Intermittant lameness on different legs ??

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JLD

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Hello,
Any advice gratefully received - my horse is 14 yrs 16.3 IDX . pretty unfit as I am preganant and not riding but He has been ridden 1-2 x a week by someone who has now taken him on as a share for the past few months. They are very careful with him, and I know have not been doing too much but last week he was slightly lame on off hind in trot in her lesson so stopped lesson. fine on trot up and in field for a few days so she walked him out monday no problem , today fine in walk, gently trot up slight incline and a bit lame on near fore so she walked him home with no sign of problems. there is no heat or swelling in any legs and he has never been lame before, although has a tendancy to be fractionally unlevel behind when not fit and has been since we got him aged 8. we know there is some arthritis in L hock shown on a bone scan done to look for neck damage after an accident 4 years ago but has never been symptomatic from this. He is not shod behind and there hasnt been any stupidness in field that we know of - he is in a well settled group and tends to stay out of any sillyness that does happen. obviously if doesnt settle will get vet in to check but just seems a bit strange. only change is recent turnout to field with more grass. Am a bit confused by this !!
 
You maybe need to consider laminitis due to the extra grass, especially at this time of year.

Shifting lameness is often due to the horse compensating for some problem elsewhere in its body such as the back, neck or sacrum. It can also be due to an overall bilateral lameness where both hinds or both forelegs or even all four are lame and it seems that the lameness is shifting as one leg becomes sorer than the others. You need to get a vet to do a full lameness work up I think.
 
thanks - will definately be getting vet in but just seemed a bit strange. did think about laminitis but seems so sound in between. is difficult to get him off the new grass as on livery and turnout fields all arranged by YO and no options.
 
JLD said:
thanks - will definately be getting vet in but just seemed a bit strange. did think about laminitis but seems so sound in between. is difficult to get him off the new grass as on livery and turnout fields all arranged by YO and no options.
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Have you checked his hooves for heat? Does he have a digital pulse? If he has heat in his feet and/or a digital pulse, then he needs to come off the grass immediately. Have you spoken to the YO? If your horse does have laminitis then the YO has a duty of care to provide your horse with a safe environment and this would mean a sparse paddock if he has laminitis.
 
sharer checked very thoroughly - no heat at all no digital pulse and and sound on trot up on concrete . have sent text to yard owner today waiting for reply. prior to today had only one transient episode of hind leg lameness which was gone in about 6 hours so put down to tweaking something or treading on something. even though seems sound again now am a bit more worried now.especially as he is on full livery and I cant get there till tomorrow !
 
If there is no pulse or heat in the hooves then I would not be too worried about laminitis. It looks as though something else is going on that does not sound that urgent. I wouldn't be too worried. I hope you get him sorted. It could be something as simple as a sore back and he may just need a bit of physio.
 
thank you , have decided to get his osteopath in to see him anyway , she knows him really well and is always very sensible and I really respect her opinion. obviously if lameness is persistent or worse will get vet asap.
 
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