Dragging Hind Toes

[mickey]

Anyone got any pertinent comments/ideas about this?

I bought my horse 6 months before this happened; My horse was diagnosed with DJD (bone spavin) of the right hock in 2001 (as a 4 yr old). He was sent to Bell Equine and given a proper diagnosis of the type/stage....and then Tildren. Tildren was unsuccessful so this was followed by steroid injections, which also appeared to have limited effect.

He also had a sacroiliac strain secondary to bone spavin. He had 9 months turned out at rest.

In the end he has been maintained most of the time on 1 sachet bute/day and a great supplement - the HA in particular seems to have worked. He has been in light work for 6 or so yrs, with no issues.

A few weeks ago he slid in the school (whilst on lunge in canter). He went right down with legs underneath him, onto stifles almost. Although not lame he dragged toes afterwards badly esp on concrete. I had the physio out who treated him, to no effect. She has put me on to the vet now, as 3 weeks on he is still toe dragging. Does anyone think this injury could be something other than a hock?? Anyone had a similar case of slipping so badly?

Advice/ideas welcome!

 

[CracklinRosie]

My mare does this. She has had problems before with sacroiliac weekness due to poor condition ( not with me) and when her back gets iffy she drags her toes behind. I suppose it could be related to the hock issue. I would get the vet to have a look or ask your farrier.

 

[mickey]

Oh no - Well I suppose sacroilliac and hock have been vulnerable so will be the first place to look. I have vet coming out on Friday...............
I hope your mare is not too bad, it is horrible I know.

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Mine used to do this:

It turned out he has an A Symetrical pelvis due to an old injury as a baby, this in turn means when he looses too much muscle behind he drags his hind toes.

Ive had physio, vet and Chiro out- he now only does it when in the field when turned out (and just being part lazy) he used to do it all the time regardless but we've sorted it.

hes back in full work now, jumping etc and had no issues.

 

[FAYEFUDGE]

My boy has bone spavin in his near hind.
I have noticed that he can sometimes leave his "bad" back leg "behind" when performing downward transitions , particularly from canter to trot.
It's nearly as if he has caught his toe.
He lamed himself quite badly last Christmas after doing this.
I also got a physio out to see him and he was described as being "very tight over his pelvis".
Don't know whether this is any help...I prob haven't explained myself very well!

 

[jessicaamy88]

Hi Mickey

My mare has this too, she only drags one of her feet although she does have bilateral bone spavin. She has had endless xrays to track her progress and steroid injections and is now on 2 years of light work until the bone has fused. I have put her in foal to pass this time so im looking forward to next spring

I would get your horses back checked incase he has pulled it and have your vet look at his hocks. Good luck for friday. Let me know how it goes

 

[mickey]

Hi there.
I had the physio check his back shortly after the slip. She did find some tightness but only mild through his hindquarters. Having spavin this is a pattern anyway when she visits a few times/yr to free things up.
I am a bit annoyed because stupidly I increased his bute thinking it might relax things and then I could reduce it. However, I then spoke to physio, who said I should seek the vet out! Now today he was fine because of the bute. I am hoping by Fri he will not have levels in bloodstream equivalent to 2/day. Coz otherwise the vet wont see anything because it is masked. I read a very interesting article on spavins on H&H search, with Sue Dyson from AHT writing. Talked about one or two newish treatments/ways of thinking.
Anyway this may be something entirely different WRT him, but knowing the history I would wager my money on the hocks.

 

[FAYEFUDGE]

Hope everything works out for you.
Do keep us updated!
I've been so depressed since Fudge was diagnosed with his spavin, but I'm trying to stay positive and keep my fingers firmly crossed that he will be OK.

 

[mickey]

My horse has been in light work for a number of yrs. He does have 1 sachet bute most of the time though. You may be pleasantly surprised. Are the injections helping? Was it just steroid you had put in?

 

[cellie]

Hi is there any chance you could post the link for the sue dyson spavin article.Im still having major probs with my boy.He had spavin op jan and is diagonally lame when ridden although he can just about work through it on lunge.Im waiting for a phone call from my vet who is talking about treating with adequan.Im finding this all a bit confusing as this drug helps cartlidge and his has been destroyed to aid fusion.Thanks Im trying to find out as much info as possible good luck with your injury

 

[mickey]

The article by Sue I think is very concise and informative. My horse has had adequan and steroids in the past with little success (hence he is on low level of bute each day). I might try the HA with steroids though, as HA in feed supplements seems to really help him.
Anyway I am sorry for your horse, and you. I know what a nightmare this is. I hope this article is useful to you;

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/article.php?aid=68931&cid=1370

And a load more articles;

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/search/results.php?search=spavin

They are a little old - Things may have moved on in terms of available treatments?

 

[cellie]

Thanks for the link I had found one of the links on my many google searches but might look into rolled shoes or spavin shoe,anything that helps.Although my boy is on newmarket joint supplement I could also look into a supplement with ha.The back lady is coming out monday as he had just started hacking out in walk after double splints ,interesting that you found it helped your horse as I was thinking in a similiar vein maybe he cant work because of tension in his muscles and back.Could also try danilon again to see if it eases condition and inflammation.Thanks for links wish you lots of luck with your boy.My friends horse is going through double hock spavin and sacroiliac injuries as well seem to be linked.

 

[FAYEFUDGE]

Hi there, basically my boy's spavin is 80% fused, so there was no point injecting etc.
I have been told to keep him in work and give bute as and when necessary.
My vet is going to re-xray around March, when, we hope fusion "should" be complete.
My major worry is where we go if it won't fuse!