Remedial shoeing - how long before you see an improvement?

[nic83]

Story so far (short as possible –I did post but no idea how to find it and link it)

Horse came in lame( we suspected rough play in the field) box rested a week, came sound. Got back on – lame again. 2 weeks box rest. Started off walking in hand – seemed fine, got back on, seemed OK after a short walk out, but next day lame.

Down to vets, nerve block heel –lameness went from 5/10 to 2/10 on lunge on hard ground, so Xrayed his front feet – he’s broken back the hoof pastern angle (think thats right). Vet recommended wedges to get his heels up and a better angle. Then box rest for two weeks.

Farrier says horses feet have always been like this and he doesn’t grow any foot so hard to bring the toe back, anyhow had new shoes and wedges put on and did two weeks box rest and was turned out today. He went round the field like a looney for 10 minutes – looked fine, but when I walked him up on concrete he was still slightly lame. Would you expect this do I just give it more time? Does he need more box rest or is he OK to be turned out?

I will be ringing the vet on Monday, but I am just pondering whats the best thing to do in the meantime.

 

[Snowysadude]

I would expect it! Dont panic, my boy had the worst case of collapsed heels the vet had ever seen so I had to have bar shoes and gels (at £120 every 4 weeks !) and saw no improvement until 7 months as my boy also grows no foot and it was winter so no grass to encourage growth. Farriers formula and a few other supps didnt work . Its only in the last 2 months there has been a change as he grew some foot and now its just bar shoes for him! Hes gone from 5/10ths lame to just 1/10th in the last two months (sometimes 0/10ths it was an inconsistent lameness - had him x-rayed for navicular and all clear thank goodness!). So just bear with it, or go with the farriers advice - thats what I did and it worked after a while

 

[nic83]

I guess I have to be more patient then - vet said no concern from the X ray for navicular, but obviously an MRI would be more conclusive. I'm just worrying how long it will take, because he will only be covered for a year (almost 2 months into that already) and I would rather have more tests done while he is insured, but obviously have to balance this with time to get better. He is also not the best field ornament - he finds trouble for himself when he is bored and not in work.

I know the feeling with supplements - I've tried several, bu they don't seem to do much. Glad your horse has started to improve!