Pedal osteitis

[splatty]

My horse has just been diagnosed with this condition, at the moment feeling upset and very disheartened. Has anybody had experience with dealing with this condition and the outcome of treatment. We are waiting for the vet and farrier to sort out remedial shoeing. To be honest as this horse is only 7 we are thinking of getting a second opinion as the more i read about this condition the symptons didnt match up with ours. She has had xrays and has been box rested for approx 10 weeks, she did come sound and then while on restricted turnout came in lame again. Am not fully convinced with our vets prognosis but then again i know lameness in the foot is a difficult one to diagnose, sorry to go on but if anybody got any info on this one would def appreciate your comments.

 

[Lynne21]

I would get that second opinion as Pedal Ostitis is what the vet diagnoses when they have run out of ideas!! What symptoms does she have and what showed up on the x-rays? (not claiming to be a vet here!!!)

 

[splatty]

Thanks for replying. She went lame whilst out riding, she stumbled on some rutted ground we were only doing a steady trot, she went lame straight away. Rested her she came sound, then 2 weeks later she and her field companions had a total fit in the fit galloping bucking, she came in lame again. With box rest she came sound but still send her in for xrays but nothing really found, so vet said turn her out which i did after a couple of days being a complete idiot in field she came in lame again, and vet had her in for more xrays and this is the diagnosis he came up with. Again on these xrays he said there was changes round the coffin joint and the tip of pedal bone, when we asked if we could see a normal joint we could not see hardly any difference, we also found the vet being quite evasive in answering any of our questions, so he sent us away with bute, saying more box rest and will be in touch after speaking with my farrier for remedial shoeing. After reading up on this condition i am not convinced due to her not having any of the classic symptons nor has she had bad shoeing or worked hard on any hard surfaces. Sorry if i have gone on abit. thanks

 

[Lynne21]

I would definitely get a second opinion! You can't suddenly get 'Pedal Ostitis' from stumbling. Sounds to me like a soft tissue injury of some sort which wouldn't show up on an x-ray and because she mucks about in the field, it is not healing properly. I think that only a tissue scan (don't know what it's called but someone will) will show up the injury. As horses age, it isn't unusual for there to be some slight changes in the bones in the feet or any other bones for that matter

 

[Theresa_F]

Cairo has this with along with problems in the coffin joint - classic problem with old heavy horses - low ringbone. However, his x-rays clearly showed changes to these areas and he was sore when hoof testers were used.

He is now semi-retired, but is more or less sound wearing magnetic strips, having cortaflex and instant linseed. He does wear shoes to rock his considerable weight when the ground his hard, but most of the year is barefoot.

His initial lameness came on very quickly - he galloped when chased by a horse in the field on hard ground but the vet said it has been building up for years and he is not the sort to go lame unless in considerable pain.

Personally I would seek a second opinion as she does seem young to have this problem.

 

[kerrylou123]

my first pony was diagnosed with this (this was about 19 years aho mind). Back then, technolgy wasn't as great, and like somebody has said before, these days thats what the diagnose when they have run out of ideas!