Keeping a horse "lame" enough before lameness workup

[PucciNPoni]

If you had a horse that was going for a lameness workup at the horsepital, would you be incline to keep working it lightly so that it doesn't come sound again before the appointment? Or would you just completely rest it?

 

[brighteyes]

What is the vet's advice?

 

[Flame_]

That depends on the horspital! If its a good one, you should not need to make the horse lamer to find the problem.

 

[Booboos]

Would do what the vet recommended.

 

[Donkeymad]

I'd do exactly what the vet says - no more,no less.

 

[fingers_crossed]

just enough to keep it lame, hack and maybe ten minutes in the school every other day - at least that what i've had to do previously

 

[PucciNPoni]

Thanks for the responses. Vet suggests light hacking (ie straight line work) and maybe some light turn out. Turned out and horse was a loon after 30 minute wanting back in as it's getting too dark for Her Royal HOrseness. Hacking would have to be done in the dark by the time I'm at yard. Normally we school in the indoor daily so my options at the moment are a bit limited. So I've been handwalking in the school and turning out for as long as she will stay out. Not great, but probably the best I can do since I'm not ready to risk us both by hacking in the dark...

Oh well, haven't got long to wait - off to horsepital on Monday. Can maybe hack a wee bit on Sat/Sun.

 

[Tegan]

We were advised to keep our boy hacking out for 30 - 40 mins a day in walk and trot before he went to Liphook for a lameness work-up. This is particularly important if you are having a bone scan done as the radioactivity only circulates properly if they have been kept in work.

He was also turned out 24/7 although this is what we had been doing any way.

Hope it's good news on Monday.

Tegan

 

[PucciNPoni]

Well, they're keeping my girlie in this week to do bone scan. They x-rayed her hock, and that looks clean, very very little change compared to the amount of lameness she's exhibiting. She was lame in walk.

As she's really dropping and swinging the hip, they didn't do nerve blocks as the vet feels that it's more likely to NOT be lower limb - would rather have a look at her hips/pelvis. If that comes up negative then they'd do nerve blocks later. It's going to be weird being horseless this week.

 

[H's mum]

The last thing that your vet will want you to do is rest it - you need to keep it in work so that the lameness will be apparent and easy to spot once they do the work up - I know of a few who didn't and got a big vet bill... only to be told it was inconclusive as the horse wasn't showing lame enough

It's awful - but you've got to do it

Kate x

 

[claire1977]

if its lame - i wouldn't run the risk of still riding it and making it worse just for the vets to see. thats madness!

 

[Wishful]

[ QUOTE ]
if its lame - i wouldn't run the risk of still riding it and making it worse just for the vets to see. thats madness!

[/ QUOTE ]

Has to depend what the suspected issue is. If the lameness is intermittent/minor it will be impossible to diagnose without the horse being consistently lame - sadly horses can't say "there" so it's detective work. If the lameness is major/suspected fracture, obviously work is a bad idea.