Lame on both hinds, my poor, sore horse.

Spot_the_Risk

Spot_the_Risk

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Arrived at the field this morning to find Tinner having a snooze lying down, when he finally got up he was not at all right, couldn't decide which foot to bear weight on, didn't want to walk, roach back. Clicky left stifle a,d dropped left hip. Panic! Called vet as I though maybe somehow he had broken a bone somewhere, in the meantime he had walked a little. Vet had a good feel and gentle manipulation etc, couldn't find anything obvious, not lammi, not azoturia, slightly raised digital pulse, six hours later and he's just the same but now his breathing rate has increased a fair bit. I'm not looking for a wonder diagnosis, but a few H&H vibes and good wishes would be nice for my poor Tinner. He's not six years old yet, and vet couldn't rule out that there might just be a hairline break somewhere deep...
 
Sorry to hear this.

Must admit I'd be thinking that lameness in both hinds at this time of year combined with digital pulses would be pointing towards lammi.... I'd treat for that in the mean time, then review.
 
Yes I know what you mean, except she was completely sure. He was last ridden on Friday of the previous week, eight days ago, and this Wednesday threw up a splint on his near fore, I have no idea what's going on but I'm very worried. I am going back to the field in 20 minutes or so prepared to call the vet again and ready to go back to work to collect a lot of bedding (all my horses live out...)
 
Poor tinner, I wouldn't rule out lami without an xray (and even then that is sort of after the event) I would think best to treat as a possibility in case at the moment.
 
Aw poor boy, and what a worry for you. I hope you get to the bottom of it soon, sending you both good thoughts x
 
All best vibes for Tinner.

We found a neighbours mare in a similar pickle when neighbour was away on holiday. My immediate thought was lami (as she was overweight), but vet diagnosed it as fractured wing of ilium. She came good after 10 or so weeks box rested in cross ties.
 
ester said:
Poor tinner, I wouldn't rule out lami without an xray (and even then that is sort of after the event) I would think best to treat as a possibility in case at the moment.
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Agree with this.
My friends mare was like this and had started chewing on the heels of her back feet. Friend thought lami on her hinds but X-rays showed rotation in both fronts. The back feet were fine but sore because o the extra weight they were carrying.
 
Thank you everyone, I am hoping that it really is a simple answer, vet said he was very tight in all the muscles over the rump so it could even be a hard kick with a haematoma brewing in there somewhere... Poor lad is walking steadily and slowly in a straight line, very obviously lame when he tries to turn. She did say it wasn't impossible that there's a hairline crack deep in the area, further investigation if required, I guess it is a few days of wait and see. She wanted him out, felt pottering about in the field was better than standing in. Tinner is feeling very sorry for himself and is looking for cuddles which is endearing, but I'd rather have him fit and well (and if the splint could disappear too that would,be a bonus!)
 
I'm afraid I'd be treating as laminitis too, years ago I was told mine didn't have laminitis by a vet, it was only x rays at a later date that proved she did. The muscles over the quarters would also be tight with laminitis. I'd be getting him off the grass - better safe than sorry until you know exactly what is going on.
 
Vet out again at 6am, tinnerhad shallow breathing and was sweaty and shifting weight from side to side on his hinds. So we've had all hooves tested, nothing there but it could be a deep abscess. Had an internal, nothing obvious. Definitely not laminitis. He's now in on a deep shavings bed, on soaked hay and strong drugs, feeling a bit better too. The other two horses are doing shifts in and out so he isn't alone...
 
Mine last year had sinking in both hind feet, but the 4 weeks before they sunk, did not have any digital pulses, nor was he reactive to hoof testers. I still wouldn't rule out laminitis, but at least he's getting the right treatment regardless.
Good luck. Mine was in for 11 months!
 
Oh dear, I'd be interested to know why your vet says it is definitely not laminitis though, it sounds like pretty classic symptoms, mine recently had a mild attack in the hind feet and was weight shifting and had a slightly raised digital pulse. At least he's off the grass, so doing the right thing if it is.
 
