Lower leg/hoof lameness any suggestions on what it is ?

[Mary3050]

Any idea’s what it maybe ?

The horse has been lame for 6 weeks it’s been getting worse last week it got significantly worse . The vet was contacted after the lameness started we are still no closer to a diagnosing what the issue is after blocks and X-rays . All they could find on the x-rays was a little dark spot possibly arthritis horse is 9 . Not thought to be the cause of the lameness . It seem to be where the hoof joins the leg . There is a bit of heat . The horse keeps resting the front leg . Has been on box rest with Bute since it got worse . Wasn’t originally as the horse doesn’t stable well and would have cause more injury to herself . The horse is part owned by me and my MIL . I have been working away and was waiting to see what her current vet said about X-rays . I got back yesterday to MiL in tears as the vet had rang that morning said she will be lucky if the horse trots again under saddle . They have given no diagnosis or reason for this statement. But suggested she could take the horse for a scan at either referral vet . I have not been able to speak to MIL’s vet think she maybe avoiding me not returning calls .

I will be taking the horse to get a second opinion/ diagnosis but does anyone have any ideas what it maybe . I don’t think I will be able to get an appointment until Thursday/ Friday if we are lucky . I am so unsure what to do to help the horse . The horse is getting stressed on box rest i don’t know if we should be hand walking or not . I am getting some calming cookies from a friend first thing . I will ask my vets re a calmer or something Monday . Do I ice the leg or what ?

Any ideas best thing to do for her ?

 

[TPO]

Speak to the vet yourself and get a diagnosis. Once you know what's going on you can figure a plan going forward.

If they can't give you a diagnosis how can they give you a prognosis?

If they still can't give you the information that you need then I'd get a referral to a vet hospital for a proper and thorough work up

 

[Highmileagecob]

Poor you, what a situation. It can be a lengthy process of elimination to diagnose.
Has your farrier had a good poke around? Could well be a slow developing abscess that is going to erupt through the coronary band - my lad threw an abscess a couple of years ago that had him hopping around like he had a wooden leg. As soon as it burst, he started to improve.
Are you aware of any injury, fall, rough play with another horse?
Is the foot well balanced - loading the heel properly and not toe loading? Check the wear pattern on the sole of the hoof.
How is the horse in himself - happy, or miserable?
Good luck, I hope you can find an answer.

 

[paddi22]

did you get farrier to dig around? could easily be a deep seated access?
I wouldn't keep the horse on box rest unless you know what you are box resting for. How far did they x ray up leg?
If it was my horse I'd get farrier and then if no change, go to proper equine lameness vet specialist. you will save yourself more money in the long run as they tend to pinpoint what's wrong more easily. I would totally disregard any vet who told me to box rest or wrote off a horse with no idea what's wrong.

is the heat in the hoof? did you get hoof X-rays done? I had one that had lameness for ages until X-rays showed a gas pocket in the hoof

 

[Sossigpoker]

This could be a DDFT injury , only diagnosed via an MRI. I would therefore ask for a referral for an MRI.

 

[Goldenstar]

It sounds like DDFT trouble to me .
These injuries have poor prognosis especially if the horse won’t do prolonged box rest calmly.
MRI would be the next step depending on the finances and the situation with the individual horse .
I have have jumped ship at this stage in some horses in the past .

 

[ycbm]

the vet had rang that morning said she will be lucky if the horse trots again under saddle

What a bizarre thing for a vet to say on the evidence that you have so far. I've seen more than one abscess behave exactly as you are describing and then burst at the coronet. I think I'd be changing vets if your MiL has heard it correctly.
.

 

[ester]

IIRC you said these vets weren't great/equine specialists. Did the lameness block out with any of the nerve blocks?
It seems to me they have said they don't know it needs referring so I'd probably not try and guess too much until that point. Where was the dark spot?

 

[Mary3050]

Poor you, what a situation. It can be a lengthy process of elimination to diagnose.
Has your farrier had a good poke around? Could well be a slow developing abscess that is going to erupt through the coronary band - my lad threw an abscess a couple of years ago that had him hopping around like he had a wooden leg. As soon as it burst, he started to improve.
Are you aware of any injury, fall, rough play with another horse?
Is the foot well balanced - loading the heel properly and not toe loading? Check the wear pattern on the sole of the hoof.
How is the horse in himself - happy, or miserable?
Good luck, I hope you can find an answer.

MiL had farrier first he couldn’t find it . However the heel is starting to look low but think it’s due to the lameness. No injury as far as we are aware just came in from the field like it . The horse is bolshy as doesn’t like being in ?

 

[Mary3050]

This could be a DDFT injury , only diagnosed via an MRI. I would therefore ask for a referral for an MRI.

I have been doing a little research and I am starting to think this as the heat is in the right place.

It sounds like DDFT trouble to me .
These injuries have poor prognosis especially if the horse won’t do prolonged box rest calmly.
MRI would be the next step depending on the finances and the situation with the individual horse .
I have have jumped ship at this stage in some horses in the past .

Great I am starting to suspect this ? I will have a lameness work up with my vets and see what they think

 

[Sossigpoker]

I have been doing a little research and I am starting to think this as the heat is in the right place.



Great I am starting to suspect this ? I will have a lameness work up with my vets and see what they think

With DDFT injury it's best to get the diagnosis ASAP. So if the lameness is blocked to the hoof but x-ray doesn't show the reason , it's advisable to give for MRI as soon as possible.
Good luck and let's hope it's something else or at least a minor injury.