough exam to determine the cause of the heat and whether it’s a reason for concern. Further diagnostics, such as an X ray or ultrasound exam, might be necessary.