A tiny bit lame wwyd?

C

canteron

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 October 2008
Messages
4,144
Location
Cloud Cockoo Land
Visit site
Horse a tiny bit lame on the right rein. Sound in a straight line but just holding head to the outside and dragging hind foot, a tiny bit on a circle.
I think she may have been like that for a while and I haven’t noticed as mainly hacking, - and neither I or other instructor could see it today until pro really made us look intensely. However this friend rides 4* event horses, and is extremely picky and observant about every detail. No heat, swelling, etc.
I have put her on box rest till vets are back on Monday.
Am I expecting too much of a happy hacker to be perfect and straight, or is this a case of full work up at the vet or a week box rest, a week off in the field and see???
I don’t even know whether it’s consistently lame enough to know when sound!!
wwyd?
 
Jenko109 said:
Definitely would not box rest.

Would personally chuck in the field for a couple of weeks and reassess. Certainly wouldnt be rushing for a full work up myself.
Click to expand...
Agree. If she’s not obviously lame I wouldn’t box rest - pop her out in the field for a bit and see how she’s doing after a few weeks. If she’s still not quite right then I might get vet to come and have a look
 
I'd keep stabled and get the vet, then follow the vet's advice.
It could be as simple as an abscess, the vet will be able to tell you where is the lameness and advise on treatment if needed.
 
I would keep her as normal that way the vet gets an accurate picture. If she becomes stiff being box rested or could screw with the investigation. It could just be a little bit of arthritis or any other number of things.
 
The NHS logic is to say, if it has not got better in 6-12 weeks, come back & then we (might) investigate.

…because the likely outcome of a lameness workup would be rest for 6 - 12 weeks.

So you might as well rest for 6 -12 weeks and then do a lameness workup.

I was in the same position in Nov, with my mare. 10 weeks rest, back into work and good so far, but being careful.
 
WrongLeg said:
The NHS logic is to say, if it has not got better in 6-12 weeks, come back & then we (might) investigate.

…because the likely outcome of a lameness workup would be rest for 6 - 12 weeks.

So you might as well rest for 6 -12 weeks and then do a lameness workup.

I was in the same position in Nov, with my mare. 10 weeks rest, back into work and good so far, but being careful.
Click to expand...

But there would likely be a treatment like anti-inflammatories. Inflammation does further damage to the tissue if there is an injury.

Also a full lameness workup might not be needed if the vet identifies the cause as an abscess in a hoof or laminitis.
 
An abcess would likely have burst (or escalated) in 6-12 weeks. Laminitis would almost certainly have escalated in that period without a change in management.

I wouldn't call a vet if I suspect an abcess, and I wouldn't wait if I suspected laminitis - but the OP's description doesn't fit with either of those. I would absolutely rest a horse presenting the way the OP describes - in the field as much as possible, not box rest - and monitor carefully.

I'd be more concerned about buting to turn out and rest, especially for such a mild lameness, than any inflammation. The last thing you want is the pony to feel great and hooley around making things worse. It's a fine line between maintaining comfort / quality of life, and creating more problems.
 
I’d reduce turnout to a smaller area if possible and call the vet out for X-rays to start. I hope it is only an abscess, and if so it will be found on the X-ray and your vet can (hopefully) dig it out!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top