Lame horse - should I give danilon?

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ZarasMum

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Hi - my mare recently felt reluctant in the school on the right rein. I checked for heat/swelling etc. and could find nothing, so hoped that she had merely slipped in the field and tweaked a muscle. I had the physio out and she found her slightly lame on a small circle to the right and has identified the problem as originating in her stifle joint which feels slightly inflamed, and compensatory back muscle tightness for which she has given her a deep muscle massage.

She has always had a weakness in this stifle (she is 13 now and I have owned her since she was 5) which in the past has manifested itself as an occasional slight waver with that leg when asked to step back but it has never caused any lameness or symptoms of pain.

I called the vet today but my normal vet is now away until Tuesday, and rather than a vet I don't know coming out I chose to wait and call again on Tuesday morning. Do you think she will be okay until then? She doesn't look uncomfortable in the field (she lives out) and is cantering around as normal. She's not grumpy and seems her normal self. Obviously I won't be working her at all.

Also, I have some danilon - should I give her a sachet a day until the vet comes to hopefully alleviate the swelling, or should I allow the symptoms to persist to enable the vet to assess?

I'm thinking she may well be developing a touch of arthritis in that joint - if so, the chances are she will be prescribed an anti-inflammatory anyway...
 
To be honest if she doesnt look sore i wouldnt give her any....it would be better for the vet to see her with out painkillers as it might hide something important.

X
 
If she is cantering as normal I would save my danilon. Could do more damage on it by masking the pain and her tweaking it further. Maybe cold hose. There could be a swelling you maybe havent spotted and it would do no harm
 
If it was me I wouldn't give her anything as it will only mask the problem 1) to her (she is more likely not to do anything silly if it hurts a little bit) and 2) when your vet does visit.

As long as she is moving alright and she seems happy enough wait for the vet you know and trust.
 
Sorry to hear your mare is lame. Personally I wouldn't give her bute which may mask the lameness problem for when vet comes on Tuesday. I'd keep an eye on her in field and if she seems to go more lame I would probably bring her in until vet visits. :)
 
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