Can you ever ‘right’ mechanical lameness

[sjdress]

My poor horse was successfully rehabbed for hind PSD but was then lamer in front. Found to have bone chips and arthritis. Had both joints medicated and did make an improvement so I started riding him again. However still not quite right. I therefore had a second opinion from a top vet who basically said for whatever reason he is mechanically lame on his left fore so is never really going to come right. Said due to the anatomy of that leg he will always appear lame on it due to how he moves it/foot fall Compared to the other. He does also have a bit of pain as improves with bute. Anyone experienced mechanical lameness, along with some pain and overcome it at all? I feel like we are coming to the end of the road and not sure what else I can do.

 

[milliepops]

I had one that was diagnosed as a mechanical lameness post surgery but that did not seem to cause her pain, it was mainly tightness from scar tissue that made her unlevel.
That did improve with a programme of work and physio, we loosened it off over time until she was sound. I'd be much more sceptical of one that improved with bute though, I think that's a different scenario.

 

[windand rain]

It may be too simplistic but if you can correct the mechanics of the lameness you should be able to improve the appearance. So if it caused by leg deviation then corrective trimming or shoeing may help but it will take time as correcting deviation can result in pain elsewhere

 

[Red-1]

Yes, mechanical lameness can be improved if the cause of it improves. Having said that, if it improves with Bute it is not mechanical lameness - or at least you can't know that with Bute it is purely mechanical.

I would nerve block the horse to see how much is pain and how much is mechanical. If the horse is much improved with a full leg nerve block then it is pain!

I would not be working this horse, and if he is still lame when rested after a long period, then I would PTS, as we had to with our Charlie Horse who was the love of Mr Red's life. That was arthritis in the high ringbone area following a travelling incident.

 

[hopscotch bandit]

I know someone whose horse had calcification around the suspensory branch caused by getting a leg stuck in an object. Following an extensive vet guided rehab programme and tweaks to the way it was ridden it came right enough to be able to function to an extent in a dressage situation without the 'hopping' it had started doing became too obvious and it went back to Novice and Elem dressage. But over a period of a couple or three years it gradually got to the point where the hopping on the right rein was more obvious.

The vet felt it was mechanical lameness due to impingement of the branch by the mineralisation surrounding it. He didn't feel the horse was in any pain as it still behaved in the same way when nerve blocked.

The rider was advised to stop jumping which she did from immediate effect and she now hacks it out a few times a week instead.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

My poor horse was successfully rehabbed for hind PSD but was then lamer in front. Found to have bone chips and arthritis.

A friend mentioned mechanical lameness to me before. My gelding had hind PSD in one leg. He had both nerves cut and months after surgery he still looked slightly odd behind even when in full work, to add x-rays were clear but vet put it down to having a bad infection in one op wound which caused tightness in that leg. 4 bute a day, no difference. Vet mentioned it being mechanical lameness, didn't think he was in any pain but it might of improved with work or might not.

He has had a tough year but was trotted up, lunged and had flexions last week with a lameness vet and was completely sound but he isn't in 'full' work yet. Interested to read the rest of the comments on this thread..

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I'd be much more sceptical of one that improved with bute though, I think that's a different scenario.

Thought the same, surely if bute improves its definitely painful somewhere? Nerve blocks to that leg as others said would of thought is where to go next.

 

[sjdress]

Thought the same, surely if bute improves its definitely painful somewhere? Nerve blocks to that leg as others said would of thought is where to go next.

Yes I think there is pain. He has had nerve blocks etc and I have now come to the decision to retire or pts as to keep trying is not fair on him and the prognosis of coming sound enough to do any sort of ridden work is very slim. Really difficult situation as he is not a happy hacker so that isn’t really an option for him.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Yes I think there is pain. He has had nerve blocks etc and I have now come to the decision to retire or pts as to keep trying is not fair on him and the prognosis of coming sound enough to do any sort of ridden work is very slim. Really difficult situation as he is not a happy hacker so that isn’t really an option for him.

Ah, sorry to hear that Did the nerve blocks not many any difference? Does work strengthen him up or make it worse?

 

[sjdress]

Ah, sorry to hear that Did the nerve blocks not many any difference? Does work strengthen him up or make it worse?

Nerve blocks made a difference but he then shifted the lameness onto the other leg. As we’ve increased his work, from vets advice, he has become lamer again. If he has time off he is slightly better, although has never come completely sound, but as soon as he is back in work he’s lame again. We’ve tried strengthening work to try and take the pressure off his joints but hasn’t made a huge difference unfortunately and I feel that I am now out of options.

 

[ycbm]

Your horse is not mechanically lame or the nerve block would change nothing, he is in pain. I would PTS.

.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

@sjdress Sometimes we can only try our best and not even then we can fix them. If hes in pain I'd PTS too.

A friend just had her 4yr old mare PTS last week as they couldn't put a finger on what was making her so lame.

 

[sjdress]

I just feel so bad with the PTS decision but realistically it’s probably the right decision for him. I wish I could keep him as a field ornament realistically it’s not viable and due to how he has been produced etc he doesn’t particularly like turnout, maybe would be fine in a herd but not at my current set up. I also don’t think it would be fair to even light hack him as he’s obviously not comfortable doing that either. I’ve tried my best over the last year or so to get him right but still feel like I have failed him.

 

[windand rain]

Pts is often the kindest thing you can do it eliminates his pain, It means he doesnt have to live a miserable life. It will hurt you far more than him as he has no concept of future

 

[ycbm]

I just feel so bad with the PTS decision but realistically it’s probably the right decision for him. I wish I could keep him as a field ornament realistically it’s not viable and due to how he has been produced etc he doesn’t particularly like turnout, maybe would be fine in a herd but not at my current set up. I also don’t think it would be fair to even light hack him as he’s obviously not comfortable doing that either. I’ve tried my best over the last year or so to get him right but still feel like I have failed him.

You haven't failed him, you are doing the last kindness for him, removing his pain forever.

Be kind to yourself.

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