Mystery lameness - getting fed up now

[cobden99]

So my welsh cob thundered around the fields when the ground was hard in May, and went lame. The vet wasnt sure whether it was bruising or laminitis, so he was on box rest for 2 weeks. He was much better after that so she decided it was bruised soles. She recommended shoeing with gel pads, but he has always been unshod so I was reluctant to go this route immediately. We compromised on boots instead. I bought some old Macs, and he wore them in the field at night and stood in on rubber matting during the day. This seemed to work OK until I noticed that the boots were making his heels buised, and they were quite hot and sore. So, boots off (we are in August by this stage), and the week before last he came in lame again. Picked his feet out and he seemed ok - but at lunchtime he was footy just coming out of the stable. So I thought, right, ENOUGH. Packed him off to the vet, and they x-rayed his front feet. The vet said the results showed some mild stretching of the laminae , probably from a previous mild attack of laminitis, and some bleeding probably from the bruising on the hard ground. But no changes within the foot, no pedal bone movement or anything sinister. The farrier was there so they put front shoes on him with gel pads. I brought him home a week last Wednesday, and Im not happy at all. I rode him today and whilst not noticeably lame, he just didnt feel right at all and he kept stumbling. His action seems to have changed as well, when I watched him coming in from the field today he seems to be putting his heels down first. Im wondering if the farrier has cut his toes back too far. Ive rung the vet and she has just said put him on box rest again and she will come out on Tuesday. So basically Im several hundred pounds worse off, my horse still isnt sound, and I just dont know what to do next. Completely gutted. Has anyone had any similar experiences, or can offer any advice ? It would be much appreciated.

 

[dressagecrazy]

Feel for you!!
I know what its like i have a horse who is always going lame. But sometimes not that noticable but you can feel it when he's ridden & its always when the ground goes hard. We did suspect all the things you have as he's a TB & is prone to bruised soles & he has had lammi once a long time ago.
I also had him on box rest & he did get better, we have since found out that its arthritis & when on hard ground the concussion is to much for his old joints to cope with. When the ground goes hard he has to come in over night & is on limited t/o on the grass paddocks. He gets turned out in the menage instead so he's on a supportive surface, its not great but the best i can do. I also keep his stable bed deep so again he has the support i don't have rubber mats.

Hope you find the cause it really is disheartening when they keep going lame.

 

[Hullabaloo]

Can only sympathise, having a horse who's also suffering from mystery lameness. It is frustrating and the only advice is to keep a log of his problems and make sure you communicate well with your vet and you're happy with the treatment being suggested. If you're not getting anywhere, don't be frightened to ask for a referral.

 

[cobden99]

Actually thats a very good idea, thank you for that. Its quite hard when things go on for a while to remember the exact details of what happened when .. I keep a riding diary anyway so I shall change it to a Lameness Log - hopefully for not much longer !!

 

[AmyMay]

Did they nerve block at all, and was it just the foot they x-rayed?

I wonder if they have considered ringbone at all?

 

[cobden99]

No they just x-rayed both front feet, no nerve blocks. The vet is back tomorrow though so I will ask the question. He has three white feet and you can actually see the bruising - particularly now around the nail holes

I must be the only person in the UK who is praying for rain !!

 

[KrujaaLass]

Myt farrier recommends Stocholm Tar for my mare who has soft soles. Although you cant do it now have a word with vet if the gel pads come off.