Sudden lameness... no obvious point of pain...

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Hedwards

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I got to the yard this morning, to find Connie my 22 year old mare absolutely hopping lame on her nearside hind leg. My first thoughts were that she'd broken it due to the way she was holding it... was all ready to sart panicing

I managed to get her into the yard very slowly, she was putting as little weight on it as possible.

There is no heat, no swelling, nothing. Vet came out poked/prodded/flexed/stretched her and used hoof testers/hammer on her hoof... she reacted to nothing at all, there was a slight reaction around her stifle initially, but when we tried it a second time she had no reaction at all, she also had a very very small reaction to the hoof testers on the outside wall of her hoof, but when tried a 2nd time... no reaction. she did seem to walk a bit better, and did on occasion stand on it while the vet was there, but is still so lame.

Vet thinks she may have 'tweaked' something in the snow, or it could be an abcess waiting to come out somewhere, she gave her a pain killer and she is on Danilon, box rest etc. to see what happens

I've never seen such a dramatic lameness (and i've had my fair share of lame horses...) terribly worried about the old girl, shes so precious and special,

If anyone has any ideas/similar experiences please let me know, and if possible lots of positive vibes too please!
 
Shortly before xmas I got to the yard one evening to be greeted by my TB waving at me with his foreleg. It was an abscess - there's been a lot of them lately. TB didn't react to hoof testers either. Hopefully that's all yours is, too!
 
My share horse did the same before christmas, one moment he wouldn't be too bad, the next couldn't put his foot to the floor. Took 2 vet visits and one farrier visit over 3 weeks to eventually find an abscess in his toe. He didn't react to hoof testers either. Fingers crossed for you!
 
Thanks both! that is exactly what i wanted to hear!!

vet made the point that normally you'd expect some heat etc. in the foot, but as its so cold we wont feel anything like that at all!

Just keeping everything crossed!
 
I wud never give a lame horse a pain killer without knowing the reason for the lameness or my suspicions and definitely not for a foot abscess. Vet could have pared out side of foot where there was a bit of pain on hoof testers and applied a hot poultice for the night, if no discharge by the morning no harm wud have been done but it could have helped bring the abscess closer to bursting. So abscess could have been ruled out so start with blocking the leg
 
10 days ago my sons mare did exactly same thing. Fine one moment, hopping lame after short hack. No heat swelling or responses to prodding... Thought an abcess so got vet and farrier out, but its turned out to be a strained fetlock, bute and box rest, and today I hand grazed her for hour to stretch legs. She is nearly better, .
 
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