Stumped.....

[JJ1987]

Looking for any advice/ideas. Mare has been lame for 3 weeks - originally thought it was a stone bruise so she's had gel put in and this has helped the foot heal however she's still lame. Took gel out today and she's not reacting to hoof testers or sore to stand on.

Struggling to turn a circle without limping and lame on straight lines on grass/tarmac/school surface. Doesn't seem to be taking a short stride just head bobbing slightly and bobbing in her stride. She seems happy in herself, she's had 5 days box rest that doesn't seem to have made much difference and is happier out tbf.

No heat in leg or foot, slight swelling on tendon area but again not reacting to squeezing or pressure.
Completely stumped with what is going on, having vet out on Monday as don't really know what else to do

 

[ridefast]

Could it be something higher up then? Shoulder?

 

[Auslander]

Are you lifting her foot before squeezing the tendon? Quite a lot of horses don't react if you squeeze when the foot is on the floor/tendon under load, but really feel it when the leg is up/tendon flaccid.

 

[JJ1987]

Done with leg down and up and no real reaction. Could be shoulder but again, can't find any tenderness/pain there either :-\

 

[Dreamer515]

have you tried doing a flexion test? though if your not sure how to do this its best to get a vet involved as if not done right can cause more problems. this should help rule out if its in a particular joint. my horse was lame for months and vet told me it was puss in his foot. after 3 months with nothing coming out and vet still insisting it was puss we changed vets and tey found he had a disease in his stifle joint. not saying your mare has something like this just meaning even if you think its the foot it could be higher up. have you had her back looked at as that can also cause lameness. or it could be sore shins. if she has been obviously lame for 3 weeks i would suggest getting a vet out and maybe even nerve blocking to see what area is causing the lameness. i hope she comes sound soon...i know what its like with fustrating lameness with no obvious cause!!

 

[zigzag]

Did the vet diagnose a stone bruise?

 

[mynutmeg]

I'd be vet and scan tendons just to be sure.
My girl was mildly lame and it wouldn't settle. They scanned and found a 50% lesion in her hind DDFT, completely unexpected going with the level of lameness but am so glad I insisted she was scanned. Doesn't take long or cost anything/much more than a regular exam depending on the vets and def worth doing for peace of mind.