Any idea what could be wrong with him?

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CAM1508

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For the past couple of weeks my horse has been intermittentlylame in both hind legs. The degree of the lameness can vary from day to day -sometimes he's sound and other times he drags his back legs. He also won’t puton muscle around his bum (from his pelvis / hips area backwards) and both hisback legs are quite stiff when you pick them up to pick his feet out and they havealso started to click when he walks.
He also moves very short behind and is quite clumsy anduncoordinated in both hind legs. As well as this he also has problems withpicking his legs up over poles (I have been doing a lot of physio exerciseswith him using raised poles to try and help this but it hasn’t made anydifference).
I have also noticed a drastic change in his behaviourrecently. He has begun to rear and strike out at people, which is so unlike him,which seems to coincide with when he is lamer. Also he has started to be verygrumpy to be groomed anywhere from his withers back and to have his saddle puton and his girth done up, and pins his ears back threatening to bite and kick,which again is so unlike him.
We are getting the vet up to have a look at him anyway, I justwondered if anyone else has experienced something like this with their horse,or if anyone has any ideas as to what might be wrong with him?
 
Don't know, but do ask the vet to do a comprehensive blood test including liver and muscle enzymes, when they check him out, especially if no other cause is immediately obvious. Make sure you receive a copy of the full blood report.

Hope you get to the bottom of things.

Sarah
 
From what you described I'd say ulcers. Hind limb lameness but then the rearing and of course the being touched from the withers back. I'd try a course of gastroguard or If you aren't into medication then there's lots of things you can try. My mare is girthy on and off and I do wonder if it's psychological as she is so on and off but I'm trying her on thunderbrooks liquid gold just to see if there are any changes. I've heard good things about coligone which we also tried but m mare would not go near the stuff! Shes so fussy! Bicarbonate of soda is another cheap thing to try in the feed. Hope you figure out what's happening
 
It could be anything from hock spavin to kissing spines. Some of the problems you mention such as the saddle area showing pain and the behavioural changes are very similar to what my mare has been suffering, she has kissing spines. You need a full lameness workup and if your Vet does xrays of the back and hocks, any bony changes will show, giving you a diagnosis straight away. Could also be sacroiliac problems too.
 
I think the vet ASAP is the way to go .
I would be prepared to bet your horse is in pain .
Dont change anything diet supplements or things like that I would walk the horse gently and turnout.
Two weeks without veterinary imput is a long time I would get the vet up tomorrow.
 
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