Has anyone had similar symptoms? Hind limb lameness

[Ellie2893]

Hi all

I posted on here a while back as my Appy was scoped with G4 ulcers and I wasn’t 100% happy they were brought on purely by stress. I had two separate vets do a work up, both saying he was sound and no issues raised. Since the last rescope I’ve been asked to ‘work him hard’ to see if any symptoms improve as we were having issues with his changes.

End of lesson on Wednesday and my trainer said she would like to see him on a bute trial as she thinks his left hind isn’t right, strange I thought because she also said he’s going the best he’s ever gone (which is how he’s also feeling!) we’ve done a few online tests recently and the judges have picked up on his walk sometimes lacking rhythm, this has never been an issue before and combined with my trainers thoughts I asked for a third opinion from our vets.

Today said vet came and did a work up, 1/10 lame on the left hind... thinks it’s ‘higher up’ the leg (hock/stifle) but did notice a small lump around his coronet/pastern, I’ll add here even when he pointed it out comparing to the other hind I still can’t feel it but I am very much an amateur!

For context he’s 15 years old and is currently competing at Med/AM level BD. No other symptoms, sometimes changes close behind. Physio comes every 3-4 weeks, very happy with him from a muscular POV.

Has anyone else had a similar issue and got a diagnosis from it? My mind is racing at 110mph and I’m terrified this is the end of our journey so any stories of something similar would be very much appreciated.

Edited to add - he’s booked in for x-rays and MRI’s next Friday to hopefully diagnose (I think I may have turned myself inside out by that stage!)

Some video here of dodgy walk in action:
https://youtube.com/shorts/Ije3SZHeTNs

 

[sherry90]

He definitely isn’t quite right in that walk video - sorry not much more help than that but I hope the scans/MRI go ok and it’s something easily fixable.

 

[EnduroRider]

I think it would be worth a session with Tom Beech to see what he can uncover.

 

[ycbm]

He's a bang on age for hock arthritis and caught that early i would hope you'll get by with periodic hock injections and/or some other anti arthritis treatment.
.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

When I went to be assessed for hip replacement the surgeon's comment in my notes referred to my 'antalgic' gait. I thought I was walking pretty sound but obviously his experienced eye picked up that I was unlevel. That is how I think that horse looks, just slightly not right nr hind.

 

[Birker2020]

Hi all

I posted on here a while back as my Appy was scoped with G4 ulcers and I wasn’t 100% happy they were brought on purely by stress. I had two separate vets do a work up, both saying he was sound and no issues raised. Since the last rescope I’ve been asked to ‘work him hard’ to see if any symptoms improve as we were having issues with his changes.

End of lesson on Wednesday and my trainer said she would like to see him on a bute trial as she thinks his left hind isn’t right, strange I thought because she also said he’s going the best he’s ever gone (which is how he’s also feeling!) we’ve done a few online tests recently and the judges have picked up on his walk sometimes lacking rhythm, this has never been an issue before and combined with my trainers thoughts I asked for a third opinion from our vets.

Today said vet came and did a work up, 1/10 lame on the left hind... thinks it’s ‘higher up’ the leg (hock/stifle) but did notice a small lump around his coronet/pastern, I’ll add here even when he pointed it out comparing to the other hind I still can’t feel it but I am very much an amateur!

For context he’s 15 years old and is currently competing at Med/AM level BD. No other symptoms, sometimes changes close behind. Physio comes every 3-4 weeks, very happy with him from a muscular POV.

Has anyone else had a similar issue and got a diagnosis from it? My mind is racing at 110mph and I’m terrified this is the end of our journey so any stories of something similar would be very much appreciated.

Edited to add - he’s booked in for x-rays and MRI’s next Friday to hopefully diagnose (I think I may have turned myself inside out by that stage!)

