Lameness... Is this normal for a splint?

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Keenjean

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My 4 year old went lame after being shod 3 weeks ago, got the farrier back out to check shoe wasn't too tight etc as she was a bit naughty to shoe, he took the shoe off but didn't think it was the problem so checked for an abcess. He found a pin head sized hole which he didn't think would cause the lameness but we poulticed it for 3 days just in case but to no avail.

After this a minuscule (and I mean tiny!) splint appeared so phoned for advice and box rested her and she seemed to have days that she was sound and days when she was still slightly lame. We turned her out after this when she seemed much sounder and she had been ok amd yesterday was completely sound and had been for a few days previously.

Anyway, today I bought her in and trotted her up (just to show my sister how she was sound now) and she was lame. Is this intermittent lameness normal for a splint? Or is it possibly something else and splint is coincidental? I'm phoning the vets tomorrow to see what they say and I will have them out if they recommend it. Any ideas/info appreciated!
 
Often when a splint is developing it causes intermittent lameness, cold hosing or ice may help it settle and try not to let her do too much if the ground is hard as it will jar the splint. They sometimes disappear over time.
 
mine had a teeny weeny splint and was about 3/10 lame. She had a sore back at the same time so had about 6/8 weeks off which cured the lameness from the splint but she was very tender on it for a good few weeks in this time. If you flex the leg up and press on the splint with your thumb and your horses flinches but doesnt react above and below the splint then you know if they are still tender and the splint is causing the prob. if they dont react then it it is unlikely the splint is causing the lameness.
 
Thanks for the tips, ESP treacle_beastie! Was just worried she was lame for too long on it as it's been 3 weeks for such a small splint. Will try the pressing thing tomorrow morning.
 
I would check with vet too though cos it could possibly be fractured. My vet said to keep an eye on it and if didnt get better after a couple of weeks they would like to xray to make sure as she was in a fair bit of pain for such a small splint and bearing in mind she had a massive splint which didnt bother her at all!! Also depends where splint is - if near the knee they can cause more probs.
 
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