Struggling to diagnose problem - any ideas?

Uniique

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Hi

5 weeks ago my TB x WB (11 years) pulled a shoe off in the field. He has never pulled on before and he came up foot sore as to be expected with no shoe. 24 hrs later farrier put shoe back on but foot soreness persisted. Farrier suspected underlying brusing. He is no "lame" but more footsore. He is relctant and very slow and tentative walking on hard ground. He is no moving correctly and relucatant to stride out. his movements are not fluid and on the lunge his normal long, energetic canter is stuck and "rocking horse" last week I took him to the vet for an examaination. The vets said he was only just 1/10th lame on a hard circle and not really lame enough to indentify the problem. I lunged him very lightly (as vet advised) for a week with no improvement or change to problem. So I rang him and said I was not happy to return him to work and understood that whilst he wasnt clincially lame I know he is in discomfort and there is a problem. The vet also exmained leg and foot (for heat/ abnormalities etc) vet concluded there was no acute, new (or immediate as such) problem. He also hoof tested the foot with absolutly no reaction. MY gut feeling is its still in the foot but no signs as to what!! I now have to wait two weeks to repeat lameness work up with the ortherpedic surgeon/ specialist (andy crawford). Another challenge is that 2 years ago we had a huge lameness issue and a result insurance company has written him off for ligament/ tendons in both front legs, navicular and related syndromes (pretty much everything then!!). They identified early navicular changes (consistant with wear and tear so gave tildren infusion as a preventative). Anyoo last time diagnostics cost £2,500 and I dont have that to source problem. There has been NO change either better or worse for 5 weeks now, no reaction to hoof testers or indication of problem. Only very very slightly unsound but not working correctly.

Any clues. sorry for the essay :?

x
 
Did the lameness work up include nerve blocking, even if only 1/10 lame it should have been possible to at least do the foot, the most obvious area, which would have either pinpointed it as the problem or ruled it out, was he worse after flexion tests.
Have you done a bute trial? again it would be useful to see how comfortable it makes him. As he has had navicular type problems in the past it could be that there is some deep bruising and soreness that will take time to come out.
I would try bute for a week and see how he goes, it will reduce any inflammation in the foot and possibly it will settle down any problems but you will need your vet to agree to it, mine is very good at letting me have some when required for minor issues.
The only other suggestion is to get a physio to see him, a good one will often pick up on inbalances that a vet misses.
 
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