Some video here of dodgy walk in action:
https://youtube.com/shorts/Ije3SZHeTNs

At this stage I'm suprised the vet is going down the MRI route. I would have thought xrays would have picked up on something, and then nerve blocks from there if MRI is a possibility to try and pinpoint the problem. MRI is a bit drastic and very, very costly.

 

[SEL]

When I clicked onto your youtube link it also flagged up some of your other videos (not stalking - but a v boring work day!). You had one of your tests from November where I thought the walk looked really sound and then a freestyle to music from Feb 21 where I thought the walk had the same 'offness' that you've shown in the little link above. I could also see what you meant about the changes - he just didn't look as relaxed in the latter video.

I wonder whether scanning down those hind suspensory ligaments is worth a shot when you're at the vets. My vets kept saying hocks, hocks to me but even after injecting she was still bucking into her canter transitions and it was a hunch that something was 'not quite right' that made me insist on them scanning and we found the damage in her left hind.

 

[Ellie2893]

When I clicked onto your youtube link it also flagged up some of your other videos (not stalking - but a v boring work day!). You had one of your tests from November where I thought the walk looked really sound and then a freestyle to music from Feb 21 where I thought the walk had the same 'offness' that you've shown in the little link above. I could also see what you meant about the changes - he just didn't look as relaxed in the latter video.

I wonder whether scanning down those hind suspensory ligaments is worth a shot when you're at the vets. My vets kept saying hocks, hocks to me but even after injecting she was still bucking into her canter transitions and it was a hunch that something was 'not quite right' that made me insist on them scanning and we found the damage in her left hind.

I first raised the concern with the vets in Jan 21 when he was re-scoped so this would fit the timeline, thanks for having a deeper look!

We’re booked in for the vets on Friday I’m hoping it shows something up, im not convinced it’s psd/suspensory based on his symptoms but in the same breath it’s my biggest fear so it’s definitely not something I’m ruling out and will ask them to investigate if the X-rays show up clean (at 15 I’m doubtful they will but also a case of ‘is this actually the problem?’!)

 

[Ellie2893]

Update

The vet came today to take X-rays and they showed four clean legs with no changes. The growth around his pastern was not bone related and the only abnormalities on the pictures were a small cyst that has likely been there since birth and an extreme small ‘shadow’ on his stifle.

The vet is returning next week to do nerve blocks on his stifle and his suspensories to try and diagnose the issue that is presenting itself but is confident that it is treatable.

Thanks for all the replies

 

[Ellie2893]

Further Update...

Well, how wrong can one owner be?! He reacted to the nerve blocks in his left suspensory this morning. Vet returning to ultrasound and fully assess the damage and treat at that stage. He has suggested that the damage based on the level and intermittency of the lameness is not a tear or hole and therefore as it is an 'inflammation' type injury, he is not a candidate for surgery.

I guess my next question is...

Has anyone had any success stories of their horse having inflamed an suspensory ligament that has been treated with an anti-inflammatory combined with a reduction in exercise for 2-4 weeks? Frankly this was my worst nightmare and my head is all over the place.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Try not to panic it's a minor injury really it could have been a lot worse, one of mine had a hole in a hind suspensory he was 12 and 4 tenths lame in trot, after 6 months box rest and prp it healed and his been sound ever since his 17 now.

 

[Birker2020]

Try not to panic it's a minor injury really it could have been a lot worse, one of mine had a hole in a hind suspensory he was 12 and 4 tenths lame in trot, after 6 months box rest and prp it healed and his been sound ever since his 17 now.

Mine is similar to Pinkvboots where she had a suspensory branch injury and had PRP and it healed well apart from another issue a year and a half later (an accident which caused massive trauma to the healed leg). But until that point she was out jumping again without issues and the vet was extremely pleased with her progress and gave me the all clear to start jumping again.

Some recovery remarkably well, particuarly if they had good intervention and prompt treatment at the start.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I don't jump anyway but have always been careful with deep rough ground I don't overdo anything I treat him like the precious little prince that he is