Vet is convinced not laminitis, the problems seem to stem from either the pelvis area or (please God!) left foot ie abscess. Even if it is Lami he's now in, on a deep bed, on soaked hay, on pain relief so treatment is essentially the same. It's so difficult when there isn't an obvious issue, I've not had anything like this today (my lot are generally healthy cob types), the worst I've had before is an open kick wound that way you can see the problem.

Went to the local clay shoot for an hour to take our mind of it, bumped into the local knackerman, all I needed!!
 
Agree with touchstone, I'd be interested to know how the vet can say definitely not laminitis, because the only real and scientific way to rule out lammi is x rays and close examination of the white line. Unfortunately bruising may not be evident for a few weeks.
What does your farrier say? I've had an incorrect diagnosis from the vet in the past, but Farrier was spot on, and now any lameness issues I have, I tend to think laminitis first, then anything else secondary.
Sounds like you're doing the best thing with deep bed and soaked hay.
Good luck, hope things improve.
 
Hopefully it will be just an abscess then, the raised digital pulse would shout that at least it is the foot that is the issue to me, so fingers crossed he just needs a bit of time, but I would keep treating as laminitis until proven otherwise. Fingers crossed he makes a full and speedy recovery from whatever it is!
 
Digital pulse normal again this morning though, and only very slightly raised yesterday (I know not very technical but all four feet have felt normal temp to me all the way through). I would prefer anything to a break...
 
Tiddlypom said:
vet diagnosed it as fractured wing of ilium. She came good after 10 or so weeks box rested in cross ties.
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Should read #hairline fracture of wing of ilium#, no displacement. Mare was very unhappy initially, and owner decided against transporting her to horsepital for confirmatory x rays. The diagnosis was based on clinical signs. She was a big shire cross mare, and a portable x ray wouldn't have been up to the job.


Advice was not to use painkillers, to keep her in enough pain to be reluctant to move, and she stayed in the crossties for over two months. She was absolutely forbidden to lie down, in case the fracture opened. Somehow she ended up in my stables, due to the owner being abroad when it initially happened.

The mare coped very well. We hung water buckets and haynets up within easy reach, and made sure something was turned out in close proximity at all times.
 
Hi yellow sucky, no they haven't. So far we are going down the box rest and bute route and waiting a few days to see if it eases as she is pretty convinced it's either the splits or a deep muscle problem somewhere in the pelvis area. He's definitely improved today and yesterday, still very sore but better. So worrying and frustrating.
 
Hi ester, thanks for asking. He's still on box rest, bright and happy and I've dropped from four to two bute a day today. Vet is due back tomorrow pm to reassess. He can walk in a fairly straight line now with only the occasional sway, the back is still tight, hind legs have stopped shaking, and his hind leg stride is now about two feet long, on Saturday it wasn't six inches so there is definite improvement. Feet have remained cool throughout, there is heat equally on both sides on the stifles, the point of hips, and the poverty lines running down the quarters. So whilst he is better than he was we still don't know what happened or exactly where and what the damage is, I think it's going to be a long haul...
 
Spot_the_Risk said:
Hi ester, thanks for asking. He's still on box rest, bright and happy and I've dropped from four to two bute a day today. Vet is due back tomorrow pm to reassess. He can walk in a fairly straight line now with only the occasional sway, the back is still tight, hind legs have stopped shaking, and his hind leg stride is now about two feet long, on Saturday it wasn't six inches so there is definite improvement. Feet have remained cool throughout, there is heat equally on both sides on the stifles, the point of hips, and the poverty lines running down the quarters. So whilst he is better than he was we still don't know what happened or exactly where and what the damage is, I think it's going to be a long haul...
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Good to hear that there's some improvement. Hope that your vet can find out what's the matter with him.
Do keep us updated x
 
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