Pedal bone bruising or laminitis

[sanchob]

I have a pony that had steroid induced lami about 4 years ago he made a full recovery from this, and had plenty of X-rays which were all good. He had an immune problem last year which vets couldn't get to the bottom of so said to give him a year off and take his shoes off. He came back in to work Feb this year and was looking great but in April went slightly pottery in front, vet said the farrier needed to shorten his toes a lot and to put shoes back on. Seemed brilliant until end of June I went away and left my friend looking after him, the first day he got out of his stable galloped across a rutty yard and down a stony track to the field, she said he seemed fine until a week later when he was crippled lame on off fore. Vet came out hoof tested him nothing box rest and Danilon for a few days had days when looked better and then really lame again. Came back from holiday vet came out again and wanted X-rays, they showed rotation of pedal bone, however she said there are no signs of lami on the X-ray, not sure how she can see that but that's what she said, and that the rotation isn't new. She said she thinks he trod on something running down the field and has deep bruising. Special half pads in and box rest for a few weeks with Danilon. This is where I'm confused as farrier said he is 100% sure he has lami he was 3 legged lame until pads were put in now weight bearing and a lot more comfy but still quite lame. He is now very sensitive to any pressure on his sole and has a bit of blue/red bruising by his pedal bone. Treating him like he has lami again. Does anyone have any experience of anything similar?

 

[sanchob]

....

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

If you're treating him as if he has laminitis then you're doing the right thing either way, it won't harm him if he doesn't have it. If you want to know for sure I can only suggest a 2nd opinion from a different vet.

It sounds like he could have had chronic low grade laminitis since April either due to spring grass or the toes being too long, or both (the rotation could be from then?). This low grade laminitis could have been masked by putting shoes on, so he appeared fine until you went away (and perhaps nobody was working him while you were gone? Work helps with managing low grade laminitis/preventing laminitis occurring/worsening). Galloping down a hard track would have caused concussion to the hoofs, which could have tipped him over the edge into full blown acute laminitis, too. Any bruising from stones onto hoofs which are already laminitic is going to be extra painful as well. My guess would be laminitis caused by an unfortunate combination of things and once sound I'd change the management to try to prevent it happening again.