Identifying site of lameness. . Help

Fiona

Fiona

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My sons 11hh pony was lame on near hind when we arrived at pony club on Tuesday night. Only area we could identify was bump on outside splint bone but not particularly sore to squeeze.

Wednesday we took him to vets and he is due back there again in 10 days after a weeks bute.

Loads of xrays done of splint bone which show it has been previously fractured but very respected vets believe it isn't causing current problem.

He didn't react to hoof testers and quite a prolonged flexion didn't make him any lamer so am I right in thinking foot and joints can be provisionally ruled out?

Has anyone any suggestions in the meantime what might be the matter with him.

We have had him three years and hes never taken a lame step in that time..

Fiona
 
Just to add - I've contacted his owner (we loan him) and she can remember him being kicked in the field once (but not what leg), so that might have been when the splint bone was originally damaged. Apart from that he was sound in the ten years she had him, and the three years he's been on loan, and even though he's in his late teens hes definitely not slowing down or getting stiff or creaky..

Vets have said they will start nerve blocking next time if he hasn't improved, but I suppose I'm just spending a lot of time wondering about it in the meantime.

Any help gratefully received..

Fiona
 
I suggested that to hubby last night damnation, but we agreed that when my mare had her sacroiliac problems, the vet was able to exacerbate it by hind flexions.

I'm sure its still a possibility though.....

FIona
 
Knowing how lame my horse was with a fractured splintbone and the vets saying it could not possibly be causing him so much pain I would guess your pony has bruised around the fracture site and it is the reason for his lameness, mine was genuinely in loads of pain and the vets were wrong as once it was operated on he was fine, that is the short version but to me proves vets are often only making educated guesses and cannot rule out something just based on assumptions and experience on what may not hurt a different individual.

Other than the most obvious cause, the swollen splint, the foot and a brewing abscess would still be the next bet even if he did not respond to testers if it is deep it may not yet.
 
Thanks for the reply be positive, the simple answer would be his splint, and I hope it is the case, that or an abcess which I am very used to dealing with having owned my TB for 12 years lol..

He could have banged it in the lorry on the way to PC or even the night before when he skittered sideways into his stable rather than walking in like a sensible pony, but its odd that he wasn't reacting to having the splint squeezed.

At least he is being a sensible pony and eating up his bute, fingers crossed it takes the sting out of whatever is bothering him...

I wonder will they nerveblock the splint area first before they start at his heel and work up?????

Fiona
 
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