Horse is still lame 4 weeks after being shod

[Michaela_Wilson]

Hi All


I am just looking for some advise off others who may of been in a similar situation to myself. My pony is 18 years old - he has been on box rest for 4 months due to a DDFT injury, i just got him back into walk work beginning of January. Everything was going well until the routine farrier visit. I noticed straight away his feet looked way shorter than normal. Straight after shoeing he was noticable stiff, 3 days later extremely lame and shifting weight. Farrier checked and advised me that it was laminitis. Vet came out told me it wasn't laminits. We did EMS test and cushing tests both came back negative. I then had xrays last week and vet confirmed no problems seen on the xrays and has put it down to the farrier. He has been on bute now for almost 4 weeks and seems much better in his stable on soft bedding but still struggles on hard ground.

Has anyone else had problems with a routine trim gone wrong and if so how long did it take for the horse to become sound again?

 

[Pinkvboots]

It sounds like his cut too much foot off it can take weeks for them to feel better, I would keep him on soft ground as much as possible until his comfortable, then I would be looking for a different farrier, have the shoes been left off now since the x rays?

 

[ester]

Has he still got the shoes on?
Hoping not in which case I'd have him in therapeutic hoof boots.
While the vet said no problems seen on xrays was that just for the possible lami or did he assess the trimming too?

 

[SpringArising]

Can you post some photos of the feet?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hi All


I am just looking for some advise off others who may of been in a similar situation to myself. My pony is 18 years old - he has been on box rest for 4 months due to a DDFT injury, i just got him back into walk work beginning of January. Everything was going well until the routine farrier visit. I noticed straight away his feet looked way shorter than normal. Straight after shoeing he was noticable stiff, 3 days later extremely lame and shifting weight. Farrier checked and advised me that it was laminitis. Vet came out told me it wasn't laminits. We did EMS test and cushing tests both came back negative. I then had xrays last week and vet confirmed no problems seen on the xrays and has put it down to the farrier. He has been on bute now for almost 4 weeks and seems much better in his stable on soft bedding but still struggles on hard ground.

Has anyone else had problems with a routine trim gone wrong and if so how long did it take for the horse to become sound again?

you don't say, have you tried taking shoes off, giving bute for a few days, then reassess, in case farrier cut too much or nail prick??

 

[Michaela_Wilson]

It sounds like his cut too much foot off it can take weeks for them to feel better, I would keep him on soft ground as much as possible until his comfortable, then I would be looking for a different farrier, have the shoes been left off now since the x rays?

Thanks for the reply. After X-ray vet said his soles are thin he thinks maybe farrier has taken too much off so he advised on heart bar shoes and gel pour in moulds. That what he has at minute. I did as vet about removing shoes but he said best to keep them on. I haven’t seen much improvement since Friday which is why I feel a bit concerned.

 

[Michaela_Wilson]

you don't say, have you tried taking shoes off, giving bute for a few days, then reassess, in case farrier cut too much or nail prick??

He’s on two bute twice a day since it happened. Tried dropping down to one but was very uncomfortable so we upped again to two. Vet has advised to keep shoes on as he thinks taking off would make him worse. Really difficult situation. Reckon keeping shoes on could be making him worse/not improve?

 

[ester]

Although I get the theory I'd worry that the pour ins are too much sole pressure for the horse to manage atm if there has been no noticeable improvement since applying them.
Do you have a copy of the xrays?/what did the vet say about the trim?
Something is going on if he is still uncomfortable on 2 bute a day.

It wasn't a new farrier? did the same farrier put the heartbars on?

 

[Red-1]

It sounds like he may be more comfortable with shoes off and back on box rest on a deep, clean shavings bed.

He could then have hoof boots with thick sponge in for walking out. Small amount of walking to start with.

I would probably also tub feet in salt water.

 

[My equine life]

With the ground so soft at the mo can he go out in a small paddock with shoes off where he can start walking around on a soft surface before you try him on the yard. Had similar issues woth too much being taken off my ponies feet but only on concrete and just a few days. This sounds quite extreme!

 

[Michaela_Wilson]

Has he still got the shoes on?
Hoping not in which case I'd have him in therapeutic hoof boots.
While the vet said no problems seen on xrays was that just for the possible lami or did he assess the trimming too?

