Grace has been to the vets - it's not good news!

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I walked Grace out this morning and again she was no better and no worse than she was on Saturday (I was at the Nationals yesterday, so did not see her myself). She has been on box rest since Friday as until I knew what was causing the lameness, I could see no point in exacerbating the problem.

For those who don't know what I am talking about, this is a quick run down:

I rode her in the school on Friday morning and she was absolutely outstanding. I was so excited at how she went I even phoned my husband as I had to tell someone how pleased I was with her. I dismounted, walked her towards the gate of the arena and she was fine. Walked her out of the arena, turned her around to close the gate, and again she was fine. Then, walking her away from the arena on the hard core drive, she suddenly stumbled/tripped and then went very lame in walk. Since then, the lameness has been consistent. It is very bad in trot, but apparent in walk also.

I took her to the vets this morning, walked and trotted her for them and the vet immediately pointed out that the shoe on her near fore (the one she is lame on) was loose. She has only gone 6 weeks this time, but the farrier is due tomorrow morning at 7am so next time I will request 5 weeks.

The vet noticed the inside wall of her hoof had grown out, and she was landing on the inside as a result when she walked and trotted. She used the hoof testers on her, but could not find a reaction however she agreed that there was a strong digital pulse to the foot.

The two lumps I found on the check ligament were in fact her blood vessel... she said some vets would also get it wrong due to its positioning, but that it was her blood vessel that was prominent in that particular leg, perhaps due to the imflammation in the foot.

So, my farrier has to reshoe her tomorrow morning and then tomorrow afternoon she will start on three days worth of bute. Friday morning she has to be trotted up, and if she is still lame to the same degree (or even a little less) as today then she is booked in for xrays and nerve blocks on Monday morning.

The worst case scenario she gave me was that it could be one of the tendons in the hoof itself... The best case scenario was not really mentioned, but I think that is more because it is the least likely with her degree of lameness. She did say it could be something like bruising, but once the shoe has been refitted, I should begin to see an improvement if this is the case.

Does anyone have any experience of this, as I have never come across it before.

Thank you,

Rebecca x
 
Oh dear - did she say what the prognosis was for the worst case scenario? Sorry, no experience of this, but sending healing vibes her way
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I presume 6 months box rest like any other tendon injury
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To be honest, I sort of switched off after that because I just hoped beyond hope that the 'T' word would not be mentioned!

She has to be walked out for 5 mins twice a day this week...
 
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reading this i wouldn't panic yet as once you've had farrier in, i'm sure you'll know so which it is - bruising can take a bit of time to come out.
Mine lost shoe at begining of month, had it refitted same day, went lame, then when sound and now back to footy and increased pulse in foot, so i have watching brief with farrier on stand by and this has take 3 weeks so far
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Honey, im so sorry to hear this. Dont forget Ebis story - she was diagnosed with wry foot after over 4 yrs on/off lameness with the ringbone problems, and retired (over 2 1/2yrs ago as she wasnt sound to ride). Once her foot was corrected, shes come sound to ride again - within 4 weeks. Once youve talked it through with your farrier im sure youll be happier - if not go barefoot!!
 
One of our horses showed similar symptoms a few weeks ago, his tendon area was swollen and he was obviously lame but nothing else showed. I was convinced it was in his hoof due to the foot pointing stance at times but the farrier did lots of probing but couldn't find a thing, so we decided to try some bute to reduce the leg swelling and wait and see.
Four days later it burst out of the coronary band , the vet checked it and agreed anti-biotics weren't necessary and he is now sound again.
It sounds to me she has either got a sliver of grit inside the hoof which went in with the initial stumble, or a deep bruise which will get better over a couple of weeks.
I may be wrong but I wouldn't be doom and glooming at this point, but I would keep a close eye on your shoeing, the farrier should really have noticed this imbalance before your vet....
 
Could she have some kind of low grade laminitis if the digital pulses are up - not necessarily dietary related but mechanical?
 
Her feet have grown so much more this time than they have ever grown in the past. Usually, she can go 7 weeks but her feet are well overdue at 6 weeks so it looks as though the grass/weather/god knows what else have contributed to them growing much more quickly than they usually do.

My farrier has not been out since she went lame... and this imbalance could only have occurred this time due to extra growth. However, I will certainly be keeping a VERY close eye on it in the future if by some miraculous event she comes sound in the next few weeks.
 
im surprised she gave you bute to give her, as this will mask the lameness if it is still present on friday when she is re-examined................. I wouldve thought that waiting until after the farrier had been and then just box rest until friday wouldve have been a better option, then she couldve been reassessed properly, as the bute will probably make her go sound again - do you see what i mean? I havent explained it very well, sorry!
 
QR - Laminitis was not mentioned.

Surely they would not recommend walking in hand for 5-10 mins if there was even a slight chance that this was a possibility
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I thought digital pulses could be caused by many injuries in the foot area???
 
poor Grace, I really hope she's better soon, I still have a lame horse too and losing sleep at night worrying, and his is only something you can feel, and only visible if you really look for it. Healing vibes coming your way!!
 
But it's not really bad news either is it? I'm sure it will turn out to be nothing more than some brusing on the foot, or even some gravel.

Will be interesting to see what your farrier thinks tomorrow.

Chin up - she'll be as right as rain in no time.
 
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im surprised she gave you bute to give her, as this will mask the lameness if it is still present on friday when she is re-examined................. I wouldve thought that waiting until after the farrier had been and then just box rest until friday wouldve have been a better option, then she couldve been reassessed properly, as the bute will probably make her go sound again - do you see what i mean? I havent explained it very well, sorry!

