Lameness in Front Legs

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Joyous70

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Im taking my boy to the vets on Friday for a lameness work up, just wondering if anyone has any ideas what could be causing the problem though.

He has been intermittently lame for a few months now, it feels like he's falling or dropping down the camber of the road when out hacking, and he prefers to trot up the middle of the road. When you watch him trot up, he looks like he's dropping thorugh his shoulder, however, farrier says this could be due to the problem being lower down in the leg.

He has no heat, swelling, bony lumps etc etc. I have tried box resting him for a week with bute, but it hasn't made any difference.

Also does anyone know roughly the cost of nerve blocks & Xrays?
 
His stride doesn't appear shortened, and he doesn't rest his legs in an unusual way either.

Amymay - yes probably best if i ring them, just thought it might be worth asking on here initially
 
My old cob mare was lame last year and after a visit vet suggested taking to the clinic for nerve blocks and xrays. It took forever and he blocked her right up to both knees, was snap happy with the XRay unit and then said she had arthritis in both coffin joints.
I then got a bill for just over £600 and was very cross.
My own fault, I should have asked the cost or set a limit.
They have since 'lost' the xrays
If its not under insurance, make sure you ask what they will cost.
 
My old lad used to feel exactly how you describe re cambers on the road - not lame but not quite right and happier if you moved towards the middle.

He had arthritis. Could be this or could be concussion possibly - the ground has been so hard for so long I suspect there are a lot of horses feeling their feet at the moemnt.

For a good number of years I did not trot on the road, only trotted/cantered on good ground/surface and had him on a good joint suppliment with plenty of turn out.

Was only the last couple of years he needed any meds.

Good luck with your horse.
 
With pricing the difficulty is that you don't know what is needed yet.

Recently I had nerve blocks done, firstly the back of the foot, then the whole foot, then when he was still lame moved up to blocking either side below the knee so I paid for 4 nerve blocks.
Had he gone sound on the first then I would have paid for one.
Then the xrays will depend on how many plates they need which again will depend on where the problem is, ours get a bit snap happy and are perfectionists too.
 
Update for those interested - my boy has been diagnosed with coffin joint arthritis :( absolutely gutted!!!

I am going to try working with my farrier to see if we can play with his foot balance, although feet are very well balanced they could possibly do with a little more heel support.

Vet wants to medicate the joints, but im with my farrier on this one, would rather try, joint supplements, feet etc., first before we start breaking into the joint with needles.
 
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