UPDATE Alternate front limb lameness

[Booboos]

The mystery continues...
Off to the clinic today. Vet decided there was no need to x-ray as there had been no improvement after nerve blocks and x-rays are difficult to interpret without other clinical symptoms. Lunged on tarmac, no sign of front lameness, then we scanned all four legs, absolutely no sign of ligament or tendon damage. However, mildly lame left hind on a straight line, slightly more uptake after flexion !!!!!!!! Vet decided we should disregard the left hind leg for today as 'one of those things' and reconsider it only if it persists. Had another look at his back, no reaction.

Very perplexing! So the plan of action is to forward all the 'evidence' to the senior partner and see what he says, give Rusky two-three weeks off while we go on holiday and if still lame when we are back refer to Sue Dyson.

I am not sure whether it is better to have a diagnosis and face months of box rest and recovery or not know what is going on...

 

[Flame_]

I know that feeling. It is better to know where you stand though. I hope the vets figure it out soon for you. Good Luck.

 

[cellie]

I had front leg lameness with my horse over several months .He wasnt actually lame but showed favour to using one leg to lead and would throw me on the opposite diagonal for his comfort.I had the vet check him out and he said to continue working .6 months later he went severely lame and on flexation it turned out to be his spavin.If your horse has a tendency to fail on flexation he might have mild spavin problems.Is it the opposite diagonal that gives him more problems.Lunging on a circle would show hind leg lameness.
I think this is what caused his first splint which you posted a reply to earlier .Compensating for one problem often causes another.I hope you get to the bottom of your mystery.

 

[Angua2]

oh how frustrating.

Not that it helps but I had something similar a while ago, and it turned out that my horse had heal pain. His straight bar shoes didn't give him the full support that he needed. ( we have terrible collapsed heals). I ended up turning my horse away for 2 months without shoes to see if that helped.

I hope they get to the bottom of it soon

 

[Booboos]

Cellie, he is sound on hard ground, trotting on the lunge on tarmac and after flexion tests so I don't think it's a spavin. The splint was on another horse (too many horses, too much trouble!!!).

Angua2, he seems to have quite good feet and the farrier and vet agree there are no obvious confirmational problems there. Also he was still lame after the nerve blocks which seems to exclude foot problems.

It is bizarre isn't it? Thank you both for your thoughts though!

 

[Marchtime]

I'm sorry to hear you still have no diagnosis. Sue Dyson is one of the best in my opinion though - she diagnosed my old TB with ligament damage many years ago. He'd seen three other vets who had suggested navicular and arthritis - she however found the problem. Sadly for him it was too late, the ligament was beyond repair, and for this reason I'd always push for a quick diagnosis.
I hope your story has a happy ending. Keep us updated.