Yeah he’s got heart bars on and pour in moulds. I have 2 Vets assess xrays and they advised heart bars with pour in mould. They said too much taken off toe and his soles look very thin on right hoof. I asked about taking shoes off and vet said no because that would make feet worse as he was worried now due to the thin sole about pedal bone dropping. Said he needs as much padding as possible.
Update today and he seems to be walking round his stable a bit now which is an improvement.

 

[Michaela_Wilson]

Although I get the theory I'd worry that the pour ins are too much sole pressure for the horse to manage atm if there has been no noticeable improvement since applying them.
Do you have a copy of the xrays?/what did the vet say about the trim?
Something is going on if he is still uncomfortable on 2 bute a day.

It wasn't a new farrier? did the same farrier put the heartbars on?

he said that from seeing them initially they looked too short at toe. When he looked at xrays he then said the sole on the right hoof is very thin. Again potentially a result of poor farrier. Which is why he recommended pour in moulds. Yes he put new shoes on under vet supervision. I will be changing my farrier to one recommended by vet. Will not be letting him touch horse again.

 

[ester]

I asked about taking shoes off and vet said no because that would make feet worse as he was worried now due to the thin sole about pedal bone dropping. Said he needs as much padding as possible.
U.

Hence the therapeutic boot suggestion, I don't think anyone was thinking the horse should go without anything based on your descriptions.

I'd suspect that his soles were already very thin, as box rest isn't really conducive to generating thick ones and the trim was perhaps just the last straw if the farrier took any sole away. I would absolutely be considering a nutrition overhaul too.

 

[AandK]

My 23yo had gel filler in his front shoes about 15yrs ago. They crippled him. The vet ripped them out after a week, and it then took him months to come right.

 

[Michaela_Wilson]

My 23yo had gel filler in his front shoes about 15yrs ago. They crippled him. The vet ripped them out after a week, and it then took him months to come right.

Did he have them in because of thin soles or just for extra support?

he is no worse with them on than he was without them. But maybe your right maybe he’s not getting better because of it. It’s so difficult as the vet advised them. I think I may leave it for another day or so as this will then be a week he’s had them in.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I agree with the others the shoes and gel could be putting pressure on the sole, similar thing happened to one of mine the shoe was stitting on his thin bruised soles so shoes came off, yes he was sore for a week but I booted him at first and just left his feet that was in June his still barefoot and being ridden with no boots now feet have so much improved, I am looking into using hoof armour which coats the bottom of the hoof as his still a little sensitive on stony ground.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would take shoes off and pad the feet for now with some foam until you can get boots for him to be turned out in.

 

[Michaela_Wilson]

I would take shoes off and pad the feet for now with some foam until you can get boots for him to be turned out in.

The issue is - he can not be turned out as he is on box rest for recovery from a tendon injury. We were 2 weeks through our in hand walk programme until this happened.

Issue is two vets both said to keep shoes on as this will upset him more taking shoes off, will just have to give it another week or so and assess how he gets on.

Very frustrating situation.

Thanks for the advise guys.

 

[Michaela_Wilson]

Hence the therapeutic boot suggestion, I don't think anyone was thinking the horse should go without anything based on your descriptions.

I'd suspect that his soles were already very thin, as box rest isn't really conducive to generating thick ones and the trim was perhaps just the last straw if the farrier took any sole away. I would absolutely be considering a nutrition overhaul too.[/QUOT

Thanks for this - he isnt having anything so nothing we can do nutrition wise. He is getting all his essential vits and mins and on a low calorie low sugar diet as advised by a nutritionist.

 

[ester]

Huh! He isn’t having anything so nothing you can do? That doesn’t really make sense.

Is that an independent nutritionist?

 

[Michaela_Wilson]

Huh! He isn’t having anything so nothing you can do? That doesn’t really make sense.

Is that an independent nutritionist?

That was a rushed reply - he isn't on grass - he is on soaked hay and on a balancer to ensure he gets all his vits and minerals. It was an independent nutritionist yes. As he is on box rest we are keeping is calories down. What i am trying to say is there is no need for a nutrition overhaul!

 

[ester]

Ok, it was only suggested as so often the cause of thin soles.

 

[SpringArising]

Is there a really good, well respected remedial farrier in your area that you can use to get a second opinion? If I was having foot issues with my horse, I'd go with my farrier (who's top notch) over my vet any day - there's a reason why vets don't shoe horses. If you had pain in your mouth you wouldn't go to your doctor, would you?

