Hoof MRI

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tdawson10

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Hi I'm new to the forum so hope this is in the right place.

I've got a 4 year old Mare Abi, Irish Sports Horse. I've owned her since May, anyway she's been intermittently lame since end of June, had the yard vet out who said just put her on box rest for 5 days and see how she is, vet came back to do checkup and said Abi looked sound so to but her back into work just hacking and turned out again.

After a few days Abi was lame again only slightly and the fields this year have been terrible very deep and muddy, but I never know what to do for the best when it comes to keeping a horse stabled or turn out in not great conditions. Anyway thats a different subject.

To cut a long story short I decided to have xrays and nerve blocks done to try and find out what was going on, the nerve blocks showed that the issue was in the right front foot, all xrays where done and they have all come out clear. The vet has recommended an MRI scan so we got booked in and we are off to Leahurst for MRI tomorrow.

I'm driving myself mad as to what it could be reading all sorts on the internet and I can't work out what would be the best outcome. I'm dreading them saying she's done something really bad that will stop me from competing her some day. I was really hoping to event.

Has anyone had any experiences of an MRI of the hoof and also this type of lameness?? Any ideas what is could be with clean xrays etc?? She is only 4 so I'm hoping that will be on our side!! Thanks :)
 
Hi and welcome

The MRI will show if there is any soft tissue damage in the foot, and also shows more detail of the bones in the foot. I've had several MRIs done on my horses. Whilst they are a useful diagnostic tool, they are only as good as the person interpreting them. They will also show damage which is historic, and may not actually be the cause of lameness.

Of the two horses I had MRId - one was diagnosed with navicular as there was fluid in the navicular bone, but 4 years later is still eventing (when not suffering from some other random illness!). The other showed moderate soft tissue damage, and is unrideable and retired at 11.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, it may be helpful in showing what is going on with your horse but might not give you all the answers. Either way, good luck.
 
How long has she been lame for? I assume the vet has ruled out bruising or an abcess? If so I'd guess at soft tissue damage. Do you have any photos of her feet? Such things are often caused by imbalances in the hoof. Is she shod?

Don't panic, and don't make any hasty decisions - take your time and research options ;).
 
Sorry to hijack, but I am in a similar position and just wondered where everyone had their MRIs done? Has anyone used Oakham?
 
TwoStroke - Thanks for your reply she's been on and off and "not quite right" since June this year, she's never really been drastically lame, in fact the lamest she's been was when the vet came to do the nerve blocks which was a blessing really as we could see the significant difference following them.

She lands slight on the outside of the hoof in trot, she is also shod but has great feet, very strong and with a good angle to them, my farrier said she could go bare foot if I wasn't planning on eventing/jumping her etc. so that is an option.

He did say that its very mild her landing on the outside first and doesn't need any special shoes etc. At the moment I've taken her back shoes off and she's just shod in front for the time being.

She went through all the normal checks re abscesses etc and all seemed fine.

I am a great worrier so just can't wait to find out whats going on and just hoping for the best. I won't sleep a wink tonight!

Mamamia - thanks for the extra info that's good to know for tomorrow!
 
I was advised that Liverpool was the best place to send them...so at least that should make you feel a little better! As someone else said, the interpretation is vital and I think you will get an excellent service there. I was told that it would take a month to get my horse in at Liverpool so I am investigating alternatives. Typically, the one closest is the most expensive!! Stressful isnt it?

Best of luck to you anyway, and let us know how you get on!
 
A lateral landing in the forelimb suggests an imbalance in the hoof and how it relates to the limb above it. It could be caused by an issue higher up, or it could be a symptom of the lameness (or the cause) or it could be unrelated ;). It's pure speculation at this point, but imo it's worth giving the horse a rest from shoes and rehabbing her feet before you want to do any serious competition, as it's quite important for the horse to load it's forelimbs evenly to avoid strains.

My TB is landing medially in front atm. It's interesting, as it's undetectable by the eye, but I can see the adaptations his feet are making in response, despite how slight the issue is.

Good luck with the mri tomorrow, hopefully you'll have some answers :).
 
It was about 2 weeks for my appointment to come through for Liverpool. At least it sounds like its the best place to go!

Yes your right seriously stressful!!! I've had a break from horses for 5 years only got back into it this year and not had much luck since! I used to have a few pounds in the bank! I've not no more :)

Will give an update tomorrow! Keep your fingers, toes, legs and everything crossed for us! :)
 
Mine was diagnosed with a ddft tear in hoof via MRI back in may. We've done the barefoot rehab, and despite a slight set back 2 weeks ago my vet is pleased with how things are progressing. I will keep everything crossed it's nothing too serious.
 
TwoStroke is giving you good advice, a foot landing laterally is imbalanced and that will cause pain. Spend your money on scans if you want to, but better balance is imperative if you want to resolve this problem.
 
