cookster1975
Well-Known Member
Hi all, I'm new here and am also a member of NR (don't shoot me)! I am trying to get all opinions/advice I can prior to my visit to vets Tues. I'll try and keep it short (ahem).
At the end of June I had Helen Jacks-Hewitt out to do 6 monthly check on my boy. (9 year old TBxWBxArab - happy hacker, low mileage, only backed at 6). She found slightly sore and thought it was saddle so advised rest then lungeing for a few weeks. Had saddler out and bought new saddle. 20th July I arranged for my vet to visit, just to check no serious prob with back and make sure ok to bring back into work. We trotted him up, straight line and circle and he was lame, right rein, hard ground only.
She thought it was left fore for some reason, so this was x rayed at Bushy Equine and all was clear. As still lame right rein I had a different vet for second opinion. He diagnosed 3/10 lame right fore. Did hoof testers etc, nothing obvious at all there. He advised I carry on riding - light work and see what happened. (this was beg Aug). He has since had another back specialist visit who thinks he's lame both front feet (Arrgghh). He said his back is sore as a result of the lameness. He is very disunited and not hopping lame (sound in straight line) but definitely not right.
Just to add to problems when I claimed on insurance with KBIS for first lot x rays, I discovered he was only insured for accidental injuries (my fault for not reading the policy properly) so is not covered for any of this. Bills exceed 1000 pounds so far.
So Tues he's going for lameness work up at Bushy, nerve blocks, x rays etc. I have told them he is not insured and I don't have an unlimited amount of money to spend. Vet said if nothing shows on right fore x rays he may try injections into coffin joints both feet, in case it's soft tissue damage and see if that works.
Has anybody been in a similar situation? I have never known anything like it and really don't have a clue what it could be. I only paid 1500 for him and my bills are starting to look like they could amount to more than he cost me! I am at my wits end. Can anyone advise what I should ask the vets for to keep the cost down? Just x ray? or nerve block and x ray? What about ultrasound? How useful would that be do you think?
My god, if you read to the end of that, you are a star - thank you!
At the end of June I had Helen Jacks-Hewitt out to do 6 monthly check on my boy. (9 year old TBxWBxArab - happy hacker, low mileage, only backed at 6). She found slightly sore and thought it was saddle so advised rest then lungeing for a few weeks. Had saddler out and bought new saddle. 20th July I arranged for my vet to visit, just to check no serious prob with back and make sure ok to bring back into work. We trotted him up, straight line and circle and he was lame, right rein, hard ground only.
She thought it was left fore for some reason, so this was x rayed at Bushy Equine and all was clear. As still lame right rein I had a different vet for second opinion. He diagnosed 3/10 lame right fore. Did hoof testers etc, nothing obvious at all there. He advised I carry on riding - light work and see what happened. (this was beg Aug). He has since had another back specialist visit who thinks he's lame both front feet (Arrgghh). He said his back is sore as a result of the lameness. He is very disunited and not hopping lame (sound in straight line) but definitely not right.
Just to add to problems when I claimed on insurance with KBIS for first lot x rays, I discovered he was only insured for accidental injuries (my fault for not reading the policy properly) so is not covered for any of this. Bills exceed 1000 pounds so far.
So Tues he's going for lameness work up at Bushy, nerve blocks, x rays etc. I have told them he is not insured and I don't have an unlimited amount of money to spend. Vet said if nothing shows on right fore x rays he may try injections into coffin joints both feet, in case it's soft tissue damage and see if that works.
Has anybody been in a similar situation? I have never known anything like it and really don't have a clue what it could be. I only paid 1500 for him and my bills are starting to look like they could amount to more than he cost me! I am at my wits end. Can anyone advise what I should ask the vets for to keep the cost down? Just x ray? or nerve block and x ray? What about ultrasound? How useful would that be do you think?
My god, if you read to the end of that, you are a star - thank you!
