How can he be crippled lame one day and sound the next?

mightymammoth

mightymammoth

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Please has anyone got any suggestions or experiences as I'm reaching the end of my tether

I have had my 14yo happy hack IDxFriesian gelding since October 2011 and all was going well until December. Since then he has gone lame 4 times on a mixture of surfaces. I am just a novice so I dont do anything intense with him ie fast work/jumping. It is always the right fore, no heat swelling or anything obvious.

He goes extremely lame to the point of struggling to walk, the problem is the next day he is sound again.

The last time he went lame was monday on a light hack however yesterday he was walking sound again. Today when the vet visitied he was sound again (vet saw him trotted up with flexion/lunged on soft and hard surface). Vet had a good feel of his front legs and the only thing he can say is that the suspensory ligamont on his front right feels thicker than the left, but again no heat or swelling.

The vet is coming back next thursday to scan the tendons to see if that reveals anything and has advised me to hack him before he visits to see if that brings on the lameness so there is something for him to actually examine.

During this time he has had teeth, saddle, physio all without major issue. He is on 24hr turnout. I am in touch with his last 3 owners (2 of which have nothing to lose by telling me the truth as they didnt sell him to me) and they are baffled as he had no problems with them.

I'm just so worried and upset, hes my first horse and I didnt think this is how it would be.

Thank you
 
Two ideas spring to my mind. Hoof abscess and some sort gut or other discomfort problem causing intermittent colic like symptoms which are causing him to tense certain muscles leading to lameness? :confused: Just thoughts btw.
There's also the stone in the shoe effect... something he puts up with most of the time but every now and again he just can't. This could be anything really but includes saddle fit.
 
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amandap said:
Two ideas spring to my mind. Hoof abscess and some sort gut or other discomfort problem causing intermittent colic like symptoms which are causing him to tense certain muscles leading to lameness? :confused: Just thoughts btw.
There's also the stone in the shoe effect... something he puts up with most of the time but every now and again he just can't. This could be anything really but includes saddle fit.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions. Abscess has been suggested on the other thread. I thought though if it was a an abscess this would be constantly be niggling him at least enough to show up when he is lunged on a hard surface?
 
Did the vet check for laminitis, it can come on after working on a hard surface. If its a mild bout it can settle quickly with rest. Does he have any increased pulse in his legs?
 
victoria1980x said:
Thanks for the suggestions. Abscess has been suggested on the other thread. I thought though if it was a an abscess this would be constantly be niggling him at least enough to show up when he is lunged on a hard surface?
Click to expand...
An abscess can start draining then block/reseal leading to pressure building again and pain until it bursts again.

Have a think about the surfaces you are riding over when he's lame and when he isn't and see if there could be a clue there.
Is he ever lame when not ridden or before being ridden? This could point to back or saddle issues.

Keeping notes about his lameness including environment and activity when it comes on might be helpful. Put everything you can think of down.
 
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Thanks Amanda he was gone lame in the school on the road and twice hacking. Never lame when unridden but then he just Potters about in his field with the ohers doesn't gallop or muck about. The only consistent thing is he's lame after about 20 mins riding
 
I would ask the vet to x-ray. I recently had the vet out due to my mare not feeling 100% under saddle, we thought it was something to do with her right fore shoulder. Done flexion tests on all 4 legs and sound all round, and no obvious problems with heat/swelling.
Arranged to go for xrays 3 weeks later, Stayed sound but just seemed stiff. 3 days before we were due to go she came in from the field chronically lame, put her on box rest until our vet visit and went to the vets and she was better but still lame. Done flexion tests, nerve blocks etc and finally x-rays.

It was nothing to do with the shoulder, she was diagnosed with ringbone, sidebones and DJD (degenerative Joint Disorder- Arthritis). If I had of left it without the x-rays and carried on doing what I was doing (she was not doing anything strenuous, just light schoolig and hacking) it would have been a lot worse.

Not to scare you but these things happen so best to get them thoroughly checked!!
Good luck :)
 
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