Horse resting hind leg constantly.

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JoWoodhead

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Dear friends, My horse, Anglo Arab, 12 years old and 16 hh, for the last 2 months is always resting her inner hind leg. The vet has seen her and done nerve-blocking and it is not the hoof or lower leg. She gave me Danilon which Aero (horse) dislikes. I wonder what can be the problem? She can bear weight on it, but chooses not to, so I'm thinking if it could be a bone spavin. The farrier also says there is nothing wrong with her feet. She is out 24/7 with access to her stable (dry, clean, out of the wind and hay ad lib) She hates being rugged and is otherwise in good health, but I sense she is a bit grumpy (well it is the end of winter) and so am I. I have had her since she was a yearling. Have any of you had a horse with similar symptoms. She has hardly been ridden in the past year as I have health problems (form of leukemia.) Her field is large and backs onto the stable and garden with a Shetland as a companion (who is the brains of our small outfit.)

I have asked for the Vet to come back next week to give her another check over and to give me an opportunity to ask proper questions. Could there be a stifle problem? I don't detect any heat. Is it arthritis? The horse hasn't done anything for the last two years! She's truly beautiful (or will be in Spring) and is a true pal, but I have to face a terminal illness and would very much like to hand over to my daughter a fit animal when the time comes. I do not have a horse box and the last time she was transported was when she was one year old. Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? I suspect I am, but I sense something is wrong that so far Vet and Farrier can't make out. Thank you for any help you can give.
 
Sorry to hear all this [hugs]. It can only really be determing with veterinary inspection, I don't know if farrier lifted her legs high, as usually they can tell if the horse is different from previous occasions, but presumably she is not being shod so that wont apply.
I would assume vet has already "manipulated" the leg and she has not shown pain response.. Sorry I can't really advise. It does not sound like a muscle tweak, I would be looking for muscle wastage as well [as indicator of something pelvic].
 
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Thank you for your reply which is really helpful. I can detect some muscle wastage after all these weeks and she dips down slightly on that side when you view her walking from the back. To the vet's surprise and mine, she showed a slight reaction to pain just above the coronet on the other back foot and the Vet wondered if there was an abcess trying to come out there. No sign of that so far and no heat. You are right, she is unshod (never had shoes)and her hooves are in good condition according to the farrier. I didn't notice the vet stretching out her leg on the first visit, but I was fighting back tears 'cos I didn't have the energy to trot her up and down the lane on the lead. Kept falling over, but the road was icy. Felt a complete idiot. The farrier never saw any sign of an abcess and he is going to come back again next week to trim and take a second good look. Oh I do wish they could tell us where it hurts, but they are such stoical animals.
 
If she is insured I would get a full lameness work up, and her hock x rayed - if it is bone spavin ( and sounds as though it could be a possibility) then medication to her hocks may just be the thing - this might not be the problem you are anticipating, but you need to know first. (Funny that the shetland is the brains of your outfit - ponies are so great.)

If she needs pain relief and Danilon is no good, we have had success using Devils Claw
 
Its hard to say but I would be thinking something higher up, sacroiliac region perhaps. I am sorry you are having to go through this whilst you are so unwell. I know you want to hand her over to your daughter fit and well but I think you daughter would probably prefer you to prioritise you own health and well being so try not to get so determined to fix the mare that your own wellbeing suffers.
 
She is insured with BHS Gold membership but not for Vet bills. I was stung once with an insurer and decided I would set aside an equivalent amount to cope with any health issues, so I can cover the costs. I've been feeding her Devils Claw and also Yarrow and Turmeric (you'll probably guess I'm into Natural Horsemanship), but with no signs of improvement I gave in and called the Vet. My instinct is that it is either bone spavin or wrenched her stifle area. But Bonkers2 has made me think about a pelvic injury. Now here's the problem. I'm up early in the morning (dawnish) and can see them from the kitchen window playing 'chasey' and she was cantering in a small circle. So the pain is not too awful, but of course by the time she puts herself in the stable for her breakfast it must be feeling achey again. Or she's having me on (which the farrier suggested.) I don't think so. I battled sarcoids for 9 years. Every treatment the Vets could offer: Liverpool cream, Laser treatment. All to no avail. I used bloodroot which is a more natural substance but still painful and then started her on turmeric. To my astonishment, all the sarcoids disappeared. What a huge sigh of relief. At last I had a horse and not a bunch of sarcoids with a horse attached. Then I was struck down by this disease (Myelofibrosis) and I just want my dear, sweet horses to be okay if I'm not around any more. Wipes tear from eye. Get a grip!
 
