MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
My 22 yr old shetland has suddenly gone lame on a hind as of yesterday. She's never been 100% sound since getting kicked in the hip about 10 years ago (and now athritis has set in a little), but she still manages easily to canter round the field. However, yesterday she was very evidently lame on the athritic hip leg to the point she was barely putting any weight on it whatsoever. I initially thought it was an absess (our other pony used to be very prone to these for a few years) but after watching her, I'm not so sure. She's bringing her hind leg right forward under her and trying to keep the weight in her toe. I've felt and prodded her all over to feel for any injuries / heat etc. to no avail (including pressing hard on her sole in case of an absess). I've kept her in since and will obviously call the vet if she's no better when I see her this afternoon (only reason I havent is that if it is an absess, I've had horrid experiences of the vet digging like hell into the sole drawing blood). Vets also usually do the usual "can't tell, would have to do x-rays" thing which I dont fancy at this stage as she might come right on her own. She has a supply of bute which I give her on her stiff athritic days (but in reality she rarely needs it) but am obviously not going to give this until I have an idea of what it is.
