Lameness, vet unsure, any ideas?

chessy

chessy

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Took Rosie for an hour hack yesterday, only walking and a bit of trot. She was fine, no problems at all. Put her in stable overnight as bit worried about the lush grass. Brought her out of stable this afternoon and she is really lame in the left hind. When standing she rests the leg, if she wants to move she does so as quick as possible so she doesn't have to put weight on it.

Had vet down and walked Rosie up, he said from the way she was moving it could be a ligament but he was not sure. She's a kicker (for strangers anyway!), so vet had to sedate her to have a good feel of the leg. He said he couldn't feel any swelling or heat at all. He gave bute and wants her to have an x-ray and scan in a couple of days.

I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to lameness, Rosie's not had anything wrong with her since I've had her and the only time I've ever had to get the vet down was for jabs! She's always been such a hardy little thing she's not even insured - I suppose this is a lesson for the future.

I'm wondering if anyone's ever come across a similar mystery lameness before after no obvious injury has occured? Many thanks and cookies for any advice you can give me.
 
I have had exactly the same with my horse (see my OCD/DJD thread in vet). My vet advised to rest him on bute for 2 weeks then bring back into work, if he is still not right then he will be X rayed. Its been 2 weeks now and he is still not 100%. vet is querieing arthritic changes to the stifle
 
Sounds like an abscess to me. The most common cause of foot lameness there is. If it is, she will either hobble terribly, or it may get better for a while as it makes more space for itself and then get worse again before it bursts. You should call your farrier, vets often dig a trench to get an abscess out, the farrier is much better at it. Personally, I leave them to burst but I suspect as a less experienced owner you would be too worried by how lame she is.

I hope I'm right, if so it'll be done and dusted in a week or so.
 
I didn't even think about an abscess, and the vet didn't even pick up and check her hoof at all. Maybe it's worth getting a second opinion, do you think?
 
I would get a second opinion, 90% of all lameness is usually in the foot so it's very weird that your vet didn't start with that! Also a very severe, sudden lameness with no known injury is most likelty an abscess so again very odd he didn't check.
 
I think you should complain about the first vet and refuse to pay the bill. Abscesses are one of the commonest causes of lameness in horses, and to have failed to check her foot is inexcusable, to the point of incompetence.

Not only that, but he caused you immense worry that something worse was wrong with her when he could have put your mind at rest if he had used hoof testers and found a sore spot. Why should you pay to have been so frightened?

I'm so pleased for you both that it's an abscess, she'll be right as rain in a week or two.
 
Thanks very much cptrayes. I will write to the vet when I receive the bill.
What makes me laugh is that some people on my yard were poo-pooing my decision to get a second opinion, they think they are such experts - I am feeling pretty smug right now!
 
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