Lameness Help

[Nortonlala]

My horse went lame yesterday. As she is a bit heavy on the forehand it made it look just terrible. No heat no nothing. I cold hosed he leg for 20 minutes, fed her some bute and put her back into her field.

Tonight I found a little heat to the rear of her fetlock. So tomorrow I was going to see how she walked, corner off soem untouched field due to a large walkway she uses being like a bog and generally do the usual however, am I doing all the right things. I was thinking about stabling her if it's worse and calling the vet Monday if no improvement before.......help anything else I can do other than camp in her field shelter?

Should have mentioned none of this has affected her love of food

 

[Sparkles]

I'd have not given her bute as you won't see how lame she is tomorrow now as will mask it to some effect. If there's heat in the fetlock there too I'd keet her in to limit movement on it.

When did she go lame?

 

[Sparkles]

Sorry misread it, bute was given yesterday and not today so won't mask it....my apologies!

Sounds like you're doing the right thing, I'd keep her stabled if no better tomorrow and def give the vet a call on monday if no improvement

 

[Nortonlala]

She was sore to touch tonight at the back of her leg however, did turn when I walked into her shelter (which she had trouble doing initially), so better in some ways and worse in others!!!

Thanks for your interest, I'm up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to do what I can I was hoping for an absess...has that passed?

 

[Sparkles]

Hmm if it's hot sore and swollen could it be tendon issues if the ground's rather boggy?

Hope it's nothing too serious *fingers crossed* isn't the winter outstaying it's welcome atm!!

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

bute will take at least 48 hours to be minamally out of the system. could be loads of things but you have masked any true symptoms by self medicating. if you are hoping for an abcess good luck. you can also dig that out by yourself too!

 

[Rowreach]

Oh please, don't dig about in your horse's foot

Lay off the bute unless you know what the problem is in the first place. If she is worse tomorrow or there is something obvious happening (in which case you may have to keep her in) then I would call your vet out on Monday morning. Personally I would prefer getting a farrier to deal with an abscess (if that's what it is) but in theory they shouldn't do so unless under veterinary advisement.

Are you sure nothing happened that would have caused her to go lame - no hoolying round the field, awkward jump etc etc?

 

[Sparkles]

If it's the fetlock and back of the leg hot and swollen, not it's foot....unsure as to why you'd think foot abcess?

 

[brucea]

Might be a mild DFT stretch from pulling in the mud. Probably best not to bute up in case the vet wants to workup.

 

[potty_4_piebalds]

my horse loves a bit of lameness so i tend to ignore it for a couple of days and leave him out to see he might walk it off but if still bad i get the farrier to come and have a look before i get a vet and farrier will normally be able to sort it for me but if not then i get the vet. hope your horse is ok

 

[Nortonlala]

Fear not I shall be doing nothing myself I merely open my wallet instruct and those instructed help themselves

I'm literally waiting for first light so I can set up the field and have a proper look at her. Fortunately she isn't a big wanderer and tends not to run all over the place however a look over the field tonight did suggest she'd been a little busy even with 3 legs. I'm putting it down to the mud on part of the field she accesses. Tuesday she was fine and we were out riding merrily so whatever has happened has happened suddenly.

Thanks for all your advice though

 

[Nortonlala]

[ QUOTE ]
If it's the fetlock and back of the leg hot and swollen, not it's foot....unsure as to why you'd think foot abcess?

[/ QUOTE ]

You know when sometimes people say fetlock they really mean tendon

...

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

fear not .............. you already did gave it bute! and thought it was better!!! why didnt you merely open wallet when horse first was lame? before the excessive weekend call out charge?

 

[Nortonlala]

it is a "she" I like to humanise animals. Bute was what seemed like a good idea on Thursday as there was nothing obvious to go on. Why call a vet out for nothing when somebody else might really need their help? Anyhow she is eating, drinking and on Saturday morning we'll know whether to call a vet or not. An extra £30 doesn't make that much of a difference, besides all a vet will ask is how much insurance I have and want to wisk her off to Newmarket.

 

[YorksG]

I am a tad confused

When did the horse go lame, was it when she was being ridden? Or have I imagined that? If when she was out being ridden and she has heat in the leg I would doubt abcess tbh. Sounds more like a strain or sprain. I would keep her in a smallish area of paddock and get the vet on Monday as she is well of herself.

Mind you I could be wrong.