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I am very dubious about giving her bute when I do not know the cause of the lameness if I am honest. If I do give her any, I will give it to her on Tuesday after the farrier has been, possibly wednesday and then try to get her in at the vets on Friday as opposed to Monday.

She did not want to nerve block today because her shoes are desperate to be done (she has only gone 6 weeks
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) and she said she would rather do it when her shoes have been freshly done so that they are not contributing to the lameness.
 
The vet really did not think it was likely to be a bruised sole, she just said that could be the best thing it could be... something to do with how she was putting the foot down
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The vet really did not think it was likely to be a bruised sole, she just said that could be the best thing it could be... something to do with how she was putting the foot down
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Actually - a clear sign of brusing or gravel is how they put their foot down. They won't place the foot squarly - but will favour a side or a toe.

Do try and stay positive about this.

Thumper went dramatically lame 4 weeks after I bought him. Bruised sole! But so minascule as to be difficult to see. He is obviously a real baby - and says ouch at the slightest thing. The farrier found it two days after the initial lameness presented itself. I let nature take its course - and he was fine shortly thereafter.

I think we all tend to jump to the most awful conclussions sometimes. But so often it is just nothing that a little time doesn't sort out.
 
agree with Amymay hun - see what your farrier has to say and go from there.

I agree with you aswell about giving the bute, personally i probably wouldnt, but i suppose as your vet has suggested it its hard to know what to do!! x
 
My heart sank when I saw this post, but try to think positive. You remember I told you about my instructors horse going lame and having the x-rays etc, well after all that it was just a bruised sole. There are loads of things your farrier can do to make her more comfortable. Have a word with him when he comes. Ask him about padding the sole up, if she comes sound its a bruised sole, if not you know its something inside the foot.

I really do hope its nothing serious and I WILL be there cheering you on at Hartpury
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(if its a weekend
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)
 
I have also got the number from someone I know of a vet who is a foot specialist... If there is anything at all that has a question mark over it on Monday, I will phone him and see whether I can take Grace.

I just feel so fed up... She was working so well, truly moving towards a more consistent Novice test! If it is anything in the foot, the Area Finals will be well and truly out of our reach and I had hoped we could qualify for the regionals
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I finally have a horse who is so capable and it is infuriating that she is lame without a known cause as of yet.
 
nat1003... thank you for your post
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I have every intention of speaking to him about some sort of padding... The cost is not an issue at the moment (although it will be when it comes to paying
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) as I just want to get her right and comfortable.
 
Fingers crossed it is nothing too serious - mares can be so sensitive. My old mare was hopping lame a few years ago with a bacterial skin infection. The vet was totally convinced she had done a tendon as there was 'no way she would be that lame from just that minor skin problem' and wanted her in for scans, nerve blocks etc straight away. I held off and gave the antibiotic cream 3 days to work - low and behold I was right - it was just the skin infection, and the mare was just a wuss! I did know she had a tendancy to be that pathetic though!

So it may yet not turn out to be serious.
 
The Area Finals are AGES away hun!!!! I also think 6months box rest is VERY extreme. Remember i said to you about my YOs sons ride who blew a tendon? Thats only having 3 months box rest, so i definately dont think she will need 6
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If anything does come up on monday i would definately be inclined to go for a second opinion.

Forgot to say - how amazing was Steph yesterday? i loved her freestyle!!
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If it was something wrong with me, say my back for example, I would want a osteo specialist to check it over and go from there, so if anything comes up on Monday we will be straight over to Halifax. He spots a foot lameness even when a number of vets have missed it, and he comes highly recommended by the lady who organises the lessons with Spencer.

I love Stephanie and I think he is a horse in a million... It was so upbeat and exciting whereas I thought some of them were just plain boring if I am honest! I enjoyed Two Sox's test though, it was so enjoyable to watch
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Yey, I got a smile
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Ive got every faith in her coming right. Shes so lucky to have an owner like you and if she doesnt repay you by coming sound I will be over to have words.
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Worst comes to the worst and she needs a long period of time out of work, she will more than likely go into foal... I think she would produce a really nice foalie by some of the stallions I had thought of using. However, it is just so expensive putting them through the foaling process, so it would not be a decision I take on lightly.
 
I just wanted to add a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has posted...

I know I seem very negative about it, but I just have a very sinking feeling in my tummy. I feel that if I prepare myself for the worst situation, then I will be able to handle the news that this is the case much better than I might do if I keep believing it is something and nothing.
 
It really could be an abcess or bruising, especially if her foot balance is a bit off - recent experience as shown me exactly how important that can be!
Although don't want to depress you, she does sound rather like my OH's mare - she was fine then suddenly went hopping on one front foot. We are 3 months down the line now and the only thing we have found is ringbone, but like the poster above, the vet doesn't think that should be causing as much problem as she is suffering from, if that makes sense? Anyway, we are off to Newmarket tomorrow for a 4 day work-up, basically to see if she has torn a tendon in the foot which is one of three possibilities mentionned by our vet - the others being that it is the ringbone after all, or that there are some king of changes around the navicular bone that haven't shown up on x-ray. So at least I should be able to update you further by the end of the week on what they have said for her!
As PG said above though, I personally wouldn't bute her until the next checkup is done as it might mask the problem, not only for the vet but also for her - don't want her to not realise she is hurt and play silly b*ggers.
I'd also go with you idea of getting a foot specialist involved sooner rather than later, as we are desperate to know what is going on too with our girl, and the ore you can do to get answers the less you will worry. I am so relieved we should finally get answers this week - again, like you, we would most likely put her in foal if it is likely to be a long layoff.
Best of luck, hope you get some answers - would be interested to hear what they say when you do!
 
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