Could you syringe the Danilon into her every day?
We have one that won't take it in any feed, but is happy not to spit it out when syringed in his mouth in a little marmite solution.

Then you would be able to see if she is better with pain relief and anti inflammatories. Higher up injuries are hard to treat, but you can keep her comfortable and ticking over. I hope the advancing Spring gives you hope and confidence for the future. x
 
I am so sorry - your distress is clear from your posts. Just a thought and a question for the vet when you next see him/her - could it be a fracture in the pedal bone ? From you post I see hoof related issues discounted, but not certain a nerve block works on a pedal bone ? Stand to be corrected, but the symptons do sound similar to one of mine that turned out to have fractired his pedal bone - how he did it, nobody knows !
 
Mine was resting same leg a lot and turned out to be bone cyst on stifle. He also lifted that leg much higher than other when asked to lift it by vet for flexion test and was 3/4 tenths lame on trot up. Found to have swelling on front of stifle and inside of hind leg, best way to check is to stand behind horse and feel both stifles at same time to feel differences (obviously be careful) Has had loads of treatment, is hopefully on mend.

Hope you get to bottom of it.

Just to add mine was still doing lovely extended trot and hunting, came up sound when adrenaline going!
 
JoWoodhead said:
Dear friends, My horse, Anglo Arab, 12 years old and 16 hh, for the last 2 months is always resting her inner hind leg. The vet has seen her and done nerve-blocking and it is not the hoof or lower leg. She gave me Danilon which Aero (horse) dislikes. I wonder what can be the problem? She can bear weight on it, but chooses not to, so I'm thinking if it could be a bone spavin. The farrier also says there is nothing wrong with her feet. She is out 24/7 with access to her stable (dry, clean, out of the wind and hay ad lib) She hates being rugged and is otherwise in good health, but I sense she is a bit grumpy (well it is the end of winter) and so am I. I have had her since she was a yearling. Have any of you had a horse with similar symptoms. She has hardly been ridden in the past year as I have health problems (form of leukemia.) Her field is large and backs onto the stable and garden with a Shetland as a companion (who is the brains of our small outfit.)

I have asked for the Vet to come back next week to give her another check over and to give me an opportunity to ask proper questions. Could there be a stifle problem? I don't detect any heat. Is it arthritis? The horse hasn't done anything for the last two years! She's truly beautiful (or will be in Spring) and is a true pal, but I have to face a terminal illness and would very much like to hand over to my daughter a fit animal when the time comes. I do not have a horse box and the last time she was transported was when she was one year old. Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? I suspect I am, but I sense something is wrong that so far Vet and Farrier can't make out. Thank you for any help you can give.
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First thought was abcess or tendon etc

Since vet has done nerve blocks etc I would say stifle or scrum is out. Make him stand square and see if one hip is higher than the other, or get physio out.. It is said you must contact vet prior to vet
(though I don't).
 
Sorry I have no suggestions, other than those made above, as to what might be wrong with the horse but I do suggest asking the vet to bring a nurse on the next visit, so that the nurse can run alongside the horse and you can stand and watch the movement and talk to the vet. I'm sure your daughter will want you to preserve your energy for your own needs, rather than putting everything into the horse.
 
What a difficult time you are having. I mixed danilon with apple sauce and syringed it in. You can buy it as a paste too.

At least then you may find out if its painful or mechanical. I hope you get some answers soon.
 
Thank you for all your replies. There's a lot of good advice there. Bringing a vet nurse along to help trot her up is a great idea, then I can see for myself her movement. Thank you all so much.
 
First time poster, but this caught my eye.. I'm not sure if this will be helpful but.. when I first got my gelding he had been out of work and became slightly unlevel behind when I slowly started upping his work. I too noticed that he was really resting one of his hand legs at any opportunity - after having the vet out and them saying there was nothing wrong with his foot or leg, I had the back lady out and she said he had a rotated pelvis (possibly from an old injury), anyway she treated him twice and suggested walking out purposefully and 'up' into the bridle and making him stand up when he was resting it. This has really helped. Although you can't exercise her, it may be worth having a back person/physio out just to rule that out too :)
 
I'd be inclined to try thermal imaging. My friend's horse was lame and was running up £100s on nerve blocks and examinations. A thermal imaging session showed heat in one area, that was the area they looked closer into, and the issue was found.
 
