Quick question before xrays

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horseandshoes77

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horse went lame no obvious swellings etc little heat in foot farrier came suspected abcess shoe removed horse poulticed for 3 days no heat and no sign of abcess only 1/10 th lame ( near fore ) got vet did flexions hoof tests etc no diff vet said book in for xrays as could be ringbone (or anything ) anyway mare only lame now when turning tight with lame leg in inside any suggestions thoughts xrays booked for next week but worried sick going to be ringbone and our jumping will end ! Not lame on a 20 mtre circle just very tight turn and no heat at all in hoof now ?
 
How long has the horse been lame? If there is continued improvement I think I'd be inclined to rest a bit longer and see what happens, it could be something as simple as bruising.
 
Agree with above - took my horse to vets as he was lame. Vet couldn't see anything and advised to give it a bit longer. Next time he was shod we could see the bruising coming out.
 
Did your vet ask the dreaded 'is she insured' question! Cynical old me would probably see whether some Dr Green would fix it before jumping into expensive investgations.
 
3 days poulticing isn't much! I've done poulticing and soaking for over a week before getting an abscess to a head, and the lameness comes and goes as the abscess works its way to somewhere it can get out. Sometimes you get very lame, then not bad for a few days, then a bit worse, then 3 legged lame...
 
touchstone said:
How long has the horse been lame? If there is continued improvement I think I'd be inclined to rest a bit longer and see what happens, it could be something as simple as bruising.
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horse was slightly lame coming in from field, next day hopping lame then heat went from hoof and lameness better then lame again and now only lame on tight turn this started last Wednesday

vet wanted xrays as she said she suspected ringbone but didn't say why she suspected this, theres nothing visible on leg or hoof.

just wondered if anyone else has had this or does ringbone present itself like this ?
 
I'd ask your farrier, he would spot signs of ringbone as the rate of growth on the ringbone side is quite different to that on the good side so he'd notice the inbalance.
I'm not a vet (by any stretch) but I'd be supprised if lameness caused by ringbone would come and go so quickly.

There is no harm in xrays if you are concerned and want to rule it out (other than to your pocket!)
 
It sounds like the horse has been lame for less than a week? (correct me if I'm wrong though).

I wouldn't be rushing into x-rays, I'd give some time off in the field and keep reassessing. If not better then I would investigate further, but he/she could have just pulled or bruised something.

Do you know why the vets suspects ringbone? I would give them a call and ask if I was you.
 
I have a horse with ringbone, when we noticed it was quite advanced and my farrier hadn't noticed anything and he is a very well respected farrier who has a lot of knowledge. The lamesness came on and off very quickly. She wasn't even lame at first, just "not right" and the lamesness came later and it literally appeared within the space of her being put in the field and then brought in again the same day she was crippled.

I hope for you and your horse it isn't anything too serious, I would also be tempted to leave a little longer and seeing if you can resolve the problem yourself (if for example it is am absess) as workups aren't the cheapest of things to have done. I did this with my horse, tried to correct her being "not right" myself with a few different things and it was only when I couldn't that I turned to the vet. The lamesness funnily enough didnt come until the week before we were due to go in for the workup!
 
Polos Mum said:
I'd ask your farrier, he would spot signs of ringbone as the rate of growth on the ringbone side is quite different to that on the good side so he'd notice the inbalance.
I'm not a vet (by any stretch) but I'd be supprised if lameness caused by ringbone would come and go so quickly.

There is no harm in xrays if you are concerned and want to rule it out (other than to your pocket!)
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Oh def don't want to fork out if I don't have to, funny you should say that about farrier because when I told him what vet thought he didn't agree, he still thinks abcess and recommended poulticing again and maybe using Epsom salts ?

just the vet worried me as she seemed to be quite keen to xray and obviously kept going back to ringbone, I have checked right round the leg and pastern and coronet band etc but not sure if I would notice anything ?

My farrier is very good and usually notices even the slightest changes in the foot so maybe ill just keep up with his advise and hope for the best.

Only dealt with one abcess but it was a textbook one lol
 
CobsGalore said:
It sounds like the horse has been lame for less than a week? (correct me if I'm wrong though).

I wouldn't be rushing into x-rays, I'd give some time off in the field and keep reassessing. If not better then I would investigate further, but he/she could have just pulled or bruised something.

Do you know why the vets suspects ringbone? I would give them a call and ask if I was you.
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yes the lameness came on last Wednesday but for about 8 months shes been off on that leg, not lame but maybe an odd stride every now and then, its usually when shes been stabled and once warmed up shes fine, didn't happen all the time just now and then, shes on joint supplements etc as thought she was just getting a bit stiff, she jumps and nothing has been noticeable then, shes been fine doing fast work, just seemed to have the odd stride (mainly in trot) every so often, had physio etc found few tight spots but nothing much really, but never had any heat in hoof or real lameness until last Wednesday, always been fine being shod on that foot etc however now im thinking about it we always had a problem with the left lead in canter ?
 
Please ignore me if I am too cynical but if I was a vet I too would be very keen you try detailed investigations (that made me a lot of cash) instead of trying rest (which won't earn me anything)

Not all vets the same I know but maybe 1/10ths lame for less than a week ! with no other symptoms, my cash would be staying in my pocket (but as well as cynical I am also tight!)
 
baker190 said:
I have a horse with ringbone, when we noticed it was quite advanced and my farrier hadn't noticed anything and he is a very well respected farrier who has a lot of knowledge. The lamesness came on and off very quickly. She wasn't even lame at first, just "not right" and the lamesness came later and it literally appeared within the space of her being put in the field and then brought in again the same day she was crippled.

