Any ideas please? Lameness/Generally Unwell Horse

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YellowHorse

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Hi Everyone,


This may be a bit long so I apologise in advance!

My Horse, TBX 9 Years old owned him for 5 years.
One day he came in lame from the field, so box rested for a week and he seemed fine. I think he pulled something or ran around on the hard ground too much and he seemed to recover very quickly.
I began riding him again, slow work at first, but noticed after another few days that he didn't seem quite right but that he did losen up with work. I had a more experienced friend take a look at him who's opinion was that he wasn't lame, but yes he could see he was not quite right but looked asthough he had a tight shoulder/ Muscular problem. I continued to ride and lunge to try and lengthen and stretch his shoulder, making sure worked correctly on the bend.
He then had a visit from the physiotherapist a couple of weeks back who confirmed where the pain seemed to be and that I should continue to work him and to ask him to stretch.
Yay! I thought, this is fine I can deal with this. However..
More recently, I turned up at the yard one night to notice he had a swollen hind leg (off Hind), with no obvious signs of why. No heat, no bumps or cuts anywhere on the leg, and nothing noticeable in the foot. ( He is not shod behind ) I rode that night and he was fine until canter where he wasn't bringing his hind leg underneath himself properly and it looked awkward and difficult for him to canter. So walked him off, stretched him out from the ground and again couldn't find anything wrong!!
Within the same few days the Nail from his shoe (near fore) came loose and was bent underneath his front foot, half in and half out, so I wrenched that out. I guess that could have made him sore too, but seemed to be on a different foot. (He's only been shod a week!! )

As you can see this is all very frustrating!!

I went to see him last night. He looked a little sad, I tacked up and walked him over to the school. He is also steps very short on the off fore on the concrete between his stable and the school, and only after he is ridden is he okay to walk correctly.
I got on, walked around for about twenty minutes (crying, lol) he lacked enthusiasm and impulsion even in the walk, but then I asked for trot.

TBH I couldn't even tell you where the lamness was last night because the movement was so awkward I completely gave up on everything, took the tack off and we had cuddles and rolls in the school.

He is also having a blood test next week due to possible yard illness, which I thought he showed no signs off until I thought about his on and off swollen limbs and noticed some swelling under his stomach. (Which has never been there before!)

Today I have asked for him to be kept in his stable and is not going out until I can go up after work and see him. I do not really know what to do for the best, so please if anyone can give me some advice or help that would be great. Thank You! x

Sorry for the long message, you deserve a medal if you got to the end.
 
To try and keep a complicated explanation short: when a horse has a problem in his leg/foot it will affect his back because he changes his way of moving. Because he has changed his way of going then it is likely that other leg/legs will be affected and what one ends up with is a circuitous problem. You fix one thing only to find you have a problem somewhere else.

Can I suggest that you get a good physio to look at him to try and sort the knots out. Anyone who is training/has trained with Dr Narelle Stubbs woul be preferable (not sure that Narelle herself is still in UK but might be as she is physio to Australian olympic team).

Hope this helps.
 
As above a good physio, most will want to do a follow up, one session is rarely enough.Get them to check your saddle[most will as part of the assessment]

You dont say what the problem is on the yard,but it sounds like something may be affecting his circulation causing the swellings on him,he could be feeling poorly in general and that will also affect his muscles.

I would,if you can turn him out as much as possible,this should help reduce both the stiffness and swellings also cut back on his hardfood while he is not doing so much.
 
Echo the above ....get the vet. Oh and no decent and qualified physio/chiro or back person would touch your horse without the vets consent....thats the law.
 
Sorry to be blunt and it may read different than intended. But it sounds like you have continued to ride a horse that has just got worse. Why? And why have you not called the vet? 99.9% of what looks like shoulder lameness is in the foot. This comes from vet and physio not something I made upa
 
Firstly, I dont think sarcy responses about calling the vet are very fair. People vary in their experience and it is down to individuals to decide when to call a vet. Some will call for a small scratch, some will not call until a leg is hanging off. Clearly OP took action when she noticed the lameness, then when it did not correct it self she did get advice from a physio. She is simply now concerned and asking for advice, not crit, I am sure if she felt it was necessary she would call a vet!

Anyway, as someone has mentioned before, as soon as you fix one thing another problem arises. It may be that the pain or discomfort is causing his change in attitude. Is the swelling immediately noticeable or quite contained? I would speak to the physio you had out and mention what else has happened since, see if he/she can provide an insight. Also get onto the farrier, get the front shoes checked over if you said a nail was pulled.

Myself and everyone at my yard tend to only call the vet as a last resort, so I dont disagree with your decision to not have done so! But obviously if you cant find an explanation and things get worse, might be worth giving them a call just to describe his symptoms :)
 
And I stand by my earlier post. A physio/chiro or back person is NOT qualified to diagnose a problem in the horse nor are they allowed to give any treatment until this has been referred to a Vet. That is the LAW.
 
amymay said:
Claudia, no one is criticizing, just pointing out the most sensible course of action.
Click to expand...

Thank you (echo)

I have recently done the same myself, slightly lame horse, called physio (vet approval) everyone including registered physio thought it was shoulder and treated it and rest of him seemed slightly better for a day or two then back to 1/10 lame
I then knew it wasn't in his shoulder. (He has had a minor shoulder muscle ache which showed the same symptoms and physio fixed it. which is why I thought it was the same thing again.)

called vet it is actually in his foot/fetlock

OP said horse is not only lame but not himself either, too me that indicates he could be in pain ?? therefore may likely benefit from medication. She asked for advice and we have all done our best to help
 
Ditto as Spaniel has said regarding getting the physio in.

If the horse was mine, I'd have the vets out and get an early referral to a specialist centre for a comprehensive lameness work-up. You need to know exactly what it is that you're dealing with before you go any further.
 
Not trying to start another argument, but for those who dont think a vet is needed, look again at the orginal post.

Horse which has various different lameness issues, is getting worse not better.

Has swellings on legs and under the belly is off colour and probably in pain.

IMO its a case for getting the vet immediately this morning.

The swelling under the belly and legs would be enough for me on its own. My oldie had it once and the vet was worried that it was a heart problem (it wasn't)
 
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