Horse is lame - can you help!

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bossboss

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Hi,

I have an 11 yo dutch wb gelding. He is a really clever chap and so I do wonder if this is all a ruse but your advice would be really appreciated.

Basically about 2 months ago he went back out to grass (he spends winter in sandschool as fields get too wet) and about 4 days after he went back out I rode him and he was lame on his right hind.

He had the same problem last year and vet came and nerve blocked his legs and back and xrayed him but could find nothing wrong with him (after a few months he just suddenly came right and was fine and I dont know why).

So I have rested him for a month hoping he would get better (he's put on a lot of weight since - needs to loose about 25-30kg) and tried him again yesterday but now he is lame on front right and is fine behind.

The strange thing is though that he trots around the field - sometimes doing an extended trot and doesn't look lame at all.

Could it really all be in his head?
Should I put him on bute and work him through it?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
 
I wouldn't want to put him on bute and work him through it because you don't know what "it" is!

In your shoes I would be going back to the vet or considering a different vet, new set of ideas and all that.

Good luck!
 
Persephone said:
OP says he is lame on the front!
Click to expand...

Oh God - clearly I need my eyes testing (or a shot of something to wake me up)... Sincere apologies OP! In that case, I would be inclined to go for a second opinion, or perhaps go back to your vet with the fact that the problem is re-occuring again this year.

Good luck, I hope you can find an answer.
 
Thanks GDS.........I did go back to original vet and he said he could do all the tests again but said that as nothing came up last time it prob wouldn't again!

I was thinking about getting a second opinion but my vet really is VERY good and was really good last year, came back quite a few times to try different things......it's just so frustrating that it's not a consistent problem, so I tell the vet he's lame behind and then the following week he's lame in front so they find it very difficult to find anything.

I was wondering if maybe because he was fine before he went back out on grass whether it was something to do with the grass......or maybe loosing some weight would help as vet came out on thurs and said he def needed to loose weight but its a vicious circle as if I exercise him to loose the weight I might be causing more problems.

I don't want to put him on bute but was thinking of something like Alphabute (formally bute x) which is herbal so less chance of doing any harm!
 
Jen - yes saddle was checked only a few months ago and he's lame without it on lunge but not when he's trotting around in field which is the weird thing!
 
John - no he's out from about 8-6 and only has half a field and not a huge amount of grass in it........I thought it may be the grass though not sure why!
 
I have had the same problem with my horse for the last 5 years!

he is ok all winter then at this time of year when the ground goes hard he is *sometimes* lame on his front right, some people have said he looks like it may be the diagonal hind ... but then other times he is perfectly sound.

He is lame on the lunge and sound when ridden, then sometimes I hack him out - trot up a hill and he is really lame, the trot again on the way back and he is sound.

He is worse when not 'together' and working properly (bridle lameness)? he can go from head bobbing to sound within a few steps.

I have had two vets, x-rays, nerve blocked etc etc ...NFU have now excluded that leg for anymore 'tests'!

Vet has now said, ride him through it, give him bute when ground is hard and I have pads put under his shoes which helps ... it's a nightmare!
 
OMG Lollii that sounds like a nightmare, but very similar to Boss. He doesn't seem to be in any pain and charges around the field quite happily, he eats well (even though he's on a very strict diet at the mo to shift some weight) and it's just soooo frustrating that he is lame on and off and then it just disappears.

I want to know whats wrong but don't want them to exlcude his leg when they don't know what's wrong - as poor u have had done to u!

Which is why I was thinking if it was all in his head if I tried him on bute or alphabute for a week or so it might just get him out of doing it! Do u use normal bute? Have you tried alphabute?
 
Sounds like some kind of sugar intolerance to me. He goes on grass after having none all winter and then starts to sieze up & stiffen on different legs, whole thing comes & goes.... Some form of Azoturia perhaps.
We had a mare who did this every Spring years ago.
 
Mine also trots around the field doing his extended trot that he would get 10's for in a dressage test!:rolleyes:

The vet has told me to use bute when he is bad, so I do, the only thing you could do is have the soft tissue scan...I'm sure some nice vet people on here can advise you on that.

I'm not going there for various reasons :rolleyes:... it may be the answer for you?

I think it all depends on wether you and your horse can live with it ... :confused:
 
Its a bit basic but sometines my mare gets stones wedged under her shoes that are sometimes too small to detect and also gets a bit noddy towards the end of the six weeks before the farrier comes, I think perhaps the shoes start to pinch maybe because the hoof grows more in the spring, I could be talking total rubbish but worth thinking about rather than thinking the worse.
If you think it is the grass get used to feeling the feet for warmth and digital pulse to understand whats normal for your horse then you can understand a little better if it feels abnormal. Good luck Dx
 
Sienna - that sounds interesting - what did you do for your mare - is there a supplement or something I could try?

Lollii - yes someone else suggested that at the yard but to be honest I want that to be a last resort ideally - I know that may sound backwards but I really want to see if its something easy to sort first. How often does urs have bute now? I was thinking of maybe putting him on one sachet a day for a week and seeing how he does and then reducing it down to every other day the next week till he's off it maybe?

Daisy - thanks - his feet don't feel warm and have been checking for heat but will start checking once a day do like you say and get a regular feeling for his legs - as u say trying not to think the worst and he doesn't seem in pain at all which is my main concern first off!

Thanks for all your quick responses guys..........I do really appreciate it........!
 
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