how long do you leave it before you call the vet?

[StormyMoments]

i was just wondering, if you see your horse is lame how long do you leave it before you call the vet? obviously not hopping lame that would be a bit stupid but if say 1-2/10ths lame

 

[Enfys]

Totally depends if I can see, or feel, any possible reason for said lameness. If there's no obvious reason then with my lot I tend to leave it a few days and just observe which way it goes, this is exactly what my Vet would tell me to do anyway. If I called him out for every little thing he'd be flying to his conventions in the UK, and US, First Class on my call out fees alone

 

[StormyMoments]

heat in the hooves and swelling on the shoulder (looks like a kick) was a hot day though... jesus how much does your vet charge?! my vet i would say is very reasonable lucky i guess and hes very nice i called him out on a semi-emergency the horse had a hole in the top of his leg but is wasnt bleeding or anything and he was there within 5 mins

 

[Dobiegirl]

Heat in the hooves could be anything or nothing if its a hot day, but would feel his digital pulse and compare to the other feet. If one foot was racing I would be thinking abcess and weighing up whether to call my vet or farrier.

Swelling on the shoulder I would be more worried and just ring my vet to describe and leave it to him to decide to come out.

I know my vet is happy for me to ring them with any worries and they trust me enough to know if Im worried there might be a problem.

 

[StormyMoments]

felt digital pulse no different barely feel them if him honest, swelling on shoulder is very small i probably wouldnt have noticed it if he wasnt lame, its in a hoof shape so im thinking the little moo in the field with him (no shoes) he is a wimp though he practically cant put his foot down if he over reaches and gets a little cut but its been 2 days and hes not getting worse but its not significantly better (not that im expecting a minor mirical or anything)...it cant be that bad if he come trotting to the gate or hooning around the field but just a general question

 

[miss_molly]

I call my vet straight away, discuss problem, signs, symptoms, what makes it worse etc.

Then decide whether visit is needed or treat by myself. Any meds needed are either posted or picked up by a friend. Then keep in regular conatct with vet via phone or text and update as necessary.

I think it really helps to have a good relationship with vet and a mutual understanding of your own abilities.

 

[ladyt25]

I don't kniw - I am more one for leaving them and seeing how they go whist monitoring any changes in the injury/lameness. my sisters horse was lame for a couple of weeks (very mildly) after turning his fetlock over when she was lungeing one day. We did eventually decide to get a vet out but they could not find anything and said to continue resting as we had. 2 or 3 weeks later he was still no better but certainly no worse so vet came out again, still nothihg. We had thermal imaging done and they found nothing either.

He is near sound now BUT then my horse helpfully kicked him on the lame leg last week - there was a loud crack and he wa son 3 legs initially (cue mild panic from me!). thankfully he put it down and I got him in to check, small cut on front of hock joint and lump on outside of cannon which swelled quite quickly. However, as he was walking on it and full weight bearing i treated the cuts and truned him back out. He was still sore the next day but after that he's got better and it is evidently just a bruise as the lump is now cold and he's walking/trotting fine.

I woukd generally give them a few days unless they are very obviously lame and uncomfortable or you can see there is infection. If they don't improve then think about getting the vet.

 

[skint1]

My daughter is vet-mad and phones them for advice all the time. Also if she has even the smallest concern she gets them out, I used to think this was a good thing, but now am not so sure.

I am not so happy with my vet for various reasons. I plan to change to a different practice once my extortionate £500 bill (the 2nd like that in 2 years) for an abscess is paid off.

The other reason I am not at all happy with them is because they speculated about the nature of an injury to my horse's field mate (also a client of theirs) which caused my horse to be removed from the field and kept on her own.

I've spent a couple of thousand on vet bills in the last 3 years but these days I am so cynical I resent giving them one more penny than I have to so I tend to wait and see unless I was worried it was something serious.

 

[dozzie]

My daughter is vet-mad and phones them for advice all the time. Also if she has even the smallest concern she gets them out, I used to think this was a good thing, but now am not so sure.

I am not so happy with my vet for various reasons. I plan to change to a different practice once my extortionate £500 bill (the 2nd like that in 2 years) for an abscess is paid off.

The other reason I am not at all happy with them is because they speculated about the nature of an injury to my horse's field mate (also a client of theirs) which caused my horse to be removed from the field and kept on her own.

I've spent a couple of thousand on vet bills in the last 3 years but these days I am so cynical I resent giving them one more penny than I have to so I tend to wait and see unless I was worried it was something serious.

It is probably why you are skint...