Intermittent lameness

midogrey

midogrey

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Barefoot 7 year old keeps going lame, no abscess, not footy checked by vet including X-ray. Goes sound after few days rest then after a week in work goes uneven and varies which leg appears lame on. 10 days ago failed trot up at vet inspection.but sound again when vet checked 3 days later and now uneven again. What to do next? Vet can't find anything. Suggestions please
 
my thoughts so far are its either a run of bad luck and all separate events or something underlying, did seem stiff in back ????
 
One of mine with long term dietary selenium deficiency would show a shifting limb lameness. Even coming down one hill, he was lame on one front leg and within a few seconds he was lame on the other front leg (regardless of which way his nose was tipped).

If it's a struggle to find out what's going on, might be worth a simple blood test to check muscle enzymes (CK, LDH and AST, but primarily CK) to see whether it's any muscular problem (as selenium deficiency would be). Just make sure the blood is taken at home after at least a couple of days off work so you get a true resting blood, and do ask for a copy of the full blood report for your own records.

I'm sure there'll be a few things that can cause a shifting lameness, but that's my only experience.

Sarah
 
Good news on the laminitis front then. I've had a horse with front leg lameness caused by sacroiliac strain, so next I'd be looking at his back somewhere.

Flintfootfiily (do I know you ??) Also seems to have some good ideas
 
midogrey said:
Thank you for ideas, I think back will be next to check then bloods. It's the lack of diagnosis that is frustrating.
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SI can be very difficult to spot :( both a vet and a physio missed mine. I hope you have better luck, but if you are insured I would go straight for scintigraphy.
 
cptrayes said:
That may be your experience Faracat, but it's not mine.

Lymes is pretty rare isn't it ?
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I did say 'could' as i am aware that it is a possibility not a certainty.

If you live in an area with lots of Deer, the ticks can move from the deer to other animals. Because Lymes causes joint pain, it causes lameness. As different joints can be affected (one gets better, another gets worse) it can present as lameness that changes legs. My Vet sees it in various animals, so it is a possibility. If you catch it early a short course of antibiotics sorts it.

The OP's Vet will know if they are in an area with lots of deer and therefore more Lymes.
 
The vet is coming out for the 3rd time today to try to once again figure out what is going on with my horse but in the meantime (as I sit here silently freaking out), I'd love everybody's educated opinions!

12 year old Hunter mare. Reduced workload since July as I have been busy with work (ridden about 3-4 times/wk for about 1/2 hr each ride). Since the beginning of September, has been on/off lame and has not been ridden. Had Vet #1 out at the beginning of Sept. He did an abaxial sesamoid block on the RF and she came up sound. Vet #1 suggested I call Vet #2 to do xrays as he doesn't do them. Vet #2 xrays foot and pastern. Xrays clean. Xrays are even clean compared to my PPE xrays from 3 years ago. Vet #2's partner also looks at both sets of xrays, confirms xrays are clean. Vet #1 sees xrays - agrees. No response to hoof testers. Lameness not worse with flexion tests. Farrier has seen horse and reshod feet with rim pads on front only. No change.

Horse has a bit of thrush in central sulcus of RF. Vet #2 agrees. Have been treating it as per her advice. Seems to be cleared up since I started treating it 1 week ago. I thought that horse was being a baby and this could have been the issue but I doubt it. This week, horse has been sound Sunday, pretty lame Monday, sound Wednesday, dead lame Thursday night.

I am stumped. Vet is going to do more nerve blocks today to really isolate the issue and will ultrasound the pastern if necessary. Any ideas? Of course I am sitting at work unable to concentrate and figuring out how a pasture puff is going to fit into my life!
 
Faracat said:
I did say 'could' as i am aware that it is a possibility not a certainty.

If you live in an area with lots of Deer, the ticks can move from the deer to other animals. Because Lymes causes joint pain, it causes lameness. As different joints can be affected (one gets better, another gets worse) it can present as lameness that changes legs. My Vet sees it in various animals, so it is a possibility. If you catch it early a short course of antibiotics sorts it.

The OP's Vet will know if they are in an area with lots of deer and therefore more Lymes.
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Very interesting, thanks F. I have lots of deer and didn't know this.
 
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