Really am so worried about Arnold...also in vets please help

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Agent XXX999

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OK so I am stumped! Please help….
Pony was first lame (only looked footsore) a few weeks ago. Left it, and was fine.
Last Sunday started looking to his right side, twisting his neck – this passed, presumed a touch of colic (he is quite stressy pony and a bit prone)
Then last wed went 4/10 lame on circle – only on right rein. Left a couple of days as thought twinged something.
On Sat went to turn pony out - was crippled in front (like 7/10ths lame and unfair to make him walk lame) walked 2 steps and tied up, and then started to colic (poorly pony) Emergency vet called, he is as stumped as me and didn’t know where to start. pony on bute and box rest all week.
Had bloods on Monday…got the results today, and completely clear????
Huh???
I am really worried, stumped for the pony as he is still lame (not lami apparently as not footsore) and the cramping ‘tying up’ has not shown in his blood.
Any ideas? The vet has said 2 weeks box rest – not sure I agree, if it is muscular/skeletal surely it is good for him to be in small paddock so he does not si
OK so I am stumped! Please help….
Pony was first lame (only looked short and you would not have seen it if you were not looking) a few weeks ago. Left it, and was fine.
Last Sunday started looking to his right side, twisting his neck – this passed, presumed a touch of colic (he is quite stressy pony and a bit prone)
Then last wed went 4/10 lame on circle – only on right rein. Left a couple of days as thought twinged something.
On Sat went to turn pony out - was crippled in front (like 7/10ths lame and unfair to make him walk lame) walked 2 steps and tied up, and then started to colic (poorly pony) Emergency vet called, he is as stumped as me and didn’t know where to start. pony on bute and box rest all week.
Had bloods on Monday…got the results today, and completely clear????
Huh???
I am really worried, stumped for the pony as he is still lame (not lami, not footsore) and the cramping ‘tying up’ has not shown in his blood.
Any ideas? The vet has said 2 weeks box rest – not sure I agree,
Seize up completely?
 
I would say laminitis. My pony who has Cushings had severe laminitis 18 months ago - he was so bad, that he couldn't walk from one end of his stable to the other. He also had colic like symptoms. At no time did he show any pain in his feet when vet & farrier tested them with the pincers - this was in spite of pedal bone rotation! The laminitis was so bad that he was on box rest for 10 weeks. (He tested for Cushings and was positive, is now on pergolide and has been fine ever since.)
 
I agree with Meltdown... but (although it sounds stupid) are you sure these different issues on different dates are all related?

Don't know if you have already done this, but have you trotted him on both hardstanding and soft, as if the lameness varies this will be a real indicator. In my experience lunging can really emphasis any muscular issues, as it encourages them to be more balanced and work correctly both infront and behind, whereas they can more easily compensate for any pain when trotting in a straight line so any problems can be hiiden.

Good luck and hope he gets better soon.
 
sorry to state obvious but has your farrier (assuming he's a good one) actually looked at the pony ?

I'd get his opinion as well as the vets if you suspect it could be lami

if you have a sandschool and it's not a long walk I'd turn out there as if it is lami then the soft sand will support the soles.

You don't mention if he's had lami before, only mention colic,

I don't agree with box rest generally but I'd not give any grass either atm as with all the rain it's very rich
 
Friends horse came in crippled few months back hard to tell why, anyway within 24 hours he started colicing. Bloods came back fine.
Turns out he had a huge abcess in his shoulder from a kick sustained 3 weeks earlier and the colic was a result of the poison in the blood and worsened by the pain he was in.
I'd consider if it could be an abcess in the foot or like the others said laminitis, either way a visit from the farrier sounds like a good idea.
Jo
 
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I don't agree with box rest generally but I'd not give any grass either atm as with all the rain it's very rich

[/ QUOTE ]

In the case of laminitis, it is essential that the horse/pony affected does not move round too much and has frog supports on the feet. The best thing is to be in a box on a deep shavings bed, preferably on top of rubber matting for extra cushioning and support.
 
Has anything in his routine changed recently? Any chance he's been poisoned, perhaps by eating something new? Is he eating as usual? Is he standing normally? Moving his neck through full range? Laying down as usual? Does he seem to be moving normally other than his lameness? Is the "tying up" situational - does he do it only at certain times? Does he look "even" on his left and right sides, including both sides of his face (any signs of a stroke?)? Has he had his heart checked (laminitis is a circulatory disease - I've seen symptoms following what was effectively a "heart attack" I witnessed)?

I'm not sure I quite follow the story. Is he still as lame? What form is the "colic" taking? Impaction? Gas? Just pain? Is the "tying up" all the time or just episodic? Has a spinal/neurological injury been ruled out? (I watched a horse fall and hit the top of its neck once, then get up and run off apparently fine. A few days later is started to show odd symptoms of ataxia, discomfort etc. They x-rayed its neck and found a considerable fracture - apparently the cord was not affected enough to be obvious at first but inflamation soon led to complications. If we hadn't been standing there when it happened we wouldn't have had a clue.) What else has your vet ruled out? Possible diseases?

As said, not all laminitic episodes show positive to hoof testers and otherwise it does sound reasonably typical.

So difficult to even guess without seeing him. Best anyone can do is give you ideas to pursue and/or pass on to your vet.
 
I know you say it's not lami but that's still what it sounds like to me & if there's the slightest chance that's the problem I'd treat it accordingly. There's a pony where I am that's just come down with it & he's showing very similar symptoms - I wish they'd get the vet but they wont & instead have given him some bute (so at least he'll stand up now rather than lay on the floor groaning) & stabled him. The looking colicky & tied up is his reaction to pain so if your pony is prone to colic I can quite believe he's having attacks if he's hurting.

Treatment wise I'd go with the box rest on a deep bed & offer him well soaked (leaches out some of the sugar) old hay. Don't take him out of the box for anything, you can work around him. I'd get a farrier to look at him & see what they think & if needs be get a different vet out for a second opinion.

I hope you find out what's wrong & get him better soon.
 
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