Michen
Well-Known Member
Really cannot thank all of you on here enough. The lovely messages and time and genuine concern from people I've never met has been amazing and you've all been an incredible source of knowledge. Andalucian, Boulty, Ester... to name a few.
So after an absolute hellish 5 days I'm picking him up this evening. His MRI being cancelled on Friday was horrendous, I was a complete cowbag all weekend to my other half with the stress of it all and I'm lucky to still have him to be honest!
I probably won't get this exactly right as I was just so relieved when the vet said nothing was torn etc, but he has inflammation of the navicular bursa and navicular bruising, bilaterally, on both front feet. I didn't get the backs MRI'd despite him blocking lameness to the foot because it is likely to be roped in under the same claim and I need to leave some money to actually treat him, rather than blowing 3/4 on MRI's. I also think its highly likely linked to the front feet, if he's that sore in front he's bound to be compensating behind. They can't rule out the possibility of some damage to the DDFT (apparently there's a bit that can't be seen even on MRI) but it's looking good.
So I was given two choices, turn away for 6 months in a field or inject and bring him back in to work after 4 weeks. He's having the injections today, however I will not be doing any ridden work with him for A LOT longer than four weeks, or ground work faster than a walk. I don't think I will sit on him for a good 2/3 months and I think I will do nothing but walk until july/august. Reasons for this are a) I want him to have the best chance of recovery and I'm in no rush- quite frankly I'm just ecstatic the MRI wasn't worse and b) His feet. From my limited knowledge, the more I can do to improve his feet and foot balance- the less likely this sort of thing will be likely to re occur?
On another note, a few of you asked after his back scan x ray. Well I had it done in the end and he has very, very mild kissing spines, with a few vertebrae touching but only just. The surgeon looked at it and said it wouldn't be something they would operate on so that's good news and gives me piece of mind that there's nothing too horrendous there. At least I can keep up the physio and know its worthwhile!
Right... his feet. I don't know if the navicular bruising and inflammation ties in with his crappy hoof balance and thin soles but I'm sure it must do? He's currently shod behind and bare in front from the MRI. I am determined to get him barefoot but I am considering using glue imprint shoes for a cycle until the ground is less of a bog and he's had some time on a really good mineral balancer. Any suggestions on any of these appreciated:
A) He will be on box rest for a month- I will put him on a deep bed but he does hobble around without shoes even on that. Shall I just leave the shoes off and let him get on with it- will his feet improve on box rest without movement? Or look to boot him/imprint shoe him now? I'm worried if he's sore it will aggravate the bruising and inflammation more?
B) Best mineral supplement- forage plus or pro hoof or pro balancer?
C) Feed- I started him on this stuff before he went into hospital- is there anything in it that you think would be bad for barefoot https://www.thepurefeedcompany.com/things-we-make/pure-fibre-balance it is alfala free. Main ingredients Grass chaff, Grass pellets, Oatstraw chaff, Oatfeed pellets, Pure balance, Soya oil, Un-molassed sugar beet if you don't want to look at the link
D) Boots for when he does go barefoot, I've been advised not to get boots straight away as his feet will change so much and I will likely be wasting my money. When I do get them, any suggestions?
C) Turnout in boots or not bother and let him get on with it (will have him in own paddock so he doesn't have to move too much if a horse has a go at him etc). I'm worried boots will let mud in and he will get rubbed and sore as he's SO sensitive
D) Back shoes- shall I just leave them on for now until his shoe cycle finishes or pull them, he will be unlevel without fronts but he's only going to be on box rest anyway?
Finally has anyone had any dealings with this sort of "Injury". It's not the soft tissue injury I was expecting which I've done all my reading on!!