Vets are always quick to advise heart bar shoes as if there is no other alternative, and I haven't heard of a case where they haven't caused more discomfort, let alone helped.

If he were mine I'd continue the Bute, take the shoes off and keep him on a really deep shavings bed and then reassess in a week.

 

[AandK]

Did he have them in because of thin soles or just for extra support?

he is no worse with them on than he was without them. But maybe your right maybe he’s not getting better because of it. It’s so difficult as the vet advised them. I think I may leave it for another day or so as this will then be a week he’s had them in.

He had thin soles and would feel the ground, but the pressure from the gel was too much for him. A friend had great success with the pads on her horse, but they did not work for mine sadly! They went on mid September and he had to have the rest of the year off in the end. I did try leather pads during the summer a few years later, and he was fine with them.

 

[ticobay831]

leather pads worked brilliantly for my lad, it was only when new farrier started trying new pads i started having problems. foot ballance is really important as well, good its so difficult when vet says one thing and lost of people with experience of this says something totally different, all id say is that vets dont always get it right, you know your horse good luck x

 

[Michaela_Wilson]

He had thin soles and would feel the ground, but the pressure from the gel was too much for him. A friend had great success with the pads on her horse, but they did not work for mine sadly! They went on mid September and he had to have the rest of the year off in the end. I did try leather pads during the summer a few years later, and he was fine with them.

Thank you - I have had a new farrier look at him - he has removed the pads and created his own heart bars - horse had instant relief. Although i am even more confused as the farrier seems to think it is laminitis - Vet confirmed it wasnt after seeing xrays and horse didnt repsond to hoof testers so no idea who to believe. Thanks for the advise - he is still on box rest hoping another week or so and i will be able to get on again.

 

[Michaela_Wilson]

leather pads worked brilliantly for my lad, it was only when new farrier started trying new pads i started having problems. foot ballance is really important as well, good its so difficult when vet says one thing and lost of people with experience of this says something totally different, all id say is that vets dont always get it right, you know your horse good luck x

Yea i agree with you - as he doesnt have the symptoms of laminitis but just the pain especially when on hard ground - i think neither the vet or the new farrier know but for some reason the farrier is just putting it down to laminitis. Not sure how he came to the conclusion but these new shoes he has put on seemed to have done the trick!

 

[be positive]

In simple terms laminitis is inflammation of the laminae so he probably has it, not because of the normal metabolic or dietary reasons but due to having the hoof cut too short which has inflamed the laminae and caused some pain, if minor nothing will show on xrays as the structures are still supportive so the pedal bone is not going to rotate, he may not respond to hoof testers if it is only minor and he is stoic, it seems as if the new farrier is on the case even if the vet doesn't call it laminitis it has been treated as such so the outcome should be good.

 

[PSD]

Thank you - I have had a new farrier look at him - he has removed the pads and created his own heart bars - horse had instant relief. Although i am even more confused as the farrier seems to think it is laminitis - Vet confirmed it wasnt after seeing xrays and horse didnt repsond to hoof testers so no idea who to believe. Thanks for the advise - he is still on box rest hoping another week or so and i will be able to get on again.

All I will say is go with your gut feeling.

my mare became lame at the end of December, I rang my original vet and said she looks laminitic, she’s footy but can move okay ish, hard turning on circles but again not impossible. Vet came and said no not laminitis, did hoof pressure check things etc nothing. 2 farriers looked at her and said they thought it was laminitis. They did an EMS and cushings test, both clear.

anyway long story short, finally convinced my original vet to have her x rayed after 4 weeks of back and forth to the farrier and vet because she was still not sound and her progressively getting worse, despite the vet being adamant it wasn’t, yes it was laminitis. I believe the only reason my old vet picked up on it was because by this time, rotation had begun. I changed my vet as original was shocking (she my post “laminitis not improving”) she was tested for EMS properly, she has it (her scores were over double) she also has major rotation and sinkage in both front feet, she’s just had a hoof wall resection and is now recovering nicely however we haven’t re x rayed yet.

So what I’m trying to say is, Had I listened to my original vet, she probably wouldn’t be here now. If you think something isn’t right then it usually isn’t. I urge you to get a second opinion if it’s an option, had I not got one myself, my girl would have been pts.

I hope your horse feels better soon as laminitis is a heartbreaking disease x