Mystery lameness

[culteuchar]

Horse at vets for the full monty on lameness nerve blocks xrays about 3 or 4 hours worth. Thought it was left front then thought it was right front then thought it was left rear hock. Xrays inconclusive but very slight sign of spavin but nothing obvious and the joints were pretty clear. Vets advice treat with tildren as it would have a better chance of working before the spavin becomes more apparent and speak to farrier with regard to useing bar shoes on the front and lateral extensions on the back. Asked vet about tildren as i have heard stories about its use and he said in your horses case it has a higher chance of working as there is only slight signs of spavins and changing the shoes would help. We never got to the exact cause but after nerve blocks on three legs she was almost sound and one of the nerve blocks was not 100% effective due to the horse starting to get really fidgety after around 3 hours of testing. Vet felt she was getting some pain in all four legs but one of her hocks was manifesting the lameness in her front diagonal if you know what i mean. Now i trust this vet implicitly and has given other horse i have had years of extra health he was also part of the Olympic equestrian vet team and has won many awards for horse care and health, but you sometimes think was all this worth it and the horse is 2/10 lame but doesnt look in pain and can go sound. I do not compete and only just hack as this is my hobby but i am very attached to this horse and would not want to see her in discomfort. When at the vets i have to stay with her as she doesnt like me not being their even the vet said she talks to you a lot and doesnt like it when you go away even to use the toilet. Does any one have any experience of this drug and how effective was it good or bad reports i can take the pain..

 

[be positive]

I have no experience of tildren but have experienced mystery lamenesses and would recommend you get a physio involved next, the referred lameness you are seeing can move about causing muscle tension and confusing symptoms, having a good physio on board would really help remove some of the confusion especially in cases such as these where the vets are stumped, unfortunately they rarely suggest getting another professional in although most are happy enough if the owner asks.

 

[Goldenstar]

I had one very good result with Tildren and one less conclusive and one abject failure ( however that horse turned out to be very ill ).
I have never had one colic afterwards but two drank excessively afterwards which are the two side effects I was warned about .
I would certainly use it in the circumstances you describe .