I will have loads more questions when I do start working him inhand but this is it for now
The prognosis is still guarded so I know I probably sound like I'm a bit too relieved, but I do think this is probably the best possibly outcome from the MRI I could have hoped for. I'm pretty sure a DDFT tear would have been a more tricky case- but correct me if I'm wrong! My little ex racer lives to fight another day
So after an absolute hellish 5 days I'm picking him up this evening. His MRI being cancelled on Friday was horrendous, I was a complete cowbag all weekend to my other half with the stress of it all and I'm lucky to still have him to be honest!
I probably won't get this exactly right as I was just so relieved when the vet said nothing was torn etc, but he has inflammation of the navicular bursa and navicular bruising, bilaterally, on both front feet. I didn't get the backs MRI'd despite him blocking lameness to the foot because it is likely to be roped in under the same claim and I need to leave some money to actually treat him, rather than blowing 3/4 on MRI's. I also think its highly likely linked to the front feet, if he's that sore in front he's bound to be compensating behind. They can't rule out the possibility of some damage to the DDFT (apparently there's a bit that can't be seen even on MRI) but it's looking good.
So I was given two choices, turn away for 6 months in a field or inject and bring him back in to work after 4 weeks. He's having the injections today, however I will not be doing any ridden work with him for A LOT longer than four weeks, or ground work faster than a walk. I don't think I will sit on him for a good 2/3 months and I think I will do nothing but walk until july/august. Reasons for this are a) I want him to have the best chance of recovery and I'm in no rush- quite frankly I'm just ecstatic the MRI wasn't worse and b) His feet. From my limited knowledge, the more I can do to improve his feet and foot balance- the less likely this sort of thing will be likely to re occur?
On another note, a few of you asked after his back scan x ray. Well I had it done in the end and he has very, very mild kissing spines, with a few vertebrae touching but only just. The surgeon looked at it and said it wouldn't be something they would operate on so that's good news and gives me piece of mind that there's nothing too horrendous there. At least I can keep up the physio and know its worthwhile!
Right... his feet. I don't know if the navicular bruising and inflammation ties in with his crappy hoof balance and thin soles but I'm sure it must do? He's currently shod behind and bare in front from the MRI. I am determined to get him barefoot but I am considering using glue imprint shoes for a cycle until the ground is less of a bog and he's had some time on a really good mineral balancer. Any suggestions on any of these appreciated:
A) He will be on box rest for a month- I will put him on a deep bed but he does hobble around without shoes even on that. Shall I just leave the shoes off and let him get on with it- will his feet improve on box rest without movement? Or look to boot him/imprint shoe him now? I'm worried if he's sore it will aggravate the bruising and inflammation more?
B) Best mineral supplement- forage plus or pro hoof or pro balancer?
C) Feed- I started him on this stuff before he went into hospital- is there anything in it that you think would be bad for barefoot https://www.thepurefeedcompany.com/things-we-make/pure-fibre-balance it is alfala free. Main ingredients Grass chaff, Grass pellets, Oatstraw chaff, Oatfeed pellets, Pure balance, Soya oil, Un-molassed sugar beet if you don't want to look at the link
D) Boots for when he does go barefoot, I've been advised not to get boots straight away as his feet will change so much and I will likely be wasting my money. When I do get them, any suggestions?
C) Turnout in boots or not bother and let him get on with it (will have him in own paddock so he doesn't have to move too much if a horse has a go at him etc). I'm worried boots will let mud in and he will get rubbed and sore as he's SO sensitive
D) Back shoes- shall I just leave them on for now until his shoe cycle finishes or pull them, he will be unlevel without fronts but he's only going to be on box rest anyway?
Finally has anyone had any dealings with this sort of "Injury". It's not the soft tissue injury I was expecting which I've done all my reading on!!
I will have loads more questions when I do start working him inhand but this is it for now
The prognosis is still guarded so I know I probably sound like I'm a bit too relieved, but I do think this is probably the best possibly outcome from the MRI I could have hoped for. I'm pretty sure a DDFT tear would have been a more tricky case- but correct me if I'm wrong! My little ex racer lives to fight another day
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