Help needed asap

[PollyB]

Hello,

I haven't been on here in some time (previously known as 'Heys') but you were all my first thought when i received some crushing news last Friday. I took Bailey, my Clydesdale X, after many spells of lameness to an equine hospital, the staff there were brill but the news couldn't have been much worse. A tuma(sp) that was i was told by the previous owner was an absess has done severe damage and caused 1/3 of his pedal bone to be eaten away (apologies for not knowing the scientific terms) he also has severe high sidebone and low ringbone and there were many more bits of bad news re his lower leg that i shan't bore you with. I appreciate that he has many things going wrong but i was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience.

I rode him for the first time tonight and he was 10x worse than when i took him to the hospital. He had two inter-arterial injections last friday-would they make him lame? He is on two bute a day but i have given him three tonight just to see if there is any improvement.

If anyone knows of supplements or prescribed meds that i can request that can help him i'd be grateful if you could let me know, i dont feel like i'm doing anywhere near enough. i can only get hold of the vet in question in the morning and we seem to be doing v.well at missing each other at the mo so i keep thinking of questions but don't have anyone to put them too (apart from my two brill friends who have been amazing).

Look forward to hearing from you, i have my fingers crossed.

Heys/Polly B xxxx

 

[Jemayni]

Hey - Im really sorry to hear about your horse. Sounds like a nightmare!

Were the injections in the feet? If so Im sure there is an associated laminitus risk with anything like this? Maybe you should give your vet a ring, you are paying them enough money!

 

[Worried1]

I haven't got any experience with this but I hope he's more comfortable soon
x

 

[PollyB]

Your right, that was the main risk the vet spoke about! I have been checking his feet everyday and night (and millions of times in between!) I am hoping that i can get through to the vet tomorrow!! Bailey had the farrier tonight and he did check heat/pulse etc and said that he didn't feel or notice anything unusual but yes, that was my main concern aswell and will ring as soon as tomorrow morn.

I think i just wanted to talk about it because it's driving me crazy, i keep looking at him out of my bedroom window and wishing more than anything he was ok. Thanks for getting back to me, appreciate it xx

 

[PollyB]

Thank you for your post xx

 

[Fahrenheit]

I'm really sorry, I hope he improves. I have my fingers crossed. My old horse has coffin joint problems and sidebones (huge biggest vet has seen) and rather than go the injection route I retired him, he is living it up with a couple of old crooks in the field and he came sound after about 18 months and I take him for the occassional plod now but I won't ever work him, he's happy retired.
I had another horse that fractured its pedal bone as well as it dropping and rotating after laminitis and he came sound after special shoeing for several months.

 

[PollyB]

I can't face retiring him, i know that sounds just plain selfish but i have had him for 18months-two years and the horse before him i had to retire early and, despite loving her more than anything it was hard paying out over five years for a horse i couldnt ride. B has given me new lease of life when it comes to riding, i enjoy his company (yes i know that sounds quite sad.) i go up to the moors and we just have fun, ive never had that before and to lose it all so quickly is heartbreaking. The vet said i could continue riding him no probs for at least five years so i am just really shocked that he was so lame tonight, i obviously would retire him if the vet said so, i just feel like its all been taken away so quickly, will live in hope though and perhaps rest and correct shoeing will help. Will ring ver tomoz, thank you for your post xx

 

[charlottenicol]

Sorry no advice just want to say really sorry and hope all turns out ok , know exactly what you mean about just going out and having fun and building that very special bond, they understand every word you say and know exactly how you feel, and mine even suffers my awful singing. Good Luck

 

[PollyB]

Thank you for your reply, this is really strange but your photo is the spitting image of bailey-yours a Clydie too? x

 

[PollyB]

Spoken to the vet this morn, he thinks the shoes the farrier used could have something to do with his lameness worsening. Keeping everything crossed that egg bar shoes will help him and the straight bars were causing him some discomfort. He also said not to worry about lami now, it would have been a very quick onset of lami afterthe jab if anything, plus there is no lami stance, heat in feet etc, he did say however that i had to keep the level of bute down because he doesn't want to 'mask' any further problems and that there may be some infection involved, but surely he would want him back again for another look, but he said nothing about that! I wasnt in the best situation to ask him all the questions i wanted too ( i was having form time with my tutor group and had a group of girls who kept yelling 'make bailey better!' nice thought but not the time/place etc)

Keep everything crossed for me xx

 

[Jemayni]

Ah yea, I tried to book my vet, whilst in the common room the other week. Not a good plan! I wouldnt worry too much, the vet is probably right about the shoes, mine went crippled when he had his feet messed about with last summer. I think the infection risk is minimal anyway, it might be worth taking his temperature daily to note any change! Im in the same situation this weekend, mines just had his coffin joint medicated today (I have the bruises to proove it!) -when he first had it done, I remember the vet telling me to take his temperature if I was at all suspicious of infection. Its so stressful all this vetinary lark!

 

[henryhorn]

I am so sorry he has been diagnosed with such problems, but a little concerned your vet reckoned you could ride him for five years, with that diagnosis the advice doesn't match up..
Three bute is a massive dose and perhaps you could also give him aloe vera juice in the hope it will prevent stomach ulcers forming. (i have to take aspirin and I know from trying it that it works for me)
I would first of all stop riding him, book a surgery appointment with your vet on your own and have a proper talk with him re the prognosis.
I think he may also benefit from liquid cortaflex which we have found useful in our elderly horses.
As for retiring him, sorry, put your own feelings aside, if he is going to be lame and in pain you really must do what's best for him not you..
I think you can't really decide what's what without a talk with your vet..

 

[Sparkly]

Intra articular injections can definately cause a laminitis, and it doesn't necessarily appear straightaway. My mare had injections into her knee and it was only a couple of weeks later that the lami was picked up

Infection is also a huge risk and if the horse is considerably worse would be high on the list of differentials. If this is the case he needs urgent veterinary attention

I agree with Henryhorn - you need a vet opinion, if you can't speak to the hospital vet, get your own local vet involved again

A friend's horse was diagnosed with tumour in foot... she was able to keep riding her for a year or so but now the mare is retired out at grass as the farrier is unable to shoe her amymore due to tumour spread. At the moment she is sound on the soft ground, but will be PTS when it becomes too bad

Good luck