redapple
Well-Known Member
Hi,
So I have a mystery intermittent lameness issue on a horse I ride. She's on a cycle of coming lame every 2-3 months for a week, max 2 and then comes lame again.
Background;
No history of lameness until last summer
Footsore, especially on uneven or rough gound
Intermittent fore lameness. 3 times. Twice right fore, once left fore (?!?)
No heat, No swelling, No obvious sole bruising.
Things that confuse the issue! (I've tried to do in relation to the points above);
She changed yard last summer - different grass and ground conditions.
Has never previously hacked until yard move, only been schooled and very occasional road work. Now hacks 1-2 a week on fairly rough ground (flat but a little stoney). Is unshod
Always mild (worst was potentially 4/10, most commonly 2-3/10)
To her (not super) experienced owners she looks ok! I think they think I look for problems, especially as its low-grade lameness. I also have retired two horses for lameness so I do tend to feel it before others, though I don't feel like I over-do it/imagine it.
Details;
First time, she was lame was summer (2/10 lame, but I saw her parked out outside stable so immediately in and on soaked hay, bute, thick bed etc.). Had farrier who was at yard have a look, he said no signs of lami, and toes a bit long (?!) so owners didn't get vet. I really feel strongly that she had laminitis here, but I've also never had one with it. Also no pulses and mild heat in feet (also very hot weather). Second time lame again, autumn time, bute trial and box rest. Sound after bute trial. This week - potentially 3/10 lame on a front (it's one leg not bilateral, video if anyone wants to see). Bute trial and box rest again. She's being looked at again in the morning (me and YO), will have been off bute 2 days but still on box rest.
I really think that xrays are needed here? But she isn't mine and laminitis wasn't evident according to farrier. I'm worried that the grass will start shooting soon and if she has any rotation etc that it could be made much worse this year. I'm also aware that the pattern of lameness doesn't entirely fit laminitis (or does it?!).
Would everyone else thoughts be laminitis? And problems stemming from laminitis linked to a foot issue? Anything else that fits the pattern?
I'm tempted to really push owners into xrays but concerned I might be wrong and cost them money. I'm also dispensible if i've got it wrong and it looks like i'm just causing issues....! I'm very hopeful that she'll have vet out this week (if not sound tomorrow ) as yard owner is, at least to my face, supportive. But if she's sound tomorrow would you still push for vet based on if it is laminitis needing to get ahead of it pre-summer? Owners are very lovely and helpful but I would say cautious about getting vet treatment.
Sorry for very long post!
So I have a mystery intermittent lameness issue on a horse I ride. She's on a cycle of coming lame every 2-3 months for a week, max 2 and then comes lame again.
Background;
No history of lameness until last summer
Footsore, especially on uneven or rough gound
Intermittent fore lameness. 3 times. Twice right fore, once left fore (?!?)
No heat, No swelling, No obvious sole bruising.
Things that confuse the issue! (I've tried to do in relation to the points above);
She changed yard last summer - different grass and ground conditions.
Has never previously hacked until yard move, only been schooled and very occasional road work. Now hacks 1-2 a week on fairly rough ground (flat but a little stoney). Is unshod
Always mild (worst was potentially 4/10, most commonly 2-3/10)
To her (not super) experienced owners she looks ok! I think they think I look for problems, especially as its low-grade lameness. I also have retired two horses for lameness so I do tend to feel it before others, though I don't feel like I over-do it/imagine it.
Details;
First time, she was lame was summer (2/10 lame, but I saw her parked out outside stable so immediately in and on soaked hay, bute, thick bed etc.). Had farrier who was at yard have a look, he said no signs of lami, and toes a bit long (?!) so owners didn't get vet. I really feel strongly that she had laminitis here, but I've also never had one with it. Also no pulses and mild heat in feet (also very hot weather). Second time lame again, autumn time, bute trial and box rest. Sound after bute trial. This week - potentially 3/10 lame on a front (it's one leg not bilateral, video if anyone wants to see). Bute trial and box rest again. She's being looked at again in the morning (me and YO), will have been off bute 2 days but still on box rest.
I really think that xrays are needed here? But she isn't mine and laminitis wasn't evident according to farrier. I'm worried that the grass will start shooting soon and if she has any rotation etc that it could be made much worse this year. I'm also aware that the pattern of lameness doesn't entirely fit laminitis (or does it?!).
Would everyone else thoughts be laminitis? And problems stemming from laminitis linked to a foot issue? Anything else that fits the pattern?
I'm tempted to really push owners into xrays but concerned I might be wrong and cost them money. I'm also dispensible if i've got it wrong and it looks like i'm just causing issues....! I'm very hopeful that she'll have vet out this week (if not sound tomorrow ) as yard owner is, at least to my face, supportive. But if she's sound tomorrow would you still push for vet based on if it is laminitis needing to get ahead of it pre-summer? Owners are very lovely and helpful but I would say cautious about getting vet treatment.
Sorry for very long post!