lame pony ! any ideas anyone !!

meesha

meesha

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also posted in veterinary but no responses !

Hi all, hoping for some help/advice - friend called me round as her pony (sheltlandxcob - overweight but no more than normal) was lame - she had ridden out yesterday with hoof boots (stoney round by us) and he had even decided to trot down quite steep hill. Then last night apparently looked bit footy - today very head bobbing lame - happy for foot to be picked up, leg bent back and leg pulled forwards (ears forward) cant feel any heat in particular (possibly warmer than other front but marginal) but there is more of a pulse and he is not keen to pick other front up to weight bear on bad one.

I am assuming its laminitis and owner is keeping in with soaked hay and bute and deep bed - he was on slightly more grass than normal yesterday and the grass round by us is growing like stink !

Any other suggestions if not lami ? seems odd to have only in one front but have heard this is possible - not my pony and owner is calling vet if not improved by later today.


penguin biscuit and cuppa for all !
 
Yep, can get Lami in just one foot - my mare had it - on x-ray her good foot had almost perfect balance, the bad foot showed significant rotation of the pedal bone. It was her 'boxy' foot that had the lami, and was put down to confirmation and concussion. If I was your friend I'd have my Vet out sharpish to find out!
 
Thanks Hedwards - I was a little worried that I had overstated possibility of it being lami to owner as she wanted to keep him in but on yard and I said if were mine would shut in stable on deep bed etc etc.

Hope your mare ok now ! bloody horrible condition !
 
Yes, much better now thanks, it took 9-12 months to get full recovery and back into worth though.

Fingers crossed for your friend and pony!
 
funny was just thinking same about abscess but assume there is no way of telling until it bursts (unless we can locate heat) !

My chap had an abscess but was barely lame on it for one day and it burst and he was sound again - vet just said to keep him moving (leave him out) and keep it clean !

problem is 2 very different approaches for lami and abscess !
 
meesha said:
funny was just thinking same about abscess but assume there is no way of telling until it bursts (unless we can locate heat) !

My chap had an abscess but was barely lame on it for one day and it burst and he was sound again - vet just said to keep him moving (leave him out) and keep it clean !

problem is 2 very different approaches for lami and abscess !
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The 2 different approaches are a problem, but laminitis has by far the more serious consequences if left untreated.

I'd treat as laminitis and get vet if no improvement, chances are it is an abscess, but mine had a raised pulse and had strained her deep digital tendon, so always worth being cautious in my book.
 
I'd treat as laminitis and get vet if no improvement
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^this is a good plan of action. :)

My chap had an abscess but was barely lame on it for one day and it burst and he was sound again
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You were lucky there. My mare was lame for ages with her abscess. At one point she was struggling to walk and the farrier and two vets failed to find it. It eventually burst out of an old nail hole on her hoof wall.
 
I would be inclined to think abcess as the more likely option if it is just the one front foot. Lami in one foot does happen but less common. He'll likely go hopping lame quite quickly if it is an absess.

either way keep him off the autumn flush though!

Fingers crossed it isn't the dreaded L word.
 
Thanks all you have been v hepful. Owner has gone down tonight armed with warm water to treat as if abscess whilst keeping pony off grass just in case the L word !!

the wonders of horse ownership !
 
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