Subclinical Laminitis

[PurBee]

She said it was in her mind as a likely option because he's overweight. He's been dieting for 2 years and is the fittest and healthiest he's ever been. Yes, his body condition score is still a firm 4 rather than a healthy 3 but he was a solid 5 before. I think its because she's seeing him on one day not as a progression.

If he was worse on hard I'd accept it more easily but he is avoiding soft ground at every opportunity. Like the OP, I'm worried we're missing something else.

She said it wasnt a nailed on diagnosis (wonder if the insurance company will see it that way at renewal time) and we'll follow up with lameness workshops if not right in a fortnight.

I agree with meleeka that a lami case usually heads for soft ground and avoids firm ground.

I have some paddock areas that are a really odd soil structure, its very peaty as a top layer, then loam, then solid limestone subsoil. When the horses walk on those soils, the peaty topsoil is like a sponge - they don't poach it - instead just like a sponge they press down into it 2 inches and when they walk off, the soil rebounds to flat again. When theyre on this soil for grazing, their muscle fitness increases as its quite a bit of work to walk on a spongey surface.
When my gelding slightly pulled a rear tendon in another field being a loon, doing spins, he needed firmer soils to help support each stride and not cause too much tendon flexion, so i kept him off the spongy soil.

It makes me wonder if your horse has a tendon issue to be avoiding softer surfaces? Or even a joint issue as softer surface require more strength and flex of the joints to overcome the sinking softness?
My gelding was fine after a few days of controlled turnout onto suitable firmer soil ground.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I'm thinking he same PurBee. I've arranged for the farrier to take a look before we catch up with the vet again. He's still avoiding 'unstable' ground, even on painkillers, while striding out happily on concrete and turning easily.

The box rest is causing issues, despite walking him twice a day for a good 15 to 20mins.

 

[PurBee]

I'm thinking he same PurBee. I've arranged for the farrier to take a look before we catch up with the vet again. He's still avoiding 'unstable' ground, even on painkillers, while striding out happily on concrete and turning easily.

The box rest is causing issues, despite walking him twice a day for a good 15 to 20mins.

If the box rest is causing issues, maybe restricted movement is causing coolness, stiffness in some part of the leg/joints - as just walking for a horse generates heat in the ligaments etc helping them stretch and flex.
Do you have a firm area you can cordon off a small turnout space? Is the paddock too soft? That might help point to the issue if he’s better on just limited turnout space, than box-rested.

Whenever mine have shown subclinical footiness, the way i know is on the turns - even if fine on all surfaces, and i do have some serious gravel/rocky tracks they can be fine on, yet getting them to turn tight circle shows there’s foot issues going on at a minor level if they’re not striding the circle happily…..crossing over feet comfortably. There can be no raised pulses even, yet the slight stumbling foot manoeuvres of the turns always show an issue.

My gelding has just blown an abscess, having shown slight lameness for 2 days. Its either tendon sprain or abscess with him so restricted him , treated as if abscess, despite not being sure, and its finally blown.

They certainly keep us guessing! I hope your boy progresses and you get to the bottom of it.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Thanks PurBee. He has struggled with the box rest and we're walking him often but the middle of last week he went into himself a bit and looked quite sad and sorry (still marching out well on concrete, and turning easily - not dared asking him to walk on lovely soft sand again yet) my friend lent us a treat ball which he is now happily kicking the **** out of, which has massively improved his mood.

 

[PurBee]

Thanks PurBee. He has struggled with the box rest and we're walking him often but the middle of last week he went into himself a bit and looked quite sad and sorry (still marching out well on concrete, and turning easily - not dared asking him to walk on lovely soft sand again yet) my friend lent us a treat ball which he is now happily kicking the **** out of, which has massively improved his mood.

Treat balls are great boredom breakers - i messed up and bought 1 for 2 horses to share in a bare paddock to use as winter exercise, 1 horse hogged the ball with the other horse dancing around her desperately wanting to have a go! I got the ball and removed it, theyll only get it again when ive bought another one! I thought theyd share or play football arguing over it but no, hogger got the ball and the other dare not try to take it from her!

Have you tried opening a thread on here to ask others if theyve experienced a similar condition to your boy, sound on firm ground, lame on soft - to get some suggestions?

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Have you tried opening a thread on here to ask others if theyve experienced a similar condition to your boy, sound on firm ground, lame on soft - to get some suggestions?

Not yet, I'm trawling old threads and waiting for an opinion from my farrier. I think its foot balance / leading to soft tissue injury making him uncomfortable on soft because he can't predict how his foot will be supported by the ground. I've spoken to a friend who has a very similar horse and she said hers was exactly the same earlier this year. It lasted two weeks then passed without ever getting to a diagnosis. Her's is now winning shows and dressage comps so if vet okays a rehab programme I'll do the same as my friend and take it even slower.

 

[southerncomfort]

My friends pony, same yard as me, was diagnosed with laminitis yesterday. Initially called out for hind limb lameness and a bit stiff in front that seemed to work off after a couple of trot ups. Farrier said not laminitis but lame behind. I’ve been a bit on and off about which leg I thought was lame but I definitely picked up on hind lameness and wondered if front was start of arthritis as he seemed to trot it off easily. No heat, so reaction to hoof testers, turns fine, faintly visible pulse if really searched for hard.
Vet came and thinks laminitis and hind leg issue as a result of compensating. Pony now in the box on soaked hay.
So many horses now aren’t showing typically for laminitis and I think it can be easily missed.

Thanks. This is all really reassuring.

This morning she's stumbled out of her stable and looked dog lame but by the time she reached the school, maybe 12 steps away, (she goes in there while I muck out) she looked sound.

 

[scats]

Thanks. This is all really reassuring.

This morning she's stumbled out of her stable and looked dog lame but by the time she reached the school, maybe 12 steps away, (she goes in there while I muck out) she looked sound.

My mare had a couple of occasions like this this summer. She seemed to ‘walk’ the laminitis off.
As a result vet and me agreed to her having small paddock turnout even when having a flare up. She is much worse if she has a bout and is forced to stay in the stable (albeit she box walks, which won’t help). I found I had to manage her very differently to most and she doesn’t show classical lami symptoms at all.

 

[southerncomfort]

My mare had a couple of occasions like this this summer. She seemed to ‘walk’ the laminitis off.
As a result vet and me agreed to her having small paddock turnout even when having a flare up. She is much worse if she has a bout and is forced to stay in the stable (albeit she box walks, which won’t help). I found I had to manage her very differently to most and she doesn’t show classical lami symptoms at all.

That sounds sensible.

I'm considering increasing the amount of time she has in the school.

She's 20 now so she does stiffen up if she's stabled for too long, which as you say won't be helping.