Lethargy/stiffness... advice please...

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caramel

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My TB has been treated for 2 abscesses, the shoe was removed, foot warm poulticed and dry poultice put on just before farrier visit. Shoe put back on, farrier confident both had cleared. Turned out for a couple of hours, horse comes in minus shoe... found it in the field.
Farrier called and shoe put back on.

Now, over the last week or so he's become rather 'pottery' on his feet, and yesterday he came out for the farrier, who said he was lethargic and very stiff. He's got slight heat in the hoof (his left fore), and now I've discovered some slight heat in the fetlock joint. He's been in on box rest and hand walked, again farrier confident that abscesses haven't returned. He's also favouring one foot (right fore) over the left. He will not let me (however I try) to pick up either front foot.

He's not been his normal happy self, his head is low nearly all the time, yesterday he showed very little interest in anything! However is eating and drinking normally, and everything is at it should be in the toilet department.

Farrier's coming back monday for 6 weekly shoeing, and I've called the vet and she's coming friday as the lethargy that he showed yesterday was very worrying. He seems slightly better today, but I've found he has good days and bad days.

Would love your advice/opinions. He's box rested at the min. He also has navicular, and is wearing gel pads, which may be coming off on monday.
 
How old is he?

I have to say my first line of thought would be laminitis - weakened compromised hoof (supported by difficulty keeping shoes on, recurrent abscesses), and footyness (pottery).

I asked about age and this is a prime time of laminitis related to cushings.
 
Have to agree with popularfurball laminitis springs to mind. I hope he improves soon but I would probably get him off the grass onto a deep bed and soaked hay until the vet says it is not.

Sorry just seen he is on box rest - didn't read it properly. Good luck
 
Sounds like there's a bit going on, doesn't there? Poor lad.

Gel pads can be a bit of a mixed blessing at this time of year, because they can encourage softening of the sole (due to wet ground), which in turn can encourage abcess.

Certainly the vet visit on Friday is a good move.

Let us know how you get on.
 
thank you for all your replies.
In response to popularfurball, he's 14.

To be honest Laminitis isn't something I'd thought about, but can't be ruled out, will push for bloods tomorrow.
He seems a bit brighter in himself today, trying to take me for a walk, however he's still 'footy' and preferring his right fore over his left.
Had a friend look at him and she said he was slightly tucked in, and staff at the yard said he'd been coughing a lot.
Bit anxious over the vet visit tomorrow, hope she can shed some light over it.

He's worse on his left rein, and finds it hard turning when led in hand. I've not trotted him up yet, and his left fore is warm to touch.

will let you know what happens!
 
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I had a horse who started refusing to pick up either of her back feet for me, having previously been very easy to pick out. Turned out she had an abscess in each foot (despite a vet trying to show me there was nothing wrong as he could WRENCH her feet up off the ground!).

My other thought would be laminitis. One of my mares had acute laminitis earlier this year and she had the classic sign of being very very very reluctant to pick up either front feet for me as she was so uncomfortable.

If it's abscesses, you may notice puffiness starting immediately above the hoof capsule, and gradually extending further up the leg (and the horse becoming more uncomfortable with time until the abscesses burst). If it's laminitis, you may notice puffiness immediately below the knee towards on the medial side of the cannon bone at one of the places where you can take the digital pulse. The puffiness there gradually extends further down the leg if it's laminitis.

Hope your horse is soon much improved and that the vet is able to get to the bottom of what's going on.

Sarah
 
well... vet came, felt legs, nothing obvious, no real heat in the feet. However he found it difficult turning one way (to the right). He trotted up lame on his right fore (opposite foot), so is definately compensating. However he's much better than he was, and he seemed to be a lot better on the softer surfaces (took him in he school for a change of scenery).
However he's still favouring one foot over the other, and yesterday let me pick up both front feet without protest!
I'm going to pop him out later, and will try and get some pics. Vet is happy to wait and see what he's like with new shoes, if still rather footy then it may mean nerve blocks, but she knows how bad he gets (he rears, won't let anyone near him). So, for me that's the worse case scenario. I don't really want him going as I know he'll get very stressed, and he get very upset, and rears even when sedated! (he tries!)

Hopefully he's on the right track now.
 
I'm so glad to read it wasn't laminitis. :) Shame the vet pared the sole but hope he settles soon. Might be wise to keep to softer surfaces for a while. x
 
He went out today! only for an hour but really enjoyed it! couldn't get to the gate quick enough and resorted to rearing at the gate (he's not done that before). He had a great time running, bucking and rolling. Met the mare and foal, who he duly flirted with.. came in with a nosebleed though (only a small one and stopped pretty quickly. He's had them before).

He'll be out longer tomorrow, and the ground's soft so I'm sure he'll be fine. He's got new shoes monday so we'll see what he says.

But I'm relieved it isn't laminitis or another abscess.
 
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