Nail bind.... or fracture?

Meowy Catkin

Meowy Catkin

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My mare was shod on friday but by saturday lunchtime (yersterday) she was very lame on her near fore.

I called the vet ane he thinks that 'nail bind' is the most likely cause of the lameness. He had to give her a painkilling jab so that we could bring her in, said that the shoe had to come off and I was given anti-biotics and more painkillers to give in her food. He wants me to ring on monday if she is still lame.

As soon as the vet was gone I called the farrier and he came in 1/2 hour and removed the shoe. She was then put in her stable.

This morning she is still really lame (not improved) and now has some swelling/filling on that leg just above the fetlock but it isn't hot.

I have a horrible feeling about this.

If she's still as lame on monday I will ask for x-rays.



Have you had a horse with nail bind? How long did it take for your horse to recover? How lame were they?
 
I'v seen a horse that had a nail bind before, she was pretty crippled for a few days.

Best of luck..x
 
Mine was crippled for several days. There is no room in there for inflammation and it hurts like hell when it's injured. Later swelling is a sign of a nail bind not of a fracture, which should have swelled much earlier if it was going to. Common things are common - she'll be fine in a few days I expect.
 
Could be an abcess which mine always seem to get with nail bind. I usually poultice as a matter of course. The foot may need opening up more to relieve the pressure. Ime this brings immediate relief.
 
Thank you for all your replies.

I am trying to stay calm and hopeful that my worries are unfounded.

I hadn't realised that it could take a few days after the shoe was removed for improvement re lameness due to a bind.

If anyone else can give me their experiance of nail binds and the recovery I would be greatful.

Thanks again.
 
Am sure it is nail bind which will probably need poulticing, it can make them really lame. I'm surprised that the vet didn't take the shoe off himself?
 
Mine spent a week being poulticed and tubbed whilst being hopping lame but turned out with a padded boot on. Then a week of consilidation after farrier came out an opened the site of the bind and then a week in the field with a warm (shod) foot. Now 3 weeks on I have started lungeing, I rode him this morning in the sand school then walked and trotted down the lane for about 50 yards. Sound but will be doing remedial work on the lunge for the next week or so.
 
I had one that got nail bind a few years ago. After three days, the lamness was so bad he refused to put the foot on the floor.
Vet came back out and had to dig out the most gross abcess I have ever smelt.
Hot tubbing and polticing should help, but I would get it checked again to see if an abcess has brewed up and needs opening up
 
I am really pleased, this morning she looks slightly less lame :)

Hopefully (crosses everything!) this will continue until she's fully recovered but I'll keep an eye out for abcesses.
 
Thanks Mabel :)

I nearly cried when the vet mentioned the dredded f word. She's a bit sounder this evening too and the vet is happy with her progress and is certain it is a nail bind now.
 
Mine had nail bind about 6 years ago - found him in the field on a Saturday morning barely able to walk, got him to the stable but it was very hobble and he stood out side the stable holding the bad leg up. I got the vet who removed the offending shoe and he had painkilling jab and antibiotics. Once vet had gone he just laid down in his stable and slept so I think had been in a lot of pain for a while in the field. He was poulticed for 3 days though nothing came out muck wise. He was still terribly lame that first night but by the next morning he was a lot brighter and less lame. He was sound as a pound by the Tuesday, shoe was put back on the Thursday and I had a lesson that day too. So I'd say in answer to your concerns, it's cripplingly painful for them so are really badly lame, can take in my experience 3-4 days for discomfort/lameness to subside but I was lucky and had no problems afterwards like an absess.
 
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