Horse lame only after cantering for 10 mins? No heat or swelling

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007Equestrian

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A really weird one! My horse seems lame on his front right ONLY after cantering on the right rein for 10 minutes or so. He was shod a week ago (but only ridden twice since and has been lame on those two occasions).

No heat, swelling or pain when I feel over all of his legs and feet. Any ideas?

For background he is a PSG Dressage Horse, 14years old and has never had a sick day in his life! On a really good balanced diet with a joint supplement. Recently changed his diet to a higher calorie one and an iron supplement as he was borderline anaemic.
 
In a performance horse I would possibly get the farrier to check for a tight nail but think it unlikely if it hasn't become more obvious over the past week and then get straight on to the vet, he may only be showing as lame after the canter at the moment but it is a sign that something is wrong and the sooner it is seen by a vet the sooner appropriate treatment can be started which should mean his career can continue.

I would suspect something in his foot that is niggling after the slight change in balance following being shod and would certainly take it as a serious warning sign.
 
007Equestrian said:
Recently changed his diet to a higher calorie one and an iron supplement as he was borderline anaemic.
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I don't know if it is anything to do with the lameness, but this change is likely to have a detrimental impact on his hoof quality (and overall health). Anaemia in horses is very rarely (close to never) due to low iron intake, and in fact can be caused by excess iron intake so your supplement may make it worse. Iron supplements for treating horses with anaemia are based on the fuzzy logic of "it works for humans so must be the same for horses". Excess iron supplementation is known (anecdotally, but then there aren't any studies AFAK) to make barefoot horses footy.

I would have a read up on the subject. For example the "Anaemia" section in this article:

http://equinenutritionist.co.uk/anaemia-and-lethargy…-feed-related-problems-or-not

Edited to add another link: http://forageplustalk.co.uk/equine-anaemia-by-dr-kellon/
 
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Hi, we've contacted our vet but it's now an anxious waiting game. I'm stuck in work so can't ride him for the vet so hopefully he can diagnose from the lunge. I'm so worried about him.

What do you think it could be? :(
 
laura_nash said:
I don't know if it is anything to do with the lameness, but this change is likely to have a detrimental impact on his hoof quality (and overall health). Anaemia in horses is very rarely (close to never) due to low iron intake, and in fact can be caused by excess iron intake so your supplement may make it worse. Iron supplements for treating horses with anaemia are based on the fuzzy logic of "it works for humans so must be the same for horses". Excess iron supplementation is known (anecdotally, but then there aren't any studies AFAK) to make barefoot horses footy.

I would have a read up on the subject. For example the "Anaemia" section in this article:

http://equinenutritionist.co.uk/anaemia-and-lethargy…-feed-related-problems-or-not

Edited to add another link: http://forageplustalk.co.uk/equine-anaemia-by-dr-kellon/
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It was our vet who told us to put him on this supplement 😥 it's a blood tonic so I assume it contained iron? It was his red blood cell count was very low.
 
007Equestrian said:
It was our vet who told us to put him on this supplement �� it's a blood tonic so I assume it contained iron? It was his red blood cell count was very low.
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Maybe have a look on the supplement bottle to see what is in it? If it is a high iron supplement I would be questioning your vet on the logic of that to see if they can explain to you why they think that is the best treatment.

Vets are only human and don't know everything about everything. But then I'm a "nerd" who likes to do my own research on every topic and I am always very wary of simply trusting the professionals (might have something to do with having worked in the health sector IT for many years!).

It is difficult when you are relying on the vet to help track down the cause of the lameness, but a good vet shouldn't mind explaining the logic behind their recommendations to you if you ask (nicely).


As I said the lameness may be totally unrelated, but I wouldn't want to have any adult horse on a high-iron supplement.
 
laura_nash said:
Maybe have a look on the supplement bottle to see what is in it? If it is a high iron supplement I would be questioning your vet on the logic of that to see if they can explain to you why they think that is the best treatment.

Vets are only human and don't know everything about everything. But then I'm a "nerd" who likes to do my own research on every topic and I am always very wary of simply trusting the professionals (might have something to do with having worked in the health sector IT for many years!).

It is difficult when you are relying on the vet to help track down the cause of the lameness, but a good vet shouldn't mind explaining the logic behind their recommendations to you if you ask (nicely).


As I said the lameness may be totally unrelated, but I wouldn't want to have any adult horse on a high-iron supplement.
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I'll have a check at the bottle when I get home! He hasn't had any bleeding so I'm confused about how else his blood level could be low?
 
007Equestrian said:
I'll have a check at the bottle when I get home!
He hasn't had any bleeding so I'm confused about how else his blood level could be low?
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Eh? :confused3:

Abnormal levels in blood results are not down to an equine bleeding to show 'blood low level' (what exactly is showing low in the most recent test?)
But, blood results when taken by a vet are down to a myriad of things, from raised temperature with illness, injestion of toxic items, general malaise and suchlike (can add many more examples)
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Eh? :confused3:

Abnormal levels in blood results are not down to an equine bleeding to show 'blood low level' (what exactly is showing low in the most recent test?)
But, blood results when taken by a vet are down to a myriad of things, from raised temperature with illness, injestion of toxic items, general malaise and suchlike (can add many more examples)
Click to expand...

Apologies his red cell count was low! We call that "blood levels" in my area but I agree that's not very exact haha
 
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