In need of ideas re front leg lameness please.

Nickles1973

Nickles1973

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 April 2009
Messages
540
Visit site
I have posted about this in NL also but could do with some other opinions please. My Tb had Mctimmony treatment last Tues and then new shoes on Weds. I followed all advice re warming him up before his shoes went on and then giving him a day off to allow him time to settle after his treatment and had planned a quiet hack on Thurs morning to let him stretch his legs only to find that he was slighly lame on off fore. Had the farrier back out who felt that because there was a lot of heat in his near fore that he might have pinched his foot or could possibly have an abcess brewing. He advised turning out as normal over the weekend and for me to let him know how he was on Monday. On Monday I lunged him and he still looked slightly lame on the right rein but was a little better so I called my farrier who said he'd come out today to check his foot again. Yesterday I decided to keep him in and try poulticing his foot just in case, and then this morning I lunged him again. This morning he looked pretty much sound in a straight line but still a little off on the right rein so as promised the farrier came and this time he watched me lunge. So now the farrier agrees with me that he is deffinately his off side that's affected and took that shoe off. He applied hoof testers and took a little more sole off to check for problems and couldn't find a thing. So now we're all stumped. I'm thinking that since he's seeming to get a little better each day that I should stick with keeping him in and then have another look at him at the weekend. I'm not against the idea of getting the vet but I'm just not sure that they'll do anything other than suggest box rest. Any other suggestions would be very gratefully recieved?? x
 
You don't say if this lameness is from the leg, body or the hoof. Everything you say so far seems to be pointing to the hoof but the lameness could be from anywhere.

What does the hoof look like? Is it low at the heels, long at the toe, oval, round, contracted at the bulbs, boxy?

I'm just trying to help you eliminate possible causes. In the meantime I would certainly call the vet as they will be able to ascertain limb lameness, tendon problems, back issues etc. There's a lot to be ruled out...
 
Thanks for your reply, My farrier originally felt the problem was with his hoof as the lameness appeared the day after him being shod and the fact that there was heat in his front feet. He shoes him with Natural balance shoes keeping his toes short and he's been working on raising his heels gradually for the last 18 months and this should be helping his tendons. There is no heat or swelling anywhere in his lower leg. My yard owner and farrier both felt watching him that he might have pulled something further up, maybe in his shoulder. The Mctimmony practitioner only treated him on Tuesday evening and I can't believe he managed to hurt himself in such a short space of time.
 
Believe me, it is possible. Good luck with the vet. I would not be surprised if it is a pulled muscle and not his hoof. Even if it was the hoof, it could be nailbind and that is treated quite easily with ABs and will grow out if controlled, sometimes even leaving shoe off to let infection grow out.
 
Is it the first time the McTimoney person had seen him?

'Adjusting' a horse with chiropractic can really affect the mechanics and the way they move, so for a couple of days post treatment, you can sometimes see signs of lameness and stiffness that weren't there before. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it means that the body is sorting itself out post treatment.

So if your horse had a chiro treatment, then had shoes put on, it is a lot of things for his nervous system, muscles and joints to 're-learn' how to use. It sounds like he may still need some time to 'recover' from the pretty big changes that have been made to the way his mechanical systems are now being used.

If you're still worried, speak to the chiro again and also get the vet out. :)
 
I have spoken to the Mctimmony lady, she has been to George 3 times previously and she was unable to throw any light on what may be causing him to be lame. She phoned me from holiday in Italy and will call me again on her return Tues to discuss with me again which I think is nice of her. I rode George in the menage on Saturday morning after 4 days box rest and he was totally sound. Then today I took him for a short hack down the road and as soon as we went on slighly uneven/stony ground he went lame again. When I got him home I lunged him and it's so slight its difficult to pinpoint but I'm starting to get very stressed so I'm calling the vet 1st thing tomorrow.
 
it could be that the farrier just took a bit too much foot off have you felt for a digital pulse in its fetlock? if you can feel a pulse it usually means that something isn't right in the foot or you could try squeezing the bulbs of the heel this could indicate a corn? if it is the first then i am afraid its just time i try to stay away from the vets if i have a foot problem as the farriers study the foot in a lot more depth . good luck
 
There is no pulse in either fetlock and to be honest the more I look at him the less able I am to even tell which leg is affected. My farrier has been out twice and looked at both front feet and has been unable to find anything specific other than to suggest that it could be bruising. George has gradually been getting better but I feel that I really need to get the vet now. His vac's are due this month anyway so I'm gonna bring them forward and get the vet to look at him at the same time.
 
Cambridge has very rich grass, and the grass is beginning to grow. I know he has no pulses but is there any possibility at all that he is slightly laminitic, because lots of what you have written points to it:

he gets better when you keep him in

you can't tell which leg he is unsound on

he was fine on flat tarmac but not on uneven and stony ground

there was heat in his feet

the reluctance of a laminitic to roll weight onto the toe can cause them to hoick up their shoulder at the end of the stride, making it look as if the shoulder is the problem

shoeing causes pain if the horse has inflamed laminae and could well bring on lameness

Is he overweight at all? If he is, I think you may need to watch his intake of spring grass very carefully. It may be a long shot, but better safe than sorry.
 
Whilst I accept what you suggest as a possibilty I would be surprised if it is the case. George is an exracer that although looks well wouldn't be considered overweight. He's 16.2/16.3 and weight tapes at around 525kg pretty consistently. This was last done at the beginning of Feb for worming. As mentioned before my farrier has seen him twice and he hasn't listed laminitis as a possibility. That said I would almost be relieved if it was the case as at least I would know what's causing it :-(
 
He certainly isn't a likely candidate, is he? Having said that, I had a fit eventer with it once, before I realised that my horses were copper deficient and that copper plays a role in insulin regulation. It's good that you are open-minded about it. I hope you find your answer soon.
 
He has only ever been slightly lame before three times, and all were accounted for by specific injuries or shoe loss so this is unusual for him as it has gone on for so long. I originally started the Mctimmony treatment as I was recommended it by my farrier because of his history as an ex racer. He has six monthly treatments now just to "treat" him really to ensure he's comfortable in his back etc. Since the first visit she has rarely found anything specific to treat. She is currently on holiday but she has promised to call be back on her return tomorrow to discuss his problem.
 
Had the vet today and she is almost 100% certain that he has a bruised heel/sole. Couldn't be certain without a nerve block but didn't think he was lame enough to warrant that at this stage. So I now have to poultice with sugar and iodine for a few days and he also has a few days bute and hopefully I'll be back riding by the weekend.
 
Any horse can get laminitis according to the latest research. Doesn't have to be a fat pony/horse. In fact a fat pony/horse does not automatically get laminitis.

Just thought I would point that out as it would be silly of us to assume this condition only affects certain types.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top