Lameness explination? Horse taking the P!

P

poiuytrewq

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Briefly my horse has a issue with his front fetlock area. The exact cause is unknown with out an MRI scan. I took him on from his previous owner due to this problem but have managed to keep him sound for a few years almost.
Until the end of summer, not sure of exact dates but he's only been in very light work on and off when I noticed the lameness return- much milder but he was unsound.
The vet who had always treated him came out and we cortisoned the joint. He's had it done before, Im unsure how many times.
It took a long time to take effect this time and the previous time (I was his groom prior to owning) however I notice on and off he's still unsound. Its not always though.
So he had a few weeks out in the field and then trotted up sound so we started light work again (30 mins walk) on Monday.
Some days he's been sound but other times he isn't.
I may be wrong but I notice he seems to become unsound on the way back from a ride and *usually* after a big spook! He's a spooky sort anyway but a scary moment appears to set the lameness off.
Ive mentioned this to a few people who comment "he's taking the p out of you to avoid work".....call me cynical but I don't believe a horse would fake lameness! (and besides IF he were that clever why not fake it on the way out ;) instead of waiting til we are half way or almost home!)
I don't want to have him on bute long term as he's a ulcer/colic risk.
I will speak to the old owners tomorrow as I still work for them and actual ownership is a bit fuzzy! I suspect they will say bute him and carry on.
Thoughts please? wwyd next?
 
So hard! Definitely don't think horses can fake lameness, they're flight animals, if anything they try to disguise any weakness, because a lame animal is more likely to be singled out my a predator.

Have you had his back checked? Is it really specific to that leg? It sounds almost like dramatic movement/tension sets it off, which doesn't sound right if it's a bony change type problem.

Devil's claw is also an option. Some people swear by magnetic boots though I have never used them.
 
Hi, yes he's had his back done and it is very definitely that leg and that area. Literally other than the MRI every other diagnostic has been done over the years and nothing shown up.
He has been on Buteless which up til now Ive sworn by. He also has magnetic boots but hasn't been wearing them recently as they are stable chap type and ive been trying to leave him out to aid mobility. Might put them on in the field for a while if it stays dry.
Thanks
 
So weird!! Does he have any heat or anything there? When he walks is there a twist at the fetlock joint or any flaw in his movement, do the angles look normal? Have you tried remedial shoe-ing?
 
I had similar on BF, intermittently lame on the 1 fore, could not put my finger on it. No heat, no swelling at all.

Got vet, full work up & then nerve blocked.
Eventually pinpointed to the 1 small area, so got scanned.
Turned out was damaged suspensory - over 40% pulled away at the bottom. How that mare managed to do it, nobody knows- and also how she was only slightly lame on odd occasions.
Vet firstly thought I was an over-worried owner, but after doing all the diagnostics, was in awe of BF.

Hope you get to the bottom of it x
 
How old is he? If there is an ongoing problem with the fetlock then it's quite possible he might have a touch of arthritis or something like that. Maybe low grade pain that he can manage with, but then he spooks, jars it on the road/ hard surface and it hurts.

Have you had him x-rayed and scanned recently? If it hasn't been done for several years then it's perfectly possible something will show up now that didn't then, because it is now sufficiently developed.

No one can know apart from your vet! But no, i don't believe horses fake lameness.
 
No Ive not had any xrays since owning him (about 3 years)
There has never been any heat or swelling or any external signs of anything. I even recall times you would swear he was so lame there must be a fracture- still nothing showed. These extreme bouts never lasted long. Id say this had been ongoing for about 5 years on and off.
 
Well in that case I'd suggest you get a lameness workup and go from there. Presume the owner before you had x-rays which showed nothing? I would have x-rays/scans done now, then you will know if something has developed. My older horse has arthritis - never had any swelling or heat.
 
I'll speak to the vet again then, he must think I'm nuts recently! First he's lame then I'm saying actually he seems ok, then he's lame again! Of course he's sound if I trot him up in front of anyone!
 
A general observation. In the past ,before all these wonderfull diagnostic tests and equipment were available,vets had to use their powers of observation and logic. It is too easy now, a quick xray and all the vets preconceived opinions are backed up. Unfortunately that doesnt meen that the problem has been found. I recently watched a vet examine a lameness. Me"so ,you have come to look at the mystery lameness"vet ,"no mystery , flat feet ,pedal ostitis". Does x rays ,see , that proves it. Me thinks ,(me being licensed aircraft engineer and used to xrays etc on aircraft) I would be a bloody sight slower to pronounce on an xray on your lap top perched on a bucket in the yard. I would be guarded and go home and look closely and THINK. Owner sent horse to Newmarket for second opinion and it was found that the problem was actualy in the knee from an old fracture and not going to respond to treatment.
Another case was the horse with an intermitent lameness, had an accident in the field and went lame, examined ,rested went sound ,put back into work, wentb lame,examined ,rested went sound ,put back...............you get the picture. 18 months later they found the fence staple that was buried in the tendon sheath . I have a copy of the xray somewhere ,it is amazing!Not entirely shure of the moral of this tale except that in the aviation world,we invented the science of "human factors" Which is about how and why we miss the blindingly obvious and make mistakes. To paraprase a well known doctor and stand up comedian,If vets crashed and burned with their patients the same way pilots do ,then we wouldnt have so many mistakes.
 
A horses pain threshold is very high, it saves their lives, because if they showed weakness or lameness they would be prey so no horses do not take the P to get out of work, they do not have the ability to think rationally or irrationally like humans do. If he is lame after work then there is a problem.
 
Actually I HAVE known a horse fake it. Friend bought a lovely LW cob out of a riding school and he was on working livery. Had a bad lameness which ended up in him having a couple of months off in a nearby field. Horse came back into work then owner found he would go lame....but only when going towards "his" field. Various vets visits and the conclusion was she should simply not ride near there. Horse stayed sound!
 
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