Footsore/lame help

[Beckieshortii]

Hi I'm currently at a loss and waiting for a vet visit.
Had rather a rubbish year so far with one of my horses, we have no arena to ride in so ride in a grass paddock weather permitting.

Due to the rain this has meant not much riding/exercising has been possible, resulting in my mare gaining weight, so saddle no longer fit, had a saddler out and bought a new saddle to fit. Went great for about a week then she went Footsore, she's been barefoot for about 4 years so decided to have front shoes put on, again was great for about a week and shoes seemed to do the trick. Then she went lame on right rein in trot and noticed a vien sticking out in her front left leg. So rested her for a week or so.
Now she is very sore on her feet again and reluctant to walk.

She's had a grazing muzzle on to try and limit the possibility of lami.

Any ideas as to what could be the cause of this?

Vet is due out this week.

 

[JillA]

If she is lame all round and not moving comfortably then laminitis - get her off the grass, onto deep supportive bedding while you are waiting for the vet, to protect her from pedal bone sinkage or rotation. There is a lot of it around this year, according to trimmers and farriers, and you haven't mentioned her age - have you tested for Cushings? It is the season when level increase at the moment so the right time to test,and sudden weight gain and fat pads are a symptom.
Sounds as though she has had subclinical laminitis for a while from what you said, do you know how to check digital pulses? Well worth learning and being aware of both normal and raised pulses

 

[Beckieshortii]

She's 19, Footsore on front feet, back seem fine but shes not standing back on her heels.

 

[be positive]

She's 19, Footsore on front feet, back seem fine but shes not standing back on her heels.

I would treat as if it is laminitis until the vet comes, get into a stable on a deep bed and just feed soaked hay, no turn out at all, if you have no stable then a tiny pen with bedding in will be better than leaving her out even in a muzzle they will be getting a fair amount of grass, better to be careful than risk it getting worse, the fact she is not standing back on her heels does not rule out laminitis I have seen them standing "normally", the laminitic stance is only one of the signs to look out for.

 

[JillA]

She's 19, Footsore on front feet, back seem fine but shes not standing back on her heels.

Front feet show most because they take 60% of the weight, she doesn't need to be standing back on her heels, that is in a really acute stage. At 19 I would be strongly suspecting Cushings - the thing is if that is the underlying reason it can be very easily managed with Prascend daily. Does she have raised digital pulses? If so that is a good indicator of painful feet, and the most likely cause is laminitis

 

[ester]

do you have any pics of her?

I agree with JillA that she sounds like she has been struggling with possible low grade lami for a while, getting the vet is definitely the right thing and I would push for a cushings test too, the lab costs are free still at the moment see details on the link. IMO it is a good idea to get teens+ tested anyway. I tested my chap at 19 4 years ago, no signs but did double check at 23 this year, thankfully still ok.

https://www.talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk/ppid

 

[Pinkvboots]

agree with the others it sounds like laminitis get her off the grass and get a vet asap

 

[Beckieshortii]

Checked her digital pulse and unless I'm doing it wrong I can't feel anything . Thanks

 

[Pinkvboots]

Checked her digital pulse and unless I'm doing it wrong I can't feel anything . Thanks

checking digital pulses is not easy and to get a really good idea of what's is normal for your horse it needs to be done daily so you know when it ts not normal for your horse, all horses have different digital pulses some you won't feel hardly anything some you will which is why it should be done regularly, having had 2 horses with cushings and both had laminitis it is something I have learnt to do with the 2 horses I have but if ever I thought it was not right I would get a vet, and speaking from experience in your situation I would be getting a vet out now please don't just asume your horse doesn't have laminitis it is a killer and left untreated makes recovery much harder.

 

[Beckieshortii]

I'm not denying it could be laminitis, I too have had previous experience with my first horse getting concusive laminitis, as previously said I'm waiting for the vet to come.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I'm not denying it could be laminitis, I too have had previous experience with my first horse getting concusive laminitis, as previously said I'm waiting for the vet to come.

I really hope it isn't it's a horrible condition keep us updated.

 

[Auslander]

I'm not denying it could be laminitis, I too have had previous experience with my first horse getting concusive laminitis, as previously said I'm waiting for the vet to come.

Is she off the grass?

 

[JillA]

Checked her digital pulse and unless I'm doing it wrong I can't feel anything . Thanks

You need a really light touch, pretty much just lightly resting your fingers against the site of the artery. I find the easiest one is at the back of the pastern, but that might just be my horse. Well worth keeping practising.

 

[Birker2020]

any update OP?

 

[Beckieshortii]

Sorry for late reply (I forgot) vet came out, said she's not bad at all only very slightly "footy". Tested for cushings just waiting for results to come through next week. Was given some bute but she's not stupid and refuses to eat it, so just carrying on giving her namilam as I was before and she seems fine now.