Lameness exam xrays

sheep

sheep

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Xrays below: Any thoughts? Full diagnosis has been given but just interested to see what anyone else makes of them.

Near fore
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Off fore
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Other than the sidebones? ;)

On my phone so can't actually see in any detail but just a note that radiographs are not diagnostic on their own. They did a study in the US where they presented vets with x-rays and histories to match up and it was pretty clear even the best vets could not be definitive. You can have terrifying x-rays and minor lameness, or only a hint of a shadow and a cripple standing in the barn.
 
Side bones amongst a couple of other things! I posted a thread yesterday about him, basically he's had a bit of intermittent lameness over the past few months. So far the work up has a revealed that there is bit of DJD in the coffin joint and some extra bone growth on the navicular bone. (Sorry if my terminology is wrong, I am a numpty!). Also a little bit of DJD in the hocks.. a couple of close spinal processes.. currently I feel like I am looking at a medical dictionary of equine mishaps!
 
hmm, Frank had a DJD in one coffin joint diagnosis. Would be interesting to see how his feet land perhaps (we found this very telling with F that's all).
 
fwiw he also had flat/reverse rotated pedal bones/collapsed heels on both fronts - only lame on one.

He went lame at the beginning of November, had bar shoes and steroid + HA injection into coffin joint and rest. Started work mid dec (just walking out and feet looked much better heel wise) but went lame when started trotting - as bad as initially presentation so I think improvement seen previously down to rest. Injected again in late January and only short term improvement seen. Shoes came off end of march and not looked back.

Watching landing he was lateral first with both fronts, worse on the lame one so I suspect he had some collateral ligament strain going on too (no MRI done). He lands much straighter now, can send you some vids later if you would like to look at all?
 
I'd take the shoes off and let him grow the foot he needs to correct that internal imbalance. I don't have a good experience of additional bone spurs on the navicular, though, so I'd be hoping for the best.
 
All the issues you mentioned can potentially be related though, and all may be present in an asymptomatic horse. As I said, x-rays don't accurately predict lameness, they are part of the diagnostic tool kit.

Horses (like all of us) are mechanisms and what affects one bit will affect the whole system, with the cracks showing first in the weakest bits not necessarily the most obvious ones. What results did you get from blocks, in terms of improving soundness, ridability etc?
 
Oh absolutely, I'm just asking for general opinions, experiences etc. The vet has explained some of the mechanics and how they interact with each other, causing / contributing to some of the problems. The xrays were only taken yesterday so currently he is tucked up in his stable on box rest. He has had joints medicated and farrier has been consulted about the next step. Ideally I want to find the best way to help improve his foot conformation as to me if seems that it is potentially one of the catalysts towards the rest of his issues- he is lame in both fronts, worse on the wonky leg. I haven't had him all that long so I'm keen to do the best thing for him in the long term, though obviously I cannot expect miracles in terms of soundness and his DJD, I would like to do what I can to keep him happily hacking out and maybe doing a bit of low level dressage.
 
Also, ester, all very interesting with your boy. I wonder if a similar approach may help mine. Would be interested to see the videos if you want to pm me a link or whatever!
 
I'm not that bothered about shoes or not as a general rule but the only way you're going to know for sure how a horse 'wants' to wear his feet is to let him wear them. Even if you then have to put shoes back on for some reason, you and your farrier will know what right is for that horse. You might be surprised!
 
TarrSteps said:
I'm not that bothered about shoes or not as a general rule but the only way you're going to know for sure how a horse 'wants' to wear his feet is to let him wear them. Even if you then have to put shoes back on for some reason, you and your farrier will know what right is for that horse. You might be surprised!
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Thank you for that- that is a wonderfully logical way of looking at things. I really like it.
 
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