sudden severe lameness following castration

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daisalph

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Our 17 month old colt was castrated on Thursday. He was fine, perhaps a bit tender but doing well until this morning (Sat). He was lying down in the field and when he eventually got up while I was making up the feeds, he was very lame on his NEAR FORE. Could hardly put his weight on it. No swelling, no heat but lots of pain. Gave bute and called vet who arrived a couple of hours later. Tested for poison foot. No obvious signs but this was her eventual diagnosis when she had eliminated everything else. Tubbed, poulticed and bandaged around 2.30pm. Left in stable on deep bed. Checked every 2 hours. So-so at 4.00 but now at 6.00 in a terrible state. Can't put foot down at all. Is holding or dragging it while he tries to shift himself around. Almost falling over. Vet coming back this evening. We're so worried.
 
Just to say good luck - hope all goes better with vet visit tonight - sounds like nothing to do with the castration if it's in front - unless (tenous) his immune system is busy dealing with the castration so he just hasn't fought this problem off as well as he'd do normally - take a temperature if you can - sometimes helps confirm infection somewhere although doesn't help tell you where.

I had a mare we were all convinced had a twisted gut - she was going blue, chucking herself on the floor, sweating, her blood was totally wrong when tested all confirming something really bad - but she was very lame as well - turned out to be a huge abscess in her foot - nothing to do with her guts - think she was a bit of a drama queen!!

Some of them just seem to take it worse - so hopefully the vet will find the poison and you'll be on the road to mending

good luck and healing vibes your way
 
I agree, I wouldn't think it's connected to the castration. Pus in the foot can be extremely painful and cause severe lameness. If you have a 'friendly' farrier who regularly trims your colt and doesn't mind an 'out of hours' call, I would ask him to come and take a look. In my experience, its always the farrier that can tell you more than the vet hours in situations like this. If the farrier can pinpoint the exact location of the the pain and release the pressure (if it is pus in the foot) then the relief is almost instant. Hope all is well in the end.
 
Just for my curiosity really - was the castration done standing under sedation and local or under field GA?

I think it's unrelated to the actual castrate....hindlimb waddles are often groin discomfort but this does sound like PIF (pus in foot ;)).

Hope he's ok

Imogen
 
Does sound like gravel - the only other suggestion I could make was laminitis - unusual in one foot I know but this can come about as a result of a systemic infection.
Hope he's feeling better this morning.
 
Thank you to all of you who offered advice and sympathy. Good news thank god. Vet couldn't find the abscess but I eventually managed to got hold of my farrier who came out on Sunday morning and within minutes had located and lanced the abscess with almost immediate relief for the boy. I would have called the farrier first if it hadn't been just after he was castrated which made me think of a more generalised infection linked to that.
He's now back in the field happy as larry. still limping a little but only to be expected. Farrier said it was a deep abscess. Will need to keep it bandaged and poulticed for another day or so. He's being so good bless him. Glad we handled him a lot previously otherwise it would have been a nightmare for him.
He was castrated standing - in the stable yard. He was rather well-endowed the vet said, so it's taking a while to knit together and heal up. Looks fine though.
 
Hi
I have recently purchased a 5 yr old halfbred who, it is becoming apparent, has hindlimb issues! As a vet (albeit not an equine one) I think he has patellar luxation; seems to "lock" on upward canter transition, then strike off disunited, also drags toes. He was vetted sound for sale so no comebacks there. Would like to event him eventually if possible. Are intra-articular injections the best treatment option, how frequently are they administered, and would treatment be ongoing, or sporadic? I am based in ROI and know a few good horse vets so i wouldn`t be administering it myself!! thanks.
 
roscommon2 said:
Hi
I have recently purchased a 5 yr old halfbred who, it is becoming apparent, has hindlimb issues! As a vet (albeit not an equine one) I think he has patellar luxation; seems to "lock" on upward canter transition, then strike off disunited, also drags toes. He was vetted sound for sale so no comebacks there. Would like to event him eventually if possible. Are intra-articular injections the best treatment option, how frequently are they administered, and would treatment be ongoing, or sporadic? I am based in ROI and know a few good horse vets so i wouldn`t be administering it myself!! thanks.
Click to expand...

Lets take this to another thread....I'll start calling it locking stifles - look there for info.;)
Imogen
 
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