Lameness workup?

[KJ94]

Hey,

My pony been a lame for a few months now, first thought abbess then bruised soul, isn’t really in pain but isn’t right. Vets/farriers been out a few times the vet prescribed her 2 weeks of bute and 2 weeks of ridden in a straight line in walk, although she’s sound in walk and happy to be ridden is still slightly and inconsistently lame in the trot so have just booked her in for a lameness workup next week.

Never had one before so new to all this am quite worried so anyone with experience or who has had one for their horses what are they like/experiences would be great to hear as I have no idea what to expect! I’m crossing everything that it is just a deep bruise that’s taking its time to heal and nothing too serious but can’t stop the worrying!

 

[Red-1]

I have had a few done, they are no bother, interesting actually.

They usually start by a simple exam, looking for anything obvious. Heat, pain swelling. Then see the horse moving at walk and trot. Usually a flexion test. If this isolates a leg then they move on to blocking the leg from the bottom upwards, to see at which point the lameness stops.

If they still can't see that the horse is lame enough to show when a block would be successful, they may move on to work on a surface, lunge, lunge on the hard, do uphill and downhill. They may ask the horse to back up or turn in a tight circle, so they cross legs behind. If they are still not sure, they may ask to see the horse ridden in the normal saddle. They have to see some lameness to be able to see where it 'blocks to' as in how high up they have to inject to stop the limping.

Once they have a location, they usually start with X ray and ultrasound scan, as neither procedure is particularly expensive. If the horse needs a more advanced scan like MRI, that is pricey and they may offer other options. I had this situation with a horse's hoof, I didn't have the MRI but, as we knew the general location of the pain, we injected with Cortisone.

When they have done their exam, they will agree a treatment plan with you.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Nothing really to add to Red's description! My pony has had 3 lameness investigations since April so I am unfortunately and unwillingly becoming quite familiar with them.

If possible, I'd ask someone else to do the leading so you can stand next to the vet and see what they see. Even better if you can get someone to film it too. So then you have a reference to look back at and can watch back in slow mo.

 

[KJ94]

Thank you both so much, it’s nice to have a rough idea of what to expect! The vet said she is convinced it’s something with that one hoof but can’t seem to find a sore bit on it with testers etc so I’m guessing they will do some kind of scans maybe to see inside.

Did your horses recover etc? Success stories needed don’t know anyone who’s had one done which totally makes me worry it’s something serious!

 

[L&M]

My lad had a lameness work up in May - he was sound in walk, intermittently lame in trot, but worse on a circle or sharp turn. Initial thoughts were arthritis in the coffin joint, as that is where the nerve blocks worked. The above descriptions of a work up are spot on, my lad was also worked on the lunge.

Vets x ray machine was not available that day, but when he came out the following week to take the x rays, all his joints were lovely and clean. Vet then scanned his pastern and found thickening in one of his collateral ligaments that supports the coffin joint - 8 weeks field rest, back in to walk work in sept and now back in full work and sound.

Glad it wasn't arthritis as would have been harder to manage, and also degenerative.

Good luck and try not to worry - at least you will get a diagnosis then can move forward with treatment.

 

[KJ94]

My lad had a lameness work up in May - he was sound in walk, intermittently lame in trot, but worse on a circle or sharp turn. Initial thoughts were arthritis in the coffin joint, as that is where the nerve blocks worked. The above descriptions of a work up are spot on, my lad was also worked on the lunge.

Vets x ray machine was not available that day, but when he came out the following week to take the x rays, all his joints were lovely and clean. Vet then scanned his pastern and found thickening in one of his collateral ligaments that supports the coffin joint - 8 weeks field rest, back in to walk work in sept and now back in full work and sound.

Glad it wasn't arthritis as would have been harder to manage, and also degenerative.

Good luck and try not to worry - at least you will get a diagnosis then can move forward with treatment.

This sounds a lot like her symptoms actually, fine in walk, intermittently lame on circles/sharp turns and have also questioned arthritis. Did he have any other symptoms? Glad he is doing good!

 

[L&M]

No other symptons, no heat or swelling. Ligament damage is a little scary and very easy to imagine the worst, but unless the ligament is broken beyond repair, they usually heal with time and controlled exercise. My lad was sound in walk and canter, around 2/10ths lame on the straight in trot, and around 6/10ths lame on a tight circle.

Keep us updated and keeping everything crossed for you.

 

[KJ94]

No other symptons, no heat or swelling. Ligament damage is a little scary and very easy to imagine the worst, but unless the ligament is broken beyond repair, they usually heal with time and controlled exercise. My lad was sound in walk and canter, around 2/10ths lame on the straight in trot, and around 6/10ths lame on a tight circle.

Keep us updated and keeping everything crossed for you.

Yes this sounds a lot like her atm! Thank you so much, glad your boys doing good and it can be fixed

 

[Deltofe2493]

My mare was intermittently lame in trot. Wasn’t classically lame, but more of a string halt action in her left hind.

everyone thought it was stringhalt and vets were stumped. Was a suspensory / NPA / potential fracture or bruise (didn’t MRI)

Tough 6 months with rehab but she’s fully sound now and we went to our first dressage comp since her injuries in March 2 weeks ago. I also know horses who have had 9-12 months box rest for various other things so we got off lightly. Keeping everything crossed for you!!!

 

[KJ94]

My mare was intermittently lame in trot. Wasn’t classically lame, but more of a string halt action in her left hind.

everyone thought it was stringhalt and vets were stumped. Was a suspensory / NPA / potential fracture or bruise (didn’t MRI)

Tough 6 months with rehab but she’s fully sound now and we went to our first dressage comp since her injuries in March 2 weeks ago. I also know horses who have had 9-12 months box rest for various other things so we got off lightly. Keeping everything crossed for you!!!

Thank you, so hard when they can’t talk and just tell you what’s wrong! She fractured her leg a few years ago and made a full recovery after 4 months box rest and 4 months rehab, just hoping it’s not something that serious this time ?

 

[KJ94]

Just a little update had her work up today and all went well, nerve blocking/x-rays and diagnosis is an imbalanced hoof caused by the abscess cavity causing her hoof to twist, so she’s due to have corrective trimming done by farrier once he’s seen the X-rays and spoken to vet, a few weeks of bute to be sure there’s no inflammation, and a lot of walking hacks in hoof boots, and fingers crossed she will be good ?

 

[Deltofe2493]

Just a little update had her work up today and all went well, nerve blocking/x-rays and diagnosis is an imbalanced hoof caused by the abscess cavity causing her hoof to twist, so she’s due to have corrective trimming done by farrier once he’s seen the X-rays and spoken to vet, a few weeks of bute to be sure there’s no inflammation, and a lot of walking hacks in hoof boots, and fingers crossed she will be good ?

awww so pleased there’s a simple solution! Onwards and upwards now!!

 

[L&M]

Excellent news - we always tend to think the worst.......

 

[Red-1]

Brilliant!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Good news a pretty straight forward problem.

 

[KJ94]

Thank you all, feel a huge weight has been lifted since her workup, worth every penny!

but why must they always do something at this time of year!!