Hopping lame, but only in trot

The vet is "obviously being very careful and trying to save you money" by not attending and opting to watch your videos instead?? Sounds more like it is YOU that is trying to save yourself money. I would have had the vet out long before now.
 
Money for vet isn't a problem. Vet has repeatedly said not worth coming out unless the rest doesn't improve as they would suggest rest and wait for improvement before doing a full workup. My ysual vet is great but I don't know this one personally, she was happy to see video (she asked for video) and leave him on box rest and see what happens. He's already much better and looking more like a muscle problem round his stifle. I wouldn't usually even contact vet for lameness as generally box rest fixes if no heat or swelling but I was on the phone all last weekend as it was so pronounced and I've followed their advice. They have repeatedly said only to call them if it gets worse or no improvement, none of which has happened. And as it has been looking more and more muscular a good few knowledgeable people suggested a small lunge to see if it helped, and if it didn't then that's an extra thing to help the vet work out the problem. I'm not ignoring any vet advice, nor am I not in contact with them. But they seem to be of the opinion that no point coming out and telling me box rest when they can do so over the phone. He's dramatically improving daily so they are happy that box rest and in hand walking obviously working.

I've tried to give as much relevant detail here as the very pronounced lameness, but only in trot, is not something I've come across before and was hoping for some extra ideas about what the cause could be. So far most popular suggestion (and pretty much only) was abcess. But farrier has checked thoroughly and it really doesn't look like a foot lameness. I kept people updated because people asked.

I've seen lots of lameness over the years that you bute and box rest for a week and then carry on as usual with no call to the vet at all ;) I've also seen plenty of lameness where after no improvement vet comes out and changes the regime slightly and all goes well.
 
Destario said:
Thinking how I get if pulled a muscle - anti inflam to help reduce muscle swelling and help with low grade pain. Bute does the same thing and I really see no reason not to. If I had my normal vet they would 99% have sent me Bute and said field rest and Bute because they know him and how chilled he is in the field. As it is my vet is on a well deserved holiday and I've got a vet from the practice I dont know and who doesn't know my horses so is obviously being very careful and trying to save me money by saying to send video and only call out if worse or no improvement as didn't think it was emergency type lameness after seeing a couple of videos that day and the following couple of days.
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But you are going to increase his movement and mask any pain that increase in movement may add by starting giving him bute at the same time. No sensible vet would do that.

Unless I misunderstood your comment about 'got hold of some bute' and he has been on it all along?

I agree with you that it sounds muscular, but it wouldn't be the first time a foot abscess has been missed by a farrier, or come and go over several weeks before it finally makes its presence unmistakable.

Can we see your videos, it would be interesting?
 
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Be happy to share video via pm but no idea how! Farrier found nothing and watched him trot up a few times and said he was certain not a foot problem and was muscular. My trainer watched him am trot up when she was over for a lesson and thought muscular around his stifle. Then race trainer from nextdoor saw him trot up and also thought muscular and all suggested (including phusio whoksaw his trot up) that a gentle lunge would be worth a go and see if better or worse - considering how much better he is.

My farrier is coming today to shoe my mare so he can have a look for abcess as well but really doesn't look like it.

The bute is on standby if he's worse today (only a few days light supply) and if he's worse then no more exercise. If he's looking much better and still good by pm trot up then he'll have another wander on the lunge and no bute. He looked totally sound in the arena, just tight behind. Video of am trot up will be going to vet and if they want to come see him they can.
 
Update. Moning trot up very good. Don't think he'll need the bute, very full of himself and tanked a groom across the yard so obviously not too sore! Sent video to vet waiting to hear back but seems very much improved even from yesterday.
 
Update again.

Vet was out to nextdoor so borrowed him to watch trot up. Showed him original video too. He agrees muscular and thinks a physio treatment will sort him out and to bring back into work/lunge etc. If suddenly goes like it again then get full work up done.

Will see when I can get my physio out for him!
 
Destario said:
Money for vet isn't a problem. Vet has repeatedly said not worth coming out unless the rest doesn't improve as they would suggest rest and wait for improvement before doing a full workup. My ysual vet is great but I don't know this one personally, she was happy to see video (she asked for video) and leave him on box rest and see what happens. He's already much better and looking more like a muscle problem round his stifle. I wouldn't usually even contact vet for lameness as generally box rest fixes if no heat or swelling but I was on the phone all last weekend as it was so pronounced and I've followed their advice. They have repeatedly said only to call them if it gets worse or no improvement, none of which has happened. And as it has been looking more and more muscular a good few knowledgeable people suggested a small lunge to see if it helped, and if it didn't then that's an extra thing to help the vet work out the problem. I'm not ignoring any vet advice, nor am I not in contact with them. But they seem to be of the opinion that no point coming out and telling me box rest when they can do so over the phone. He's dramatically improving daily so they are happy that box rest and in hand walking obviously working.

I've tried to give as much relevant detail here as the very pronounced lameness, but only in trot, is not something I've come across before and was hoping for some extra ideas about what the cause could be. So far most popular suggestion (and pretty much only) was abcess. But farrier has checked thoroughly and it really doesn't look like a foot lameness. I kept people updated because people asked.

I've seen lots of lameness over the years that you bute and box rest for a week and then carry on as usual with no call to the vet at all ;) I've also seen plenty of lameness where after no improvement vet comes out and changes the regime slightly and all goes well.
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I hope your horse has improved now but I must admit your vets procedure is one of the strangest I have ever known, I fail to understand how they would advise you about lameness from watching a video I have had horses for 30 years and dealt with many vets over the years but have never sent them videos instead of getting them out, surely it's not in their interest to do this from a money sense of view and also its a recipe for disaster if something was seriously wrong and the wrong advise was given.
 
Pinkvboots said:
I hope your horse has improved now but I must admit your vets procedure is one of the strangest I have ever known, I fail to understand how they would advise you about lameness from watching a video I have had horses for 30 years and dealt with many vets over the years but have never sent them videos instead of getting them out, surely it's not in their interest to do this from a money sense of view and also its a recipe for disaster if something was seriously wrong and the wrong advise was given.
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This :) I'm happy for you OP that he seems to be improving but for me I've always wanted them to come and see the horse in the flesh, poke and prod it +/- any diagnostics that would be relevant. Whereabouts are you based OP?
 
I've sent a vet a video before - but her response was 'yup, looks off - when are you free for me to come out.' Mare was recovering was tying up at the time so I would have fully understood if she'd told me to wait and see whether she got better.

btw OP - you'd barely notice my gelding with advanced ringbone was lame at walk and canter, but in trot its very pronounced. He's had it for a long time but it got significantly worst when he had an altercation with another horse and the sidebone he was also growing fractured. I would have been a bit miffed if the vet had asked me to keep sending videos rather than turning up with the x-ray machine when I rang.
 
If the problem's in the stifle and the horse is now 9 years old, are you aware of him having an OCD op when he was a youngster? If he had growth related problems then about now could well be the time for the onset of arthritis in the previously effected joint.

Alec.
 
Problem seems to be the muscle over the left hip, vet poked a bit and he was reactive (in as much as it started rippling and dipped away a little from him).

Stifle problem was just weakness and lack of straightness, but have been very aware that in building it up it needs doing slowlykto prevent injuring it. He's also a welsh D so would hope no OCD problems.

Vet shought not emergency type lame and a wait and see before bringing all the kit (scans xray machines etc) and as he was improving we were both happy to keep going. Obviously if he goes wrong again after a bit of work we'll do a full workup.
 
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