Quickie Re: Danilon - choc spread sandwich, or strawberry yoghurt. So sorry you are having a tough time with your health..LOVED the comment about the pony!!!
 
Dear Grumpyreg, Thanks for that advice too. She is definitely unlevel from behind now and she has been out of work for about a year. The farrier came this morning and re-checked her feet and said there was nothing wrong with her hooves, indeed they were in good condition. He could find no heat and no abcesses and he stretched her legs to test other things. We think that it may be higher up at stifle area as others have advised. I'm glad you mentioned an old injury because my pal (who lives across the road and is a 'doggy' person but extremely helpful) reminded me that about 5 years ago I had the vet out for a stifle type injury. I was advised to box rest her for three weeks and we lasted about 3 days - horse going bonkers. But Aero recovered quite quickly. How could I forget that? Because my husband had just died of prostate cancer. (Gosh mine is a sad tale, so I forgive myself for forgetting her previous injury.) I got a shetland then to keep her company. The vet is coming again tomorrow and I will mention the old injury. If the vet recommends box rest we shall do it to the letter this time, with the shetland on guard outside the stable. But reading your good results with the back lady, I would love it if that were the case and a possible avenue of recovery. I should be capable of marching her purposefully up and down the lane and making her stand straight.

When she is better, I will be so delighted to report back and say all is well. My first post too, though I read the Forum all the time. There is so much good information based on experience.
 
Dear El.Snowflakes. That is what we are going to do. I called the Vet for another visit and she now wants Aero at their clinic for X-rays and Scans and suggested this Wednesday. The Vet gave me the phone number for a Horse-Box hire firm that they use. Luckily it is very local and surprisingly cheap and the lady running it and doing the driving seems very nice and efficient.

So by Wednesday afternoon, we shall hopefully know what is wrong. I wish I was made of sterner stuff as I'm sure Aero has picked up on my teary face as I place feed buckets, water and haylage within her 'restricted' reach. She has again refused Danilon and I've run out of ideas as to how to disguise it - I've tried jam sandwiches, marmite sandwiches, molasses, peppermints, etc. So I've returned to Devils Claw, Yarrow and she always has Turmeric. The Vets want me to stop any painkillers today so that they can have a clear picture on Wednesday.

Horses are truly beautiful creatures, and to see those long legs reaching out and their bodies flowing along is wonderful. But they are really difficult when it comes to aches and pains especially with the long legs and back end. I would love to strap a hotwater bottle by her achey stifle, but it's impossible. I think a lot of her discomfort is pyschological because she knows she is 'wounded' and therefore easy prey for any wolves, bear, lions, vultures and hyenas lurking in the surrounding woods. So she is sick but on the 'qui vivre' all the time. This morning she was munching on her feed by her stable (won't go into it now) and constantly lifting the bad leg, when there was the sudden crack of a gunshot and she was outta there at top speed! She did heed my cries of "Steady, steady" which are usually said gently and quietly not shrieked out at the top of my voice. She eventually returned to her bucket and of course her leg was worse.

I wish Wednesday was tomorrow. Thank you everybody for your contributions which are really helpful.
 
You should speak to the vet about lifting the leg if that is new. It means she is trying harder to avoid weight bearing on it and if she is getting worse the vets might need to see her sooner, because I do not know how lame a horse has to be before it cannot travel. You do not want a fall in the horsebox to add to your problems.
 
Hope it all goes well on wed for you, dex had been recovering well but this week was getting worse after an incident in which he kicked out the side of the arena, originally he was just slightly off by wed bit worse so i booked vet for friday, by the time vet arrived Friday was constantly resting leg or keeping it off the ground and was obviously lame in walk. Took him for xrays sat and thank god no break but massive swelling over stifle so now need vet out to drain and medicate.

Although it feels like we are back to square one I am just glad he came home after the xray!
 
I would be inclined to ask the vet to approve you approaching a chiropractor. I have one that has an old injury and has a habit of falling over when pratting about in the field, 30 mph galloping and tight turns don't mix. he moves his pelvis and chiropractor moves it back. he rests his leg and tends to turn the fetlock over a bit when standing, his hip looks lower and there is muscle wastage due to the original injury. We keep him sound and he show jumps. I did have a physio to him but she said he could not be straightened up, the chiropractor straightened him in one session followed by another 4 weeks later. There is not reason why he can't keep going for years.
 
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