sudden lameness in one leg?

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ChubbyPony

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two of our ponies have gone lame within 2 days of each other...both on near fore (i think)
the mare went lame first, and she is getting very stiff.
now the gelding is lame although not as bad.
they live out 24/7 and the fields are wet/muddy. they are shod on the front.
in both cases there is no heat, swelling, signs of injury, scabs etc etc anywhere on legs or hooves. what could be causing this?
we only have one stable so tonight the mare is in and the gelding is in the sandschool.

any ideas on what it could be?
what do we do now? (never had a lame horse before!) farrier should be coming soon hopefully anyway to fit back shoes onto gelding (normally has them but had them off for about 2 weeks) so could get him to check? but might not be this week? it was very sudden and they are stiff, the mare is very reluctant to walk :(
 
My guess would be laminitis, the reluctance to move and stiffness suggest this, I would get a vet as soon as you can for a diagnosis and then you can plan treatment, waiting a week for a farrier is not going to help them, prompt treatment will be required if it is laminitis.
 
I would want to rule out hoof abscesses first,as the onset was sudden and if they don't want to weightbear,and would bring the farriers visit forward as he will be the best person to check that out,I am sure he will fit you in soon if you explain the circumstances,good luck.
 
what can we do whilst waiting for them to come out?
are they ok in the fields? or should i keep him in the sandschool with hay...slightly drier than fields?x
it could be several days before either farrier or vet can come out :(
 
Would also suspect abscess's - if you go the vet route there is no reason a vet wont come out tomorrow, though apprecaite a farrier could be a longer wait.

One of our has recently had an abscess - my farrier said there are a lot of them about as their feet have been so softened by all the wet weather, allowing infections to brew easier.

Mine was hobbling like he had a broken leg so kept him in as wasn't fair to keep him moving.

The other possibility is that they have had a skid/slip in all this horrible mud, but again a vet is the best person to ask.

Good luck!
 
If they are both very lame and getting worse a vet should be able to attend the day you phone if you get on to them first thing, I would keep them both in the school until you know what is wrong, soak the hay and monitor how they are doing.
It could well be abscesses but both having one at the same time made me think laminitis more likely but whatever the problem they are in pain and need some help.
 
The amount of lush new grass that has been coming through in Wiltshire is ridiculous. I am almost glad the rain is preventing the grazing of it for some ponies. It would not surprise me if it were laminitis. Put them both in sand school as no point separating them. Soak hay well and get them seen, preferably by a vet as soon as you can. Your mare especially doesn't sound like waiting is an option.

Good luck.
 
i dont think my mum wil call the vet as we cant really afford it...especially just after christmas :(
at the moment he has haylage but can try to get some hay?
p.s the mare isnt our pony, so up to her owners :(

i hope its not laminitis! especially since ive started the gelding on a diet,cutting down on feed (which is lami safe) and haylage, and stopping treats, just before he went lame? they dont hae much grass so i dont think hes getting to much sugar or anything??
 
If it could be laminitis, and it sounds likely, then you need a vet or farrier straight away. I appreciate money can be tight after christmas but if you have horses then you need to budget for these things and, as people on here can sadly prove, laminitis can prove fatal so it must be taken seriously.
 
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