Lame horse, in or out?

[Paint it Lucky]

After some advice please!

I brought my horse in from thefield yesterday evening and he was lame on one foreleg, he was walking a bit oddly (taking wide steps and walking slowly), so I asked him to trot and he was noticeably lame. On inspecting his legs he had a bit of heat in his off side fetlock, but no swelling and no signs of injury etc. So I bandaged his legs and left him in for the night (as he always is). I gave him a bute in his tea and put one in his breakfast for today. I suspected he had twisted his fetlock and strained it somehow, and was going to boxrest him for a bit then see how he was.

As I work saturdays I normally get my friend who shares the field with me to put him out with her horse. I asked her to leave him in, anyway somehow she must have misheard me and turned him out.

So he was out all day today (around 7 hours). Friend sad he didn't run around at all, just ate grass. When I brought him in he was walking fine though I didn't trot him up as he is still under the influence of bute. I was surprised though to find there was no heat in his fetlock at all after being out (thank goodness!). Friend said that when she turned him out this morning she did notice he was very stiff. I am sure that if he had been in all day he would be even stiffer, so it seems turning him out was a good thing as it has loosened him up.

So now I don't know what to do tomorrow, should I turn him out so he can wander around and keep his joint mobile so it doesn't stiffen up. Or leave him in so he can't injure himself further? At the moment I am thinking turn him out with bandages on for support so he can wander about (he is not the type to go running round normally). I still think he twisted his fetlock somehow, the field is a little muddy so maybe he slipped. The farrier is coming monday anyway so i will get them to check it is nothing in his hoof though I don't think it is. I've given him some more bute today and in tomorrows breakfast, both for it's pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. I proably won't give him any tomorrow night so that farrier can see extent of lameness (if still lame), and so I can trot him up and see how he's doing. Obviously if still lame after a few days I will get the vet.

Do you think I am doing the right thing?

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

I would see what he is like in the morning. Sometimes they are better out, depends on the horse and lameness really, I know thats not very helpful.
See what he is like in the morning and consider putting on bandages and turning out

 

[Enfys]

from what you have described I'd say out as long as the field isn't a complete bog.

My Vet says that out is best if possible, he's stitched up legs on a couple of horses for me in the past year, told me to bandage and turnout. They just went back to their buddies and kept grazing.

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

I wouldn't give Bute and turn out until you know why he is lame otherwise he could make matters worse by running around with the pain masked with the Bute.
That's just my opinion though

Edited to say, I am not saying don't turn out, I am saying if you turn out I wouldn't give the Bute.

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Thanks, all good points! I am giving him bute because of it's anti-inflammatory properties, to try and help heal whatever is wrong. Obviously in some ways it is annoying that it then masks pain as well, but as Enfy's says it is better to have him out then standing in getting stiff. But equally I don't want to make him worse. Arrghhh dilemma!

 

[lozza_cook]

I always keep in until I know why. I was persuaded to turn my horse out with a fat leg once... turned out he had fractured his splint bone. Never again!

Everyone's individual choice though. Really depends on the injury

Hope its nothing serious.

 

[tangoharvey]

our vet always says 5 days box rest - lay off the bute as this masks the pain and the horse will walk about more and prolong recovery time...

 

[Bojangles]

Thats extracy what happeren to my boy only thing is I didnt get told till into the night I had to come out of work to see what was wrong with him the girl who brings him in said the same as yours!! Anyway had heat in lower part of leg and into the corant band at first I thought of a abcess no digtil pulse didnt get vet out as he wasnt that lame nor did I bute him as that makes him a bit too better when his not! Hes on box rest walking out this happen last thursday so his enjoying box restd not!!! Ive kept him in to rest it his in a huge stable so can walk around. His much better now planning on turning out monday he's been out in the lunge pen to have a roll and he didnt explore now Im thinking he's saving it when his goes out!! Plus walking out in hand in his bridle!! I didnt want him making it worse as part of his field is a bit bogging. This is caused by him being a loony when a new hores was put out in another field!!

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Bojangles thanks that's very interesting.

Normally I would just keep him in until I know what's wrong, I was just so surprised today after friend accidently turned him out how sound he seemed. But it could easily have been the bute and I expect I was just lucky that he hasn't run around and made it worse. Think I will keep him in then and walk in hand a few times daily to stop him getting stiff.

 

[Bojangles]

O I did forget to metion I did ask our animal commcuncation lady for advice as I was very close on getting the farrier out to have a dig around thank god I did otherwise I would of wasted his time and my money. I also cold hosed it for the first couple of days and put that ice clay stuff, banges next morning more heat so decide to stop using the clary and got some gel instead. He was also on arncia tablats. The bute might of coverd it up a bit too much im not a big fan of buteing will do if really need as he was weight bearly just a bit uncomforable. Hope yours have a speedly recovering!!

 

[Paint it Lucky]

What did the animal communication lady say?

 

[Bojangles]

He gone over on left leg nothing to worry about just rest and cold hoseing and gel. Abit like us twisting our ankle etc hs sound now thank god!! Just got to get him out without loonying around again as he was getting fitter before this and now his on box rest and being a pig to lead!! So glad I lead him in a bridle whist box resting otherweise he could of done more damage if he got away from me!! Every horse is different he's always trips more on left because of his tight shodler so its more difflcult for him to move freely.