bubbilygum
Well-Known Member
Hi everyone,
Just wondering if anyone has any information about side bones they would be kind enough to share with me. My 17 year old cob gelding has been lame since late November, initially with Laminitis (vet diagnosed, digital pulse etc) which passed within about two weeks, but after a week of gentle exercise on the horse walker and limited turnout, he went lame again. Vet said he wasn't laminitic as no signs of laminitis and advised he had shoes put on to help support his feet (he was barefoot, has been for the past eight years) and see if that helped. So he had shoes on and there was no change, worse or better, so decided to try resting him for a couple of weeks to see if he improved (we were slightly cautious that the shoes may be helping but also that he was adjusting to them at the same time as he isn't used to being shod). Again, no change, so vet was called and X-rays were taken. Pedal bone showed no rotation, which surprised me, but X-rays did show side bones on both feet. Vet has now prescribed remedial shoes, bute and another drug which is used to treat arthritis but is non-steroidal (due to history of laminitis). I want to say this is Danilon but can't remember 100%.
In my mind now the plan of action seems to be to see how much he improves following the remedial shoes and pain relief and go from there. I am in two minds as to whether I should ask the vet to do nerve blocks? From what I have read about side bones they only very rarely cause lameness and I am concerned now that the X-rays have thrown a red herring up by finding side bones and that something else may be causing the lameness but has been overlooked. Or am I just being paranoid?!
Has anyone has any experience with side bones? I've never come across a horse with this condition before personally, so I don't really know what to expect. If anyone has any information or experience they could share I would be very grateful!
Just wondering if anyone has any information about side bones they would be kind enough to share with me. My 17 year old cob gelding has been lame since late November, initially with Laminitis (vet diagnosed, digital pulse etc) which passed within about two weeks, but after a week of gentle exercise on the horse walker and limited turnout, he went lame again. Vet said he wasn't laminitic as no signs of laminitis and advised he had shoes put on to help support his feet (he was barefoot, has been for the past eight years) and see if that helped. So he had shoes on and there was no change, worse or better, so decided to try resting him for a couple of weeks to see if he improved (we were slightly cautious that the shoes may be helping but also that he was adjusting to them at the same time as he isn't used to being shod). Again, no change, so vet was called and X-rays were taken. Pedal bone showed no rotation, which surprised me, but X-rays did show side bones on both feet. Vet has now prescribed remedial shoes, bute and another drug which is used to treat arthritis but is non-steroidal (due to history of laminitis). I want to say this is Danilon but can't remember 100%.
In my mind now the plan of action seems to be to see how much he improves following the remedial shoes and pain relief and go from there. I am in two minds as to whether I should ask the vet to do nerve blocks? From what I have read about side bones they only very rarely cause lameness and I am concerned now that the X-rays have thrown a red herring up by finding side bones and that something else may be causing the lameness but has been overlooked. Or am I just being paranoid?!
Has anyone has any experience with side bones? I've never come across a horse with this condition before personally, so I don't really know what to expect. If anyone has any information or experience they could share I would be very grateful!
Foot problems are flipping complex and you are right to wonder if there could be other issues besides the sidebones, especially since this is all following a possible lami attack. I won't bore you with all the foot problems my horses have worked their way through, lol, but the only advice they have led me to offer is to get a referral to a good horspital if you feel your vets haven't really got to the bottom of the problem.
. I'm pretty deflated after this to be honest. All he did was trim his feet a bit, put eucalyptus oil on his soles (to "toughen them up" - his soles aren't the problem at all, it's clearly a "bone" issue, even I could see that on the X-rays) and advise I buy him some hoof boots. I can't see how this will help, and if I spend £200 on boots I will be out of pocket, which I object to considering I don't think these will help at all, and also because he is insured for remedial farriery but not for hoof boots which I buy myself! I have left my vet a voice mail explaining what he did and that I am at a loss as to what to do next, and that my poor boy is still in pain and no better off for the bloody aromatherapy oil, and I am waiting for her to call back. I think I will call my insurance and ask what I have to do to get a different Remedial Farrier out, whether I have to go through another vet or if I can just call one out and claim the costs back. I really don't know what to do 