Lameness in the older horse

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Parisexx

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Hi guys, brought my horse in Thursday evening and she was very lame on front left. Kept pointing it and leaning back.
I was worried about laminitis so had vet out friday, no lami but he doesn't know why she is lame. Nothing in the foot, he tried hoof testers. He has put her on a course of danilon for a week to see. If no better after a week, he suggested nerve blocks.
My question is is it worth going down the whole nerve block x ray etc route for a 20 year old retired mare. I want her to be comfortable. Any ideas on the lameness
Thanks x
 
I would get the farrier as it could be an abscess , if she is pointing it is most likely to be in the foot and it may be that the farrier will find something, even if the vet couldnt.
 
The statistics are not in your horse's favour for Cushings. 20% of horses over 15 have it and this rises to 80% of over 25s. It can creep up so silently and with such weird and wonderful symptoms that owners don't recognise it for the start of Cushings. One of the most common and most dreaded side effects of Cushings is laminitis. The way you describe your horse's stance sounds like laminitis.
 
Just one foot, very lame, no obvious reason or history? I would get the foot xrayed to make sure something hasn't gone up into it (things can enter through the frog, leaving little trace of an entry point). I'd do this before nerve blocking to be honest.
 
Cushings signs could be - muscle wastage, drinking a LOT and weeing then a huge amount in turn. The best known (long curly coat) actually takes a long time to happen so don't look for that. There is a straight forward blood test which can be taken which can tell you straight away. I want to say it measures the ACTH levels but it is a while since I had to have that done so might be giving you the wrong initials but cushings is easy to test for. If it is cushings, it can be controlled but the drugs are expensive now. If it does turn out to be cushings then very worth while trying some of the supplements before you head down the drug route. They have had good feedback on this forum.
 
Hi- we had the same thing...
My horse started slowly going lame in behind... Vets didnt know why as he was fit and healthy. They suggested nerve blocking, xrays, mri etc to diagnose it & i was questioning it as he was already 16+

I decided to get it done, and it came back with oesteoarthritis of the distal tarsal (basically hock spavin!)... The vets said retire him completely etc, but after 2 years of him dropping weight, and not being happy i took him for a little 10 minute hack. The vets were surprised how sound he came (after refusing to the cortozone injections etc) and now my 21 year old ex affiliated SJ is competing in a range of dressage, on a dressage team and is showing no signs of slowing down!

I think it all depends on what you want to do with your horse. If he's happy not working and eating all day then the option to retire him through lameness is an option, but if you wanted to carry on working him etc then its worth getting checked! Good luck :)
 
My horse did this recently, he's 32, he must have twisted his fetlock, for him box rest is best, he was in nearly 2 weeks and seems ok now touch wook, having to start the fitness regime off from scratch again, 15 mins plus couple mins extra every couple of days building it up slowly.

He had 2 danilon night and morn for bout 5 days then I reduced it, he's done it before bout a year ago, he does it periodically usually when not acting his age then paying the price.

Could be arthritis, mine was x rayed years ago so I know he has it
 
Other Cushings symptoms include skin infections that won't heal, infestations that won't clear up, lethargy, loss of appetite, depression, inability to control body temperature, minor elevations of liver enzymes, minor shedding problems, ataxia, weakness, confusion.
 
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