PLEASE HELP

[alfietb]

My 12 year old TB 16.2 gelding who was diagnosed with navicular (without x-ray’s) after intermittent periods of lameness. My farrier tried new support shoes on him and he immediately became sound and i was even able to ride him again. 5 days after being shod he became dog lame on his front near foot to the point of not being able to walk. I took him in from the field called a local farrier to remove the shoe as my regular farrier was away. I applied a poultice for 3 days and cold hosed the leg, nothing came out on the poultice but he became more sound as the day’s went by and was able to put weight on the foot again not 100% sound but greatly improved. I called the farrier again to have a final check on the foot before I put him back out in the field as he was stocking up in the hind legs from standing in, he said there was nothing in the foot and his opinion was that the farrier who shod him trimmed back the foot too much. He suggested I apply dry Epsom salt on the foot, wrap it and let him out to the field which i did. Next morning he was crippled again with massive swelling from the knee down. I have so many people telling me different things, i just want to do my best for the Alfie and try to get him right even if it's just to retire him as i love him to bit's and he just a pet. He is currently back in now I am hot poulticing him with animallintex, I also have him on bute and am cold hosing him. Should i be giving him an antibiotic??? i have had the vet out many times with Alfie over lameness and to be honest i'm not in the position anymore to pay for vetinary visits as i have recently lost my job and simply can’t afford it, however I want to do all I can to help him and ensure he is not in any pain!!! Any advice is very welcome and greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much Siobhan.

 

[Star_Chaser]

could you ask the vet for a payment plan arrangement if you can't use insurance? Its worth asking especially if he needs their help which it sounds like he does. We still have an old fashioned vet the new ones seem to be more about the money than the animal

 

[Beausmate]

You really need a vet to look at him. How can you get an accurate navicular diagnosis without an x-ray?

Anyway...If the swelling feels sort of 'stuffed' and a bit lumpy, it's likely an infection, if not, it's likely an injury. There could be something in his foot that has worked it's way further in.

Can you beg/borrow/scrounge some cash? Sell anything? Get a cash-in-hand job doing anything you can find?

Lousy situation to be in

 

[Shay]

I know it is difficult but it is actually an offence to fail to get veterinary attention for an animal in need. If you cannot afford to pay then please contact your local RSPCA or World Horse Welfare Officer and they will help you. (Blue cross may also be able to assist.) You simply cannot leave him in pain and needing a vet.