Lame again.....so worried!

[cblover]

Teddy is lame again! As some of you know he's had loads of abscesses in all but one foot and he's only a yearling. I breath a sigh of relief every time he comes sound again and pray for it not to happen again!

I noticed yesterday that he wasn't 'right' in his back end....with his movement. He was short in his stride and it appeared hard to turn etc. Of course I'm so tuned into his feet that I automatically think abscess! Farrier been today to do Kinzzy and he had a look at his back end and his feet in general and isn't convinced its an abscess this time! He thinks its further up...either stifle or pelvis! God that horse worries me! He's just so big (clyde x trad cob) and I manage his diet carefully so as not to over feed him due to his size! I also keratex his feet twice weekly and clean them out daily. His diet is grass, hay, biotin, tiny bit of dengie and a carrot...plus he has access to a rockies 5 star lick in the field!

So, I've decided to ask a mctimoney practitioner to have a look...or do you think I should go right to the vet? We have one practice round here that I would consider experts!

Any advice/ideas/experiences would be appreciated! Of course I'm thinking the worst and our farrier did say to my husband when I wasn't listening 'this could be bad news'. Thanks for listening!

 

[misst]

No helpful suggestions but (((good wishes))) to you and him that it is nothing too serious. I hate it when things are not right it makes me feel physically sick.

 

[canteron]

The more information you have the more likely you are to find the route of the problem.

I would be tempted to go straight to the vet, I like my back lady, but appreciate that she has limitations and find the farrier and vet more useful if I have a definite problem.

If you do go for a vet, talk to them and ask which is their most experienced vet at this sort of thing. For example, there is one vet at our practice who loves lameness(!?) as he views it as a sort of detective thing and has so much experience that normally his first gut feeling is the right one. So make sure you get the right vet out as after all, the horse is a yearling and you may be in for a long relationship!!

But also remember that you know your horse better than anyone, so always layer anyone elses 'opinion' against your knowledge of your horse.

 

[ladyt25]

To be honest, I wouldn't worry unduly. If he's been prone to abscesses then I would think it's more than likely another abscess! Just because the farrier can't find it doesn't mean it's not there (trust me I have been there several times!). It could be something else but I too have been down the route before if thinking it's something higher up and I've always been proved wrong. Stilll with youngsters, especially heavier types, they can get issues to due with joints and growth so may be worth having a vet check him over if you're worried. i would also look to putting him on some hoof supplement if you've not got him on anything already.

 

[cblover]

Thanks both. I will speak to my vet and ask who is the most appropriate vet to speak to and visit Ted. I'm hoping this is just another abscess really....sounds awful I know but at least that isn't anything too serious! Time will tell I suppose!

 

[Gingerwitch]

Just a daft bit of advice i was given by a vet - think where you put your horses feed bucket/manager and hay in the stable - especially if its at the front by the door - if it is then walk your horse in and slowly turn them around to face their food - very often you will see a horse turn quickly to get to there feed/hay and it just puts unnecessary stresses on the joints.