melbournesunrise
Well-Known Member
My gelding is giving me worry, and I want to know what the good people of the forums think - got the vet coming (most likely on Wednesday afternoon )
Two weeks ago, was riding round to the school for a lesson and he suddenly started hobbling and, according to instructor, "walking like he has stringhalt." Right hind hoof was picked out, walked and trotted on and seemed perfectly sound. Carried on for the lesson without any sign of lameness.
Two days later, hacked him out without trouble. As we returned, he seemed to be resting the right hind. He wanted to stay in and eat anyway, so I left him in the stable for the rest of the day. When I returned in the afternoon, he was still resting the right hind and was obviously uncomfortable, not wanting to weight bear and fidgeting around.
Vet came out the following day, when things seemed to have settled, but he was still dragging the leg a bit, as you could see the toes dragging along the floor. No sign of swelling or heat any where in the leg, and no response to hoof testers. Vet suggested bute for a week to see if he came sound, before investigating further.
At the end of last week (as per my post at that time), we checked him out and found him to be sound (-looking). He was no longer dragging the toe, and had been happily trotting around the restricted turnout paddock he'd been allowed into. Hacked him, but even though I was alert for any signs, he was completely himself and normal. Hadn't had bute for almost 72 hours at this point. Went back into the field with the rest of the boys, and calmly wandered away from me as if he'd been out there as usual all along.
Went up tonight after work to feed, and he was walking oddly and resting the leg again. When I pushed him, he was really reluctant to weight bear when standing still. Brought in him from the field, put him in the stable. Seems fine in himself, just like the other week.
I'm really worried in case it's something really bad. As ever, this couldn't have happened at a more inconvenient time, which adds to the worry... the vet couldn't see any signs of anything wrong last time, and I'm sort of preparing myself for him not finding anything tomorrow or Wednesday, whenever he manages to get out to me.
Do you think this could be just an awkward abscess? How would you be approaching this situation?
Two weeks ago, was riding round to the school for a lesson and he suddenly started hobbling and, according to instructor, "walking like he has stringhalt." Right hind hoof was picked out, walked and trotted on and seemed perfectly sound. Carried on for the lesson without any sign of lameness.
Two days later, hacked him out without trouble. As we returned, he seemed to be resting the right hind. He wanted to stay in and eat anyway, so I left him in the stable for the rest of the day. When I returned in the afternoon, he was still resting the right hind and was obviously uncomfortable, not wanting to weight bear and fidgeting around.
Vet came out the following day, when things seemed to have settled, but he was still dragging the leg a bit, as you could see the toes dragging along the floor. No sign of swelling or heat any where in the leg, and no response to hoof testers. Vet suggested bute for a week to see if he came sound, before investigating further.
At the end of last week (as per my post at that time), we checked him out and found him to be sound (-looking). He was no longer dragging the toe, and had been happily trotting around the restricted turnout paddock he'd been allowed into. Hacked him, but even though I was alert for any signs, he was completely himself and normal. Hadn't had bute for almost 72 hours at this point. Went back into the field with the rest of the boys, and calmly wandered away from me as if he'd been out there as usual all along.
Went up tonight after work to feed, and he was walking oddly and resting the leg again. When I pushed him, he was really reluctant to weight bear when standing still. Brought in him from the field, put him in the stable. Seems fine in himself, just like the other week.
I'm really worried in case it's something really bad. As ever, this couldn't have happened at a more inconvenient time, which adds to the worry... the vet couldn't see any signs of anything wrong last time, and I'm sort of preparing myself for him not finding anything tomorrow or Wednesday, whenever he manages to get out to me.
Do you think this could be just an awkward abscess? How would you be approaching this situation?