Had exactly the same issue with one here! And proffessor clegg at Leahurst was our saviour. He took a lot of images MRI and as we live about 20 mins away we dropped him off and came back to collect as it takes ages they have to be so still. Anyway sadly he didn't speculate on what he saw, he studied them very closy then diagnosed the problem. Basically in English there were pedal bone changes and they were forced by him landing outside in on near fore. Which was the lame limb! After remedial shoeing and careful under Cleggs supervision of farrier at Leahurst we have got him almost perfect! Had a 2nd MRI 6 months after first and there were no worsening symptoms and clegg discharged him sound on hard flat straight on 1-2/10ths lame on a circle to which we give half a bute a day to him for. He is 15 and absolutely 100 percent happy and clegg said carry on going fun things with him and we have never looked back! Apart from the odd medial corn!!! Good luck. :-)
 
My mare had an MRI of her hoof 3yrs ago at Hirds Vets, Shelf, nr Halifax, the treating Vet being Peter Scholefield, (he was at the Olympics as team Vet) and he was our saviour. My horse had a tear to her DDFT within her hoof. We followed his advice to the letter and she is still sound now despite it being a bad tear and the prognosis being pts. |It was a long hard slog but she is doing well. It was the only way to diagnose her on off lameness after xrays and box rest etc. Interesting to be a part of, I was there the whole time the scan was going on.
 
Hi well I've had a nightmare over the last 2 weeks, MRI showed that there are 'changes' in her Navicular bone and also inflammation to her impar ligament, outcome as stated by the Vet is not to write her off yet but also that its not good news at all in a 4 year old. He said to see these changes in a 14 year old horse that had worked hard wouldn't be worrying at all but seen as she's only 4 it is.

She's got to be walked in hand 2-3 times at day for 5-10 mins or turned out in a small paddock. 4-6 months off with a structured exercise program, they've also recommended Tildren which she's booked in to have this Wednesday. I had her shod on Thursday recommended by the vet with eggbar shoes. The vet also mentioned injecting the joint with a Steroid but this is something that worry's me so I've asked to leave this for the time being, what do people think about this??

I just want to do the best for her.
 
tdawson please take a look at the rockley farm blog for multiple cases of impar ligament strain that came right with a barefoot rehab. The route your vets are taking you down, bar shoes and tildren, does not have nearly the success rate of returning a horse to full work as barefoot rehabs do. Barefoot rehabs very rarely require 4-5 months off work and many, like one I did two years ago, are sound and in full work well within that time.

I have just taken on a horse like yours who is unsound every time he is shod. He is sound without shoes and without shoes he will remain. He is clearly going to grow some odd shaped feet, and he will be allowed to have feet just as odd as he wants. Trying to make them look "right" simply makes them wrong for his legs and he gets soft tissue damage like yours has.

I can also assure you from personal experience that barefoot is no barrier to an eventing career to at least Novice height. There has been one Advanced horse in this country, there are tons of BE90/100s and some Novices and I have heard of one other person at Intermediate with no shoes or studs.
 
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Izzwizz... I'll 2nd Peter Schofield, he MRI'd a 6 year old who presented with low grade lameness.
He had soft tissue damage in the hoof from an injury prior to purchase. Whilst he initially had a treatment plan, he honestly back tracked and didn't think it was going to work.
We use him for all lameness - I think he's one of the best in the country, and we're very lucky to have him in the locality.
I would MRI any horse that presents on/off low grade lameness, that has Irving obvious on Xrays. We saved months of box rest getting to the route of the problem quickly.
 
Oh god you're all scaring me :o
I hav had similar on off lameness with my girl for a month, i put it down to a day that she got her leg caught in the rein but it hasn't improved. Calling the vet today and have prepared myself for what might have to be done, but dreading hearing the outcome I know they can recover from things etc but only had her for 3 ish months and feel ike an idiot!
 
Chestnutconvert, try not to worry.
I just believe in getting to the route of low grade lameness sooner rather than later. Our horse was a Dutch Import with little history, and was just bad lack for us and the UK dealer.
The key, is if after 4-6 weeks things haven't improved, and normal checks don't reveal anything obvious, i'd rather go to a lameness specialist.
You have a possible cause, and in my view, a lame horse that comes on suddenly from trauma, is far better than a horse that presents being slightly unlevel for no obvious reason that continues after investigation/box rest is far worse.
Ours was being prepared for a lecture demo 7 weeks after purchase, and 3 months after import - about the right time for any injecting to start wearing off.
However I think our situation was an exception, and we were just unlucky.
I'm sure your horse has just had a tweak.
 
tdawson10 said:
He said to see these changes in a 14 year old horse that had worked hard wouldn't be worrying at all but seen as she's only 4 it is.

I just want to do the best for her.
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I disagree with your vet, these changes are worrying in ANY horse, but with the right care they can be remedied, especially in one so young.

Again, I ask the question about foot balance.....if you don't address this you can follow all the veterinary advice/drugs you like but get nowhere.
 
Andalucian, my vet is working direct with my farrier they've said that corrective shoeing and foot balance is going to be the main treatment for this.

Abi had the tildren yesterday all went well just have to keep my fingers crossed now, she is looking pretty good to be honest less than 1/10th lame although she has been off since September.

ChestnutConvert try not to worry too much having just been through the same I can guaranty you will feel better once you know whats going on and by the sounds of it chances are your girl has just had a tweak like millimoo said :-)

Anyway thanks for all the advice etc.
 
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