Rapid Onset lameness and a WWYD Insurance question (*very long*) also in CR

[scheherazade]

On Saturday morning, I brought my horse out and he was very reluctant to go forward (he has been getting gradually more stuffy over the past couple of weeks, I got his back checked out and apart from some tension which was treated, they could find nothing wrong. He has always been very laid back though so the trick has been to keep him motivated enough to want to work forwards) So I stuck him on the lunge so I could get a better idea of what was going on, and he was slightly lame on his off hind, I could find no heat and no swelling, and didn't get any reaction from hoof testers. Put him away and rang the vet asking for advice, I was fully prepared to get the vet out today, they advised to keep him on box rest, give him some bute and keep an eye on him, then call on Monday morning to arrange an appointment.

Five hours later he was hopping lame on that leg, clearly distressed and had obvious swelling from pastern to half way up to cannon bone. Rang vet immediately and got them to come out, they thought probable lymphangitis, gave him IV painkiller and put him straight on anti-biotics. By Sunday morning, he was very distressed indeed, breathing rapid, shallow and erratic, unable to get up and hadn't eaten or drunk during the night. Rang vet who was round within half an hour, they x rayed his leg as she believed that the painkillers and anti b's should have kicked in by then and he should have been more comfortable. More painkillers, anti b's and a sedative to calm him and he was soon feeling much better, eating and drinking and hobbling between hay / door to check the goings on.

He is much brighter in himself today, has been on 4 hourly checks, so I think the anti b's / painkillers have kicked in and are doing their work, and the infection is being fought by the anti b's. Do you think that this could have been brewing for a couple of weeks, causing the lack of forwardness, or is this a red herring??? Second question, does anyone have any experience of lymphangitis as I always thought it was caused by too much food / protein in the diet and insufficient turnout / exercise, however this is a horse who is turned out for 11 hours a day, is ridden 6 times a week, and is definitely not over fed….. Confused dot com

Final question, which may be a little controversial - I am very aware that I have run up a fairly enormous vet bill over the past couple of days, do you think I should claim this from insurance or pay it myself. If I claim it on the insurance, they would probably exclude that leg I would think, so should I get a full investigation done of the leg as part of treatment for this lameness and make sure that there is nothing else that could have contributed to it, or at least to know what I am dealing with going forward? WWYD???.........

Thanks for reading all this, hope it all makes sense, I have had very little sleep so am barely coherent!! Gallons of strong black coffee and chocolate cake on offer…..

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Claim it as the insurance will request a print out of your animals treatment history at renewal and all insurance companies request your vets details so they can get a print out of the last years treatment before accepting your business.

So might as well claim. the leg would only be exluded for similar infections but not for individual inuries or anything to do with bone or tendon.

Thats what I found when my gelding had cellulitis, hes excluded for that but if he injures it in any way hes still covered and hes 22

 

[scheherazade]

Claim it as the insurance will request a print out of your animals treatment history at renewal and all insurance companies request your vets details so they can get a print out of the last years treatment before accepting your business.

So might as well claim. the leg would only be exluded for similar infections but not for individual inuries or anything to do with bone or tendon.

Thats what I found when my gelding had cellulitis, hes excluded for that but if he injures it in any way hes still covered and hes 22

Thanks, that's good to hear - I was just thinking if they were going to exclude the entire leg I ought to have every diagnostic going before they exclude the entire limb!! Glad to hear it doesn't work like that cos that would be nuts!! (although a lot of their policies don't make much sense to me!!)