Intermittent lameness

[Danterpb]

Hi sorry if this has already been asked, but I'm new to this site and desperate for some advice. My horse came in mid August hopping lame after acting stupid in the field. Following box rest and cold hosing for a few days, she was fine had a dressage lesson on the Thursday and was perfectly fine. That sat was supposed to go competing but was lame in trot. So arranged for thermal imaging to be done on the following Tuesday which showed a hot hoof radiating up the leg (perhaps indicating an absess) so Epsom salt foot soak and poultices and the farrier came, but could only find slight bruising. She came fine again, had a new set of shoes on went to camp and came lame again on the first day. Any suggestions, can bruising / an absess take this long to repair and do they show intermittent lameness? Sorry if I'm missing the obvious but I've never dealt with anything like this before. Imaging is being performed again tonight and then will send pictures to the vet, but just seeking if anyone else had experienced anything like this. Many thanks

 

[be positive]

I think your vet would be best to come out and look properly, thermal imaging is not really giving you a diagnosis only an area that may be of concern, it could be many things, abscesses can take a while to come out as can bruising but as it started after her fooling around it could well be something more serious such as ligament or tendon damage.

I wouldn't be wasting money on another thermal image as it has gone on rather a long while you need a true diagnosis from a vet.

 

[Birker2020]

I agree with BP - you need to get to the bottom of the problem or you are throwing good money after bad.

A lameness workup will show any areas of concern and nerve blocks may be used to pinpoint a particular area. As 99% of lameness is in the foot there is a fair chance it could be this, but it could also be something simple like a corn or a bruise that might not necessary show marked lameness in its early stages.

With it being intermittent it could be something like a check ligament - my prevoius horse was on and off lame with this for a while.