strange hind lameness - any experiences

[bouncing_ball]

Horse is under vet

In work adult horse.

Been suddenly 3-4 tenths lame in trot right hind since 14th January.

No heat / pain / swelling / issues flexing or palpitating leg joints.
Nothing found by vet or physio.
Lameness looks mid to high.

Did 8 days field rest. No change.

Done 5 days box rest, on two bute a day, with hand walking for 5 minutes three times a day.
Some improvement but still lame.

Plan is 5 further days box rest, with one bute a day
Two days off bute, and vet back for further diagnostics.

I am a bit thrown. It's not presenting like foot issue lameness, and there is nothing to see or feel. The lack of improvement is worrying.

 

[ycbm]

How worrying. I'm not going to improve that worry I'm afraid. From what you describe , if he doesn't nerve block sound to lower down, I would be starting to question a fracture of the pelvis. I think Id be asking for nerve blocks now, not in another week.
.

 

[Ossy2]

Has the vet done any nerve blocks to establish it isn’t lower down.
I had something similar with mine where we think she jarred/tweeked something in her hip while practicing our medium trots, but literally felt it go in the middle of the exercise. Was worried it was long term damage but after initial investigations with the vet, 10 days box rest and bute she was 90% better and by another 2 weeks 100% sound again. Took it easy bringing back into work and has been fine since (*touches wood*).
sometimes they do just tweek something like we can and it takes time to sort out.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Has the vet done any nerve blocks to establish it isn’t lower down.
I had something similar with mine where we think she jarred/tweeked something in her hip while practicing our medium trots, but literally felt it go in the middle of the exercise. Was worried it was long term damage but after initial investigations with the vet, 10 days box rest and bute she was 90% better and by another 2 weeks 100% sound again. Took it easy bringing back into work and has been fine since (*touches wood*).
sometimes they do just tweek something like we can and it takes time to sort out.

No nerve blocks yet, it looks high, but when we block next week, I assume we will start blocking foot and work up. My best guess is a deep internal tweak / pull of something that is too deep to feel externally, maybe a muscle internally in the hind quarters. Hopefully.

 

[bouncing_ball]

How worrying. I'm not going to improve that worry I'm afraid. From what you describe , if he doesn't nerve block sound to lower down, I would be starting to question a fracture of the pelvis. I think Id be asking for nerve blocks now, not in another week.
.

I am guided by the advice of senior vet who is a lameness specialist in terms of timing of nerve blocks and further diagnostics. He didnt seem very sure the issue would block cleanly to any one nerve block either. Would you not think a fractured pelvis would show some signs of pain / swelling when palpitated by vet or physio. (As well as the actual physio, my vet has additional physio qualifications). Horse is sound in walk. And not unhappy to trot.

 

[ycbm]

I've seen a horse walk out of its stable looking just a little stiff but it had a broken pelvis. There's video a few years back on here of a ridden horse trotting round apparently sound whose owner pushed for an investigation which eventually found a fractured pelvis. It seems to be very hit and miss whether any particular break is easy to identify.

I hope the nerve blocks give you a clear indication of what the issue is, and that it's lower down.