One thing after another!

[santas_spotty_pony]

So my mare has come up lame today. I really am done with this winter - seems to be one thing after another.

I took her on a hack and she felt not quite right in walk. She’s usually very forward and was a bit quiet and when I asked for trot was very obviously lame… pretty sure near fore. So took her home. She is not quite right on the turns wither. I trotted her up in hand at home but she didn’t look as bad without a rider on but the surface is a bit softer outside the stables and also I couldn’t really get her moving forward. she still looked uncomfortable for less lame.

Farrier is coming Friday to have a look and I am praying it’s an abscess with this mild and wet weather but there doesn’t seem to be any heat in the hoof yet… except for perhaps at the back of the hoof just above the heel bulbs. concerning because she is also the type to get laminitis so this is my other thought. I was going to poultice tonight but she really doesn’t look lame enough for me to be sure it’s an abscess yet so I’ve cleaned the hooves well and she’s in in the dry.

I’m thinking I may treat it as laminitis too anyway just in case and soak her hay. She’s out in the day with not very much grass - but it will be growing in this weather. And she gets 1/2 scoop of happy hoof AM and PM.

Am I right in thinking an abscess would be the same degree of lameness on hard and soft ground and laminitis will obviously be worse on the hard?

Hopefully get an answer Friday.

 

[setterlover]

I am really sorry your mare is lame and I know how worrying it can be.
I have had a lot of experience with abscesses as I had a T/B that used to get about 4 or 5 every year and an Arab with cushings who regularly got them
I have always found abscesses are initially worse on soft ground and better on hard going as the soil fills the hoof and causes more pressure whereas on hard going there is a gap between the sole and the ground .
Generalisation I know and also depends on where the abscess is
I think would are wise to treat as laminitis but personally I would think it is an abscess and poultice as well.
Hope you get good news on Friday

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

Interesting as I have to cross fields to get out onto the lanes so in theory her feet are already full of mud again before we really get going. I will start soaking her hay from tomorrow. Thanks for your reply, yes it is worrying, just praying it’s morning more serious and that can’t be solved through management. I’ve been giving her a small handful of sugarbeet to mix with her supplements this past week and am now wondering if that’s enough till have made a difference - right back to basics I think.

 

[Zoeypxo]

My horse has just gotten over a 10 week on and off abscess, im also fed up of this winter!!
Any digital pulse?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

If you suspect laminitis get her off the grass until Friday just incase just soaking hay is not enough, I don't know where you are but it's so mild at the moment so grass is growing and not worth the risk and those 2 days off the grass can make all the difference.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

If you suspect laminitis get her off the grass until Friday just incase just soaking hay is not enough, I don't know where you are but it's so mild at the moment so grass is growing and not worth the risk and those 2 days off the grass can make all the difference.

I’m in Lincolnshire and yes it’s very mild. I would imagine there has been a fresh spurt of grass too. Good point.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

My horse has just gotten over a 10 week on and off abscess, im also fed up of this winter!!
Any digital pulse?

Oh dear! Cant feel anything, my farrier said it could be something to do with the white line after all the wet weather but we shall see…

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

She is more lame today. First few steps the worst but she walks gingerly after that. I’m hoping the farrier finds something tomorrow.

 

[setterlover]

An abscess will generally get worst as it progresses I'd be quite pleased she is more lame in a way as it means it's more likely to be an abscess .

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

An abscess will generally get worst as it progresses I'd be quite pleased she is more lame in a way as it means it's more likely to be an abscess .

That’s what I’m thinking

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

Update…

Farrier came and couldn’t find an abscess and no sign of Laminitis either. He said give her the weekend and see how she is on Monday. She was so sore though I didn’t feel I could do this in case it got worse with it being unknown so the Vet has been out.

She has a swelling on her chest where she had her vaccination the other day. She had her flu/tet in her chest as she was having her first sweet itch vaccs in her neck. TBH I’ve never known any vaccinations to be done in the chest - only the neck or the bum! I didn’t think the look there as she was obviously near fore lame. Vet has said to give her a week on Bute and let her go out and wander around and thinks she is just sore because of this and to watch in case it abscesses. Well you certainly learn something every day! Relieved it’s not more serious though.