Pulled tendon?

SNORKEY

SNORKEY

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Hi, my horse came in limping on his front foot nearly two weeks ago, I kept him in over night and he was a bit better the next day and I thought id leave him to see if it got better which it did.
Whilst lunging him a few days ago after a canter he went lame on it again, and then seemed ok, and then again today he's quite bad.
He's pointing his toe and not wanting to put his heel to the ground.
Ive called the vet who said try to keep him in (he jumps out of his stable and coral area) and she'l see him monday morning.
Does this sound like a pulled tendon? there's no swelling or heat and no signs or anything like an abcess in his hoof.
 
My TB has hurt her tendon and it is very obvious as there is a lump/swelling over the damaged area, it was hot and she was very lame.

I have known abscesses take longer than two weeks to show when tested with hoof testers, so that is still a possibility.
 
Umm, im hoping its something simple and it repairs quickly. He's ment to be for sale as im pregnant and i really dont need a vet bill. Knowing my luck he's got something that going to take a long time to repair, I love him loads but he's chosen the worst time to go lame :(
 
Pictures!!!
Sounds like gravel though, tbh. For a horse to go this lame on a tendon it'd need to be near hanging off; you couldn't miss it

Is there a pulse in the foot? put your fingers gently on the back of the pastern, one on either side where the veins pass. If it's throbbing then you have an abscess or a stone bruise on the heel. There's not always heat or anything discernable though, except the speactacular lameness that goes with it. If I were you I'd get my farrier in instead of the vet - it'd be cheaper.

you can poultice it in the meantime, that'd help
 
sounds like my horse when he had an abscess, was slightly lame on and off for a few days
but it seemed to go, the next week he was crippled in his left hind, pointing his toe and wouldn't put weight on it.
 
Bad timing indeed! I feel for you!

(It's finally summer here where I am and I've just had to put my horse on box rest due to lameness... hate the thought of him not being turned out...)

If I was you and I wanted to get down to the bottom of it as quick as possible, I'd get the vet out. Until Monday, I'd cold hose his legs a few times a day, keep him on box rest and put stable bandages on overnight. Even if there's no heat or visible swelling, I'm sure it can only help him.

However, if he was trimmed or shod recently, the lameness may be related to the farrier's visit and he may be able to solve the cause of the problem.

Good luck
 
Thanks, he was shod about 5 weeks ago so is due again soon. I cant feel any pulse, heat or swelling, thats what I cant understand.
If the farrier confirms its an abcess will I still need the vet for anti-biotics etc?
 
No, antibiotics tend to suppress rather than fix the problem.

What you really want is for the abscess to burst out. Many Vets and Farriers like to locate it and then dig it out.
 
Here's a photo of my mare after she had an abscess (it went on for ages) bust out at two different points at the coronet (circled). after it went 'pop' she was sound straight away. The holes grow down with the hoof as shown in the second photo (different abscess).

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100_2112.jpg
 
SNORKEY said:
Thanks, he was shod about 5 weeks ago so is due again soon. I cant feel any pulse, heat or swelling, thats what I cant understand.
If the farrier confirms its an abcess will I still need the vet for anti-biotics etc?
Click to expand...

No. A poultice or ten is as far as will be needed in most cases; Animalintex or salty water. Antibiotics would dry up the abscess instead what is needed is the complete draining of it through opening the hoof. Worst case scenario it comes out through the heel. That could be long drawn and annoying. If you would only poultice it now though, it might burst by itself, or at the very least soften the skin enough that the farrier is able to release the pus



As an aside I wonder what you people get charged for them in England though...a bottle of penicillin is about 10€. I'd say some vets have a ball with concerned casual owners in some places...
 
Ok, I could really do with my farrier looking at him first though but he's hard to get hold of and I wont be able to get him until he's home on monday night. Id rather he came and looked at him first as I really cant afford another vet bill.
Do you think I should call the vet off until he's been out with would hopefully be tuesday or wednesday?
 
I'd say you might, unless you can't bear to see your horse lame. The best pronostic for now is to see your horse go even lamer in a short period of time, as that would confirm gravel. You'd think they have a broken leg the way it looks when it's about to burst.

Mention to the farrier you suspect gravel and he might swing by to check your horse then, as it's a quick job that should take priority. and the shoe should be taken out as well anyway.


if you can't/qwon't poultice the foot, at least get it to soak in a bucket of hot salty water (epsom or table) for as long/as often as you can take it yourself. It's boring. But you would need to get the hoof to soften up and to relieve the horse asap
 
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