Unexplained lameness

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sprite1978

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3 weeks ago my horse went lame on a fore leg. I thought he had possible just jarred himself because there was no heat or swelling. I kept him in for a week on box rest, and there was a marked improvement. I turned him out for half a day, but as he trotted away, there was something definately not right. The vet came next morning, and he had gone back to 5/10ths lame. Nothing obvious so he was taken the same day to a very local top equine hospital. When they trotted him up the next morning he was back to only 2/10th lame. They did an ultrasound and no obvious damaged structures. The vet came back today after another 10 days box rest and 10mins per day on the walker and he is still 2/10th lame. He is now going back for nerve blocks and assesment. He is 8 years old.

I dont know why i am posting other than I am completely stumped. Any suggestions, similar experiences? :(
 
Horse walker may not be the best idea if he is lame, doing 10 mins of a continuous circle. Perhaps walks inhand? What are his feet like? Deffo get farrier and chiropractor out.
 
The walker was part of the plan from the lead orthopedic vet at the hospital. The farrier came before the vet. No issues, or response from the hoof testers.
 
Fair enough. I would still get a good back person out and if they can't find anything then go for the nerve blocks and hoof xrays etc.
Its so fustrating when they are lame for no apparent reason!
 
Well.....He went in for Xrays and blocks. However when he trotted up at the hospital, he has improved to only 1/10th lame. If that!

He had a positive response to blocks of the foot. Xrays showed nothing significant, other than sidebones, which were established and almost refered to as an incidental finding. And not relevant to the lameness. Sidebones were present on both th lateral and medial side of both front feet.

I made the mistake of googling sidebones, and the opinion varies so much its left me confused. Some agree with my vet that they are to be expected in heavy horses, others seem full of doom and gloom for future soundness. Anybody have an opinion or experiences?
 
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