Horse more lame after 10 days box rest!!

[Billy Pig]

Hoping anyone can share if they've had a similar experience! Vet is coming out in 3 days to do x-rays.

About 10 days ago I brought my horse (just turned 5yo connie mare) in from the field, she trotted over to me as normal and looked sound, as soon as I walked her on the yard she looked off in front on the hard ground. Looked lame but managed fine in a straight line but appeared really quite lame when turning, not crossing over, and generally really struggling to put weight on it on the turn.

Put her in the stable and immediately booked vet to come and look at her 3 days later. Farrier came following morning, no reaction to hoof testers, but could see the lameness in the off fore.

Vet came 2 days after farrier visit and did flexions and pin pointed the lameness to her off fore fetlock. Suggested 2 weeks box rest, cold hosing and 2 bute a day.

I am on day 10 of box rest and horse is appearing more lame on the off fore. Walking out the stable very slowly and trying hard not to weight bear on that leg. She is very chilled on box rest; just monches on her soaked hay or sleeps with her head over the door. Have booked her in for x-rays in 3 days to see what the issue is.

Worried to put her out as 1. She throws silly shapes in the field and 2. Due to her breed she is prone to laminitis and if I can't work her to keep the weight off then worried she may have an attack.

Has anyone had any experience of their horse looking worse on bute and box rest? And any ideas on what the problem was...?

 

[ycbm]

I would think it quite likely that she has bruised a bone or may have a hairline fracture. I wouldn't put her out until the x rays. Fractures "mature" in time and can often only be found on a delayed set. I'll cross my fingers for just a bruise for you. Try not to worry, a fracture needn't be a huge issue especially if your horse is quiet on box rest.

Easier said than done, I know.

 

[Billy Pig]

I would think it quite likely that she has bruised a bone or may have a hairline fracture. I wouldn't put her out until the x rays. Fractures "mature" in time and can often only be found on a delayed set. I'll cross my fingers for just a bruise for you. Try not to worry, a fracture needn't be a huge issue especially if your horse is quiet on box rest.

Easier said than done, I know.

Thank you, I suspect it's a fracture as well tbh since it's getting worse not better

 

[ycbm]

Thank you, I suspect it's a fracture as well tbh since it's getting worse not better

They can be quicker and easier to fix than tendons and ligaments.

 

[JGC]

Sometimes it's harder to do nothing! But, yes, I agree with ycbm. Hope you get answers and positive news soon

 

[Billy Pig]

They can be quicker and easier to fix than tendons and ligaments.

Hope so

 

[Billy Pig]

Sometimes it's harder to do nothing! But, yes, I agree with ycbm. Hope you get answers and positive news soon

Thank you so much

 

[TheMule]

Thank you, I suspect it's a fracture as well tbh since it's getting worse not better

I would want a vet out sooner than 3 days if there’s a suspected fracture- you don’t know how stable it is, it could turn into a catastrophic injury

 

[Billy Pig]

I would want a vet out sooner than 3 days if there’s a suspected fracture- you don’t know how stable it is, it could turn into a catastrophic injury

Thank you, do you think it's worth me using another vet to have it done sooner? The earliest my vet can do is Friday morning. They weren't concerned due to her being so quiet in the stable but maybe they should be?

 

[TheMule]

Thank you, do you think it's worth me using another vet to have it done sooner? The earliest my vet can do is Friday morning. They weren't concerned due to her being so quiet in the stable but maybe they should be?

If it were my horse then yes, I'd want it done sooner (today, really)

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would want it done ASAP as well did vet think it could be laminitis? I only ask as they often look worse when turning with Laminitis.

 

[SEL]

I'm going to pray for an abscess building up for you - I have seen those get gradually worse over time and bute does nothing.

 

[Billy Pig]

I would want it done ASAP as well did vet think it could be laminitis? I only ask as they often look worse when turning with Laminitis.

Vet has ruled out lammi as I asked her to take bloods on Wednesday to confirm this. Pony is fit as a fiddle, not at all fat, insulin at normal level and is treated as a laminitic day to day (my last pony was EMS so I'm very strict with her!)

 

[Billy Pig]

I'm going to pray for an abscess building up for you - I have seen those get gradually worse over time and bute does nothing.

That would be nice!!

 

[Squeak]

I'm going to pray for an abscess building up for you - I have seen those get gradually worse over time and bute does nothing.

Ditto on both counts, I've seen abscesses make them lame on concrete on a turn only and fluctuate in how lame the horse is, some days crippled on a turn and others almost sound again.

 

[Billy Pig]

Ditto on both counts, I've seen abscesses make them lame on concrete on a turn only and fluctuate in how lame the horse is, some days crippled on a turn and others almost sound again.

Really hoping this is the case. Hopefully something that would show up on xrays!

 

[ycbm]

Thank you, do you think it's worth me using another vet to have it done sooner? The earliest my vet can do is Friday morning. They weren't concerned due to her being so quiet in the stable but maybe they should be?

Ask your vet, maybe. They may want 14 days, since she rests so well, to allow the fracture, if there is one, to cook enough to show up, they sometimes need time to come through on x rays.

I agree with all the stuff about abscesses above, too.
.

 

[Billy Pig]

Ask your vet, maybe. They may want 14 days, since she rests so well, to allow the fracture, if there is one, to cook enough to show up, they sometimes need time to come through on x rays.

I agree with all the stuff about abscesses above, too.
.

Thanks, have spoken to the vet and they have said they're happy to wait til Friday since if it is a fracture they would prescribe rest anyway.

 

[Landcruiser]

What did the X rays show, OP?

 

[Billy Pig]

What did the X rays show, OP?

The vet came and took shoe off ready to x Ray and put the hoof testers on her again and found a sore spot. She think that the shoe was masking an abscess. She is now pretty much recovered and having her shoe back on next week. Basically, it was an abscess that was brewing for a couple of weeks and didn't present itself properly until she went on 3 legs! I hope that's the end of it now