L&M
Well-Known Member
My son's cob went lame on the near hind during a hack last sunday. He is sound in walk unless turned in tight circles, but would say he is 4/10ths lame in trot. He may have been lame prior to the hack but did not appear to be in any discomfort when brought onto the yard.
We called the vet the day he went lame who advised immediate box rest and bute, then came to examine first thing Mon morning. She did not see him trotted up as the weather was foul, and the lameness evident when turning circles on the concrete yard. She briefly applied hoof testers and no reaction, and could find no obvious heat or swellings in tendons etc. The only area she felt was a little tender was in his stifle when manipulating his leg. Therefore she diagnosed a mild stifle strain and advised a weeks box rest and 1 sachet of bute 2 x a day.
However 6 days on into his box rest and bute the pony is as lame as he was on sunday. My questions are:
- If a mild strain, wouldn't the bute make him appear more sound by now, or at least showing signs of improvement?
- Also if the strain was more severe to warrant a longer term lamness, surely there would some heat or swelling to indicate injury?
- Finally, the way he is not wanting to weight bear is intermittent and only on certain movements, which to me more indicates hoof pain. If this was the case, and he had a grumbling abscess or corn, would bute not mask the pain?
I have my farrier out on Monday as want him to eliminate any possible hoof issues, before we progress with a full lamness work up.
Any ideas?
We called the vet the day he went lame who advised immediate box rest and bute, then came to examine first thing Mon morning. She did not see him trotted up as the weather was foul, and the lameness evident when turning circles on the concrete yard. She briefly applied hoof testers and no reaction, and could find no obvious heat or swellings in tendons etc. The only area she felt was a little tender was in his stifle when manipulating his leg. Therefore she diagnosed a mild stifle strain and advised a weeks box rest and 1 sachet of bute 2 x a day.
However 6 days on into his box rest and bute the pony is as lame as he was on sunday. My questions are:
- If a mild strain, wouldn't the bute make him appear more sound by now, or at least showing signs of improvement?
- Also if the strain was more severe to warrant a longer term lamness, surely there would some heat or swelling to indicate injury?
- Finally, the way he is not wanting to weight bear is intermittent and only on certain movements, which to me more indicates hoof pain. If this was the case, and he had a grumbling abscess or corn, would bute not mask the pain?
I have my farrier out on Monday as want him to eliminate any possible hoof issues, before we progress with a full lamness work up.
Any ideas?