Pulses: when do you worry?

Caol Ila

Caol Ila

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As I was coming back from a hack, I passed a friend setting out on one. I was still faffing - I don't think I had even turned Fin out yet - when they returned. Friend said her horse did not feel quite right. He wasn't striding out. Horse is an 18-year old KWPN, fairly overweight, and he's in inconconsistent work. His field is not ideal for good doers.

I suggested we check for pulses and then did. He had an obvious pulse in both front pasterns. I said that probably wasn't ideal, and she kept the horse in overnight.

The next day, she turned him out and said she reckoned he was sore because she'd trotted on rocky ground earlier in the week. Horse is barefoot. I haven't seen the horse, so I don't know if he's better or not.

It's not really my circus, and she's probably going to do what she's going to do anyway, but I don't want to give terrible advice, should she ask for it again.

Can pulses be caused by sore feet because you ran it over some rocks?

Should you start treating it like a laminitic horse if you feel pulses?

Is feeling a digital pulse always a sign of bad things?
 
I worry when I can find them.
The only time I ever found Frank's was when he'd spent the previous night charging round the track while he was transitioning to bare and rather over estimated his abilities and spent all day stood on the pea gravel. He was fine after.
 
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I think if it’s both feet it’s more likely to be the start of laminitis. Horse would be unlucky to have bruises in both feet together. Digital pulses are like when your finger throbs, any pain can cause it, but properly bounding isn’t a slight ouch.
 
Unless directly after exercise, I'd be concerned about a strong pulse.

She might have caught it early though and there's every chance the pulses did come down overnight. With the rock hard ground in the SE, bruising and concussion is a real possibility for causing pulses.

I'd personally keep in & treat as if laminitis in strong pulses felt if mine but mine is prone to LGL and has had some rotation of the pedal bone in the past (now corrected) but I do play it super safe.

Equally, once the pulse and pain has gone my vets are real advocates for movement being the best thing.

Without seeing the horse and knowing how he or she reacts, it's a bit of a stab in the dark advising the best course.
 
Millie had a pulse in one foot a few weeks back and it turned out to be concussion from a road hack. Kept in on a deep bed but was actually fine within 48 hours, pulse gone and bouncing around stable in a dreadful strop!

My first thought at this time of year would always be laminitis, particularly in something overweight.
 
I felt pulses in both feet, and it did not take me long to find them. I've never found one before (even when Gypsum had an abscess, I couldn't feel it).
 
Next time I see her, I'll ask if I can check pulses again, provided horse isn't out at that time. All I can do is offer my opinion, but I'd just like a validated opinion rather than me talking out of my a8rse.
 
This has just literally happened at the yard im at.
pony was lame and owner left it , then two weeks later got even more lame, asked me for advice, i checked, high pulses in 3 feet and all roasting. Told her to call the vet as I think it laminitis.
vet out …. Box rest and a restricted diet…
Owner continued to feed too much hay and too much hard feed, along with mint imperials,
6 weeks later pony has only lost 20kg and is still in agony ???
 
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