I hope for you and your horse it isn't anything too serious, I would also be tempted to leave a little longer and seeing if you can resolve the problem yourself (if for example it is am absess) as workups aren't the cheapest of things to have done. I did this with my horse, tried to correct her being "not right" myself with a few different things and it was only when I couldn't that I turned to the vet. The lamesness funnily enough didnt come until the week before we were due to go in for the workup!
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Hi Thanks for the info, do you mind me asking what has it meant for your horse with regards to her workload etc, been scaring myself googling ringbone !!
 
horseandshoes77 said:
Hi Thanks for the info, do you mind me asking what has it meant for your horse with regards to her workload etc, been scaring myself googling ringbone !!
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No of course not! My horse has managed extremely well since being diagnosed. Vet suspected she would be a field ornament but my mare proved him wrong! For the first year we did hacking only, with daily bute (had cortisone the day of diagnosis) and she stayed sound. Went back for a follow up in September (she has various other problems: DJD, side bones in the ringbone leg) although she was 100% sound in the bad leg she was slightly off in the other so we x-rayed and found the startings of navicular so vet suggested Tildren. Absolute god send!! She is ow off the bute, barefoot, totally sound and alls he has is glucosamine supplement every day! She does the same level of work but just doesn't jump anymore other than the odd one here and there.

Personally if I were you I wouldn't be panicking about ringbone just yet! It is highly likely it is bruising or something similar so if I was you I would try and see how you get on yourself for a few weeksseeing if anyting else appears and then go to the vet if you dont have any improvement!
 
yes I think I may just see how she goes, theres a massive improvement today so crossing fingers its just bruising or something.

I think I just panicked with the vets reaction etc

thanks for all the replies everyone :)
 
I would usually have agreed with others here and def not the person that jumps straight in with x rays and the like before trying other things. But the fact you say you've had a feeling somethings been not quite right for 8 months i would say maybe its time to double check with x rays
 
Well turned her out today in small paddock on her own and a very low flying helicopter sent her off loopy so full ronking and flying round and emergency stops etc anyway after this watched her not lame so left her mooching for an hour then brought her in and checked leg theres heat down the fetlock and round heel and little bit on coronet band bottom of hoof cold but not lame (well same as before only wen turning sharp) so cold hosed leg for ten mins still heat in fetlock not as much in hoof ?? Rang my farrier and he said he doubts ringbone and thinks maybe ligaments ? He said was no sign of bruising at all in hoof when he took shoe off and her foot is the most balanced its ever been !! So will ligament damage show up on exrays and altho vet told me to turn out and gentle hacking out would you box rest for a while ? Think my poor farrier is getting sick of me lol
 
If there is a risk of ligament damage then I'd paddock rest and not ride, I'd probably have a word with the vet at this point though.
 
My horse had severe high & low ringbone, if you want any info feel free to ask. He wasn't lame, just stiff/off every now & then, just something wasn't right, he also always rested that leg & it was better once warmed up.. You could see the odd shape around the Pastern with him. It was thick & boney, but to be honest I wouldn't have noticed that till vet pointed it out. He was successfully operated on..if u want any info just ask..
 
Ginger Bear said:
My horse had severe high & low ringbone, if you want any info feel free to ask. He wasn't lame, just stiff/off every now & then, just something wasn't right, he also always rested that leg & it was better once warmed up.. You could see the odd shape around the Pastern with him. It was thick & boney, but to be honest I wouldn't have noticed that till vet pointed it out. He was successfully operated on..if u want any info just ask..
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well iv got vet coming Tuesday to xray, im chewed to bits now so think its the best thing as I have an awful feeling its more than bruising or abcess (something would have shown by now) im hoping its just something some rest will cure but vet was really pushing towards ringbone.

Anything you can tell me would be helpful, this mare was bought to compete and im gutted this will not be possible if it is ringbone.

Have checked her leg from knee to hoof and cant feel any difference between good leg and lame leg, but I do have a feeling this was why she wasn't keen to pick up this canter lead and why shes been off sometimes.

Im feeding joint sups and have done for sometime now, is there anything else I could be doing to help ?

thanks:)
 
Sorry only just seen your response.. Or would have replied earlier.. How old is your mare?? My horse was 9 when he was diagnosed.. He was on full loan, & I'd only had him a few months, owner signed him over to me & we had his leg done.. I'm interested in why your vet says ringbone when it could literally be a million things.. Is it a front leg? My horse has it in a hind leg, vets reckoned it was caused by an old injury as his other legs were scanned too but all fine. Keep us update once you have x-rays.. Hopefully they won't find much!
 
Ginger Bear said:
Sorry only just seen your response.. Or would have replied earlier.. How old is your mare?? My horse was 9 when he was diagnosed.. He was on full loan, & I'd only had him a few months, owner signed him over to me & we had his leg done.. I'm interested in why your vet says ringbone when it could literally be a million things.. Is it a front leg? My horse has it in a hind leg, vets reckoned it was caused by an old injury as his other legs were scanned too but all fine. Keep us update once you have x-rays.. Hopefully they won't find much!
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Hi Mare will be 12 this year, it is her front leg, im not sure why she thinks this but she checked hoof with testers and did some flexions and checked leg up and down, she just said she had suspicions it could be the onset of ringbone and would like to do xrays, I have used the same vet for years and they have always been very good at keeping costs down and I usually don't pay a call out fee if I can be available on a 30 notice. Also said she would prob get away with just xraying the front legs to keep costs down.

Also the mare is a bit (special) in that shes terrified of strangers and needles are a nono, so the vet ruled out trying to do nerve blocks first as she said it would be a waste of time as the mare wouldn't cope etc, if you don't get it right first time with injections that's it you don't get second chance lol, so im guessing that's why going straight to xrays.

Mares not insured for vet bills anymore as she had too many exclusions, altho the front legs were the only things I could have claimed for typical lol

Well hopefully I will get some answers next week !
 
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