Pigeon toed, artritis and lameness........

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Slightlyconfused

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Right little pony is 20, an old ride and drive, spent 14 years on his left in a small stable with a paddock smaller than a 20x40 school that had a muck heap in it.

He only went out when weather was good and stood eating hay then wanted to come in, this was about two/three times a month. Rest of the time he was just in his stable. Up until six years ago he was a ride and drive pony for this lady, he is 12.2 welsh c, then had lami pretty bad but she didnt get xrays.
He came back okay but never drove again as her partner had a hip replacment and they just never did it again.
We got given him in jan in a state thought he would only last a month or so but he has bloomed, we even got back riding, sat on him in june, just hacking round the farm.

He is on 6/7 hours turn out and soaked hay, ridden three times a week to slowly build his fittness. He has been coming out of his stable very stiff and creaky in the mornings but always walked it off last week he didnt so vet had a look.

Now little pony always has a clump to his front feet when he walks, both his old farrier who shod him for those 14 years and my farrier said if he is sound then its the way he walks. He also has very expressive front leg action which i find hard to spot lameness. Vet did all the lami tests, pressed quit hard on the hoof testers nothing but he is walking like a lami, she it flexion tests on his knees and he couldnt go into trot after so we are going with arthritis in his knees. Farrier also had a look at his feet and couldnt find anything to suggest lami (Even tho its been on my mind a bit) he hasnt put on any weight, his cushings and IR are normal had them tested when we got him.
Put him on a danilion trail and he came sound and was coming out his stable door only a little stiff.

He is very pigoen toed esp on his right fore, farrier isnt changing his feet as he said it would only make things worse. We think its his hard life catching up with him.

Any one else got experiance of a bad pigeon toed Gee Gee and the problems that followed......i.e arthritis and where it was/is?


cookies and milk for all who read the essay.:D:o
 
I have a mega pigeon toed 17 year old IDX horse (LF).

The whole leg was also always slightly wonky (turned in from the knee) which has worsened in appearance over the years and he was diagnosed with knee arthritis in that leg in 2005. He is a glorified and demanding pet and is kept comfortable on Danilon and a joint supplement and is kept as slim as possible. He is also unshod as he obviously isn't ridden any more (retired aged 12) and the very act of shoeing was uncomfortable for him.

He's as happy and feisty as ever though, so a pigeon toe isn't the end of the world.
 
Rueysmum said:
I have a mega pigeon toed 17 year old IDX horse (LF).

The whole leg was also always slightly wonky (turned in from the knee) which has worsened in appearance over the years and he was diagnosed with knee arthritis in that leg in 2005. He is a glorified and demanding pet and is kept comfortable on Danilon and a joint supplement and is kept as slim as possible. He is also unshod as he obviously isn't ridden any more (retired aged 12) and the very act of shoeing was uncomfortable for him.

He's as happy and feisty as ever though, so a pigeon toe isn't the end of the world.
Click to expand...

he isnt sore when being shod at all (another reason why they doent think its lami) but the farrier doesnt twist his leg out and tries to shoe him where he is comfy, he is slim (you can she all his ribs but in a nice way and he was starting to muscle up) we are going to keep him on the danilon, it only takes th edge off but thats all he needs i think as he was having a good run round the feild :D, and just lightly hack to keep him mobile and see how he goes.

thank you
 
I agree that correcting the pigeon toes is the wrong thing to do.

Is he shod?

Would you consider keeping him on a low level of bute?

Ideally, he would be kept in a larger area than a stable at night, so that he can move about more. Not may people have a barn or small, grass free turnout area, so this might not be possible.

ETA. Just seen your post above. I would consider having him without shoes for two reasons. 1, if he gets any laminitis, you will spot it far earlier than if he had shoes on and 2, because you will greatly reduce the concussion to his legs.
 
slightlyconfused said:
he isnt sore when being shod at all (another reason why they doent think its lami) but the farrier doesnt twist his leg out and tries to shoe him where he is comfy, he is slim (you can she all his ribs but in a nice way and he was starting to muscle up) we are going to keep him on the danilon, it only takes th edge off but thats all he needs i think as he was having a good run round the feild :D, and just lightly hack to keep him mobile and see how he goes.

thank you
Click to expand...

No problem - mine sometimes gallops in the field, which is a sight to behold (from the side view he looks just like a normal horse). Re the shoeing - the farrier used to shoe him low to the ground as well, but it was the banging in of the nails he didn't like as it sent shock waves up his leg.
 
At the no I don't want to take shoes off......but we will if needed.

His stable is big enough for a 17 hh do he has plenty of movement, I'm on livery so can't have a barn.

He is going to stay on low level of bute. What gets me is the Taft that he has burning hot hooves, half way up to his cornet band, in the mornings then when he has been out and moved around the heat goes.
After the year with idiot pony I'm slightly insane when it comes to lami.

Ithank you.
Xxx
 
micronised linseed to help with the stiffness. It has made a lot of difference to mine and I have been able to drop the bute.
Probably around 200g per day for your 12.2
 
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