she's lame!

[karlene]

One of my mare’s become lame and were not quite sure why! Its on her back right, when she was first lame she was a little short on a circle on her front left- thinking that maybe that was down to her over compensating her weight??????
She has no heat, inflammation or cuts! Not tender to touch anywhere- I have my blacksmith coming to see if its an abscess?? My vet has been already and put her on buite and antibiotics ( she‘s had her back checked too and no probs there!), he is waiting to see whet the blacksmith says before we look more into it! Anyone got any ideas or advice??

 

[Cliqmo]

Common causes are nail bind (shoe being nailed on to close to the nerve endings in the foot) bruised soles, flat heels, abcesses, tweak injury to joints, tendons or ligaments, kick injuries by other horses, overreach injuries to themselves... the list is pretty much endless

Has she been lame for long? Interesting your vet gave antibiotics, implying he thinks it could be an infection? If you give the sole of the lame foot a realy good scrub with a brush you may be able to see a 'tracking line' of infection from an abcess, although treating it will still require the farrier... I hope you get it sorted soon x

 

[karlene]

hi, she's not shod on the back as she's still young, she's in a paddock on her on so no kicks! he gave the anitibiotics as he 'said' if it is an abcess he would rather have her straight on them! famous words of a vet! she's been lame for just under a week although she is improving- still short though

 

[Jodies9154]

Normally they are very lame with a foot abcess and can look as though they have broken their leg.

Is the horse less lame on bute? Were any nerve blocks carried out to try and locate the area causing lameness?

 

[karlene]

 

[karlene]

He didn’t carry out any nerve blocks he said he would do them up he’s clinic when I take her up there this week once the Farrar has been out as he wants todo scans and x-rays ect. The worrying thing is that there’s no sign of an abscess but then they recon most of the times you’ll never see anything anyway???? She is bare foot on the back so im thinking something as simple as a bruised sole? But im as naive as most and I have to rely on my vet and Farrar and the worrying thing is that lately ive been hearing really bad things about my vet!

 

[Cliqmo]

I must admit I thought antibiotics were a funny route to take as when my horses have had suspected abcesses before the vet has been keen for the farrier to have 'something to see'

... I was told that whilst antibiotics may shrink the infection site (thus making it harder for the farrier) they don't normally stop an abcess altogether, meaning it is more likely to reoccur? It might just be a different approach though, I wouldn't worry unduly until you have had the farrier out and exhausted a few more lines of inquiry

 

[Jodies9154]

It could quite possibly be a bruised sole, if you imagine how sore it is if you stand on a sharp stone with bare feet...

There may well be an abcess but they do tend to be very lame. Did your vet use the hoof testers on her hoof to see if there was a point that was very sore?

Well the farrier will most possibly be able to say it definitely isn't in the foot i.e. the hoof, he won't be able to rule out a problem with the tendons or bone in the foot though.

I wouldn't worry about the runours about your vet, people say things....but your vets is qualified like all the others. Although some vets are obviously more experienced in certain areas than others.

I think a lameness work up will be required. I would have though the bute would prevent a sole bruising lameness, but you never know some horses are wimmps and because the foot hurt before the bute they don't want to stand on it, it may take a while for it to dawn on it that it doesn't hurt anymore!

have you had it out today to see if she is still lame?

 

[karlene]

he did poke and prod with her foot (i couldn't tell you if it was a hoof tester) but he said that she's slightly sore on a point of her sole. She was still lame at first on the bute but as i said she is improving. She's still short this morning (inbetween the bucks as im trotting her) she's only young so not happy with being in! one of my mares has navicular so im not having much luck!