low grade lamness

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L&M

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I had the vet out to give my faithful hunter its yearly mot - back,teeth etc and discovered that he is very slightly lame on the left hind. I had not noticed anything, and couldn't see it myself even when the vet trotted him up for me, and other than a few odd strides on a fun ride 2 weeks ago, which occurred on a stony track so put it down to the surface, have had no questions over his soundness.
As the lamness was so minimal my vet said not to worry about it but just keep any eye on him if gets any worse.
However I took him for a gentle hack today and immediately felt he was lamer - possibly after effects of the flexion test, but am also aware that paranoia may be knocking!
My question is do I get the vet back and start proper investigations or try and ignore it and hope it is just a tweak that goes away? Also as I have some spare bute would it be an idea to do a bute test to compare 'before' and 'after' before getting the vet back out?
What would you do?
Thanks for listening!
 
I'd echo giving him a rest for a week or so and see how he is after that. I'd be very cautious about giving a bute for unexplained lameness unless prescribed by a vet: the lameness could be nothing at all but if it's something much worse eg a partial hairline fracture, then masking the pain with bute could cause your ned to cavort about and make a bad situation worse. Long story but I got caught out like this a few weeks back. Ned was ok thank god.
 
Thanks Faye, and others here too. Yes, he is a great horse and a huge part of my life. I am quite scared of what the vet may say if I proceed with investigations as although he is a very forward going hunter, and jumps everything willingly (somtimes too willingly!!), he can be lazy in his other work and find I sometimes find it hard to get his back end working properly.
I did condsider adrenaline was keeping him so forward and happy with his hunting, but as he was hunted at least 3 days a fortnight last season, can't believe if he was in pain he would have come out of the season feeling so strong and well.
I will give him a week off and then make a decision, so hopefully he will be sound then and I can sleep easy again!
 
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