i love my vet but can they be wrong?

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mazziek

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My cobby was diagnosed as having high ringbone, no xrays done just a feel of his legs, trot up on very stoney ground. was told he will not be able to do riding club and go in a sand school. he will also be too lame to anything more than walk so keep him as happy hacker. my mare was diagnosed as having arthritus again feel of legs and trot up, again told happy hacker. now that was several month ago. since then the mare has took off with me in a stubble field at flat out gallop and bucking and he bucked me off when a squirrel spooked him and bolted and bucked! both are feeling VERY VERY fresh just now im not pushing them but im just windering maybe the vet was not really interested in them as both are doing very well. they have not had many problems before just that one lameness few months back both went at same time. i think he might have gone over his foot wee bti cause he was running round the field like a mad un! anyone else had this kinda experince?
 
To be fair I wouldnt of allowed a vet to diagnose such diseases with a quick feel and a trot up..... I'd get a second opinion.
 
i wouldnt say vets are wrong but they air on the side of caution, you know your own horses and whay they can do and how they are going so go by that. my vet told me my mare would never be sounds and could never be ridden, 7 months box rest completely sound and ridden very happily but i never jumped her again just to be cautious.
 
If i was you i would go for a 2nd opinion. I thought i had a great vet been with him for 11 years but when my pony became ill he couldn't be bothered and told me it was his arthritis becasue he is old when it was actually really bad worm problems and is now going to have to be put to sleep.
 
A vet I used to use had my horse stay at his practice for 2 days, had x-rays, nerve blocks, joint blocks etc. I was told hoss had a flare up of his bone spavin and to ignore the heat and swelling in his fetlock and continue riding him.

It turned out he had split his DDFT and manica flexoria.

I would at least have x-rays taken of your horses.
 
My horse was diagnosed with ringbone, but my vet x-rayed and thats how we know for sure. I would question how the vet can know its ringbone without doing this
 
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To be fair I wouldnt of allowed a vet to diagnose such diseases with a quick feel and a trot up..... I'd get a second opinion.

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I agree. Both diagnoses require x-rays at the very least.
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Get a second opinion.
 
In short, yes, vets can sometimes be wrong. I would get a second opinion, just to make sure you are happy, and horse doesn't suffer.
 
Yes even the very best vet can be wrong occasionally.
If you arent happy ( and I wouldnt be if all they did was feel the leg) then get a second opinion.
 
Not only can vets be wrong, but they can be right and the horse doesnt listen to the doom and gloom predictions!!!

Merlin (sorry for those who know this off by heart)!! was diagnosed by x-rays and scans, with severe arthritis of his hind fetlock (just the one).

It was predicted that a joint that was as badly affected by arthritis as his is, would not stand up to anything other than hacking, in walk, in straight lines and on a perfect surface.

Now in all honesty, Merlin has a bit of a cushy life because of this prediction, but he jumps, he hacks for 2-3 hours with friends, and he also went to Ravenwoods for 6 days and did at least 3 hours hacking a day over not very perfect terrain. What he does not do is endless circles in the school (we dont even have one
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So, dont lose heart..... be firm and get some x-rays done and then see what happens
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Good luck
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