Birker2020
Well-Known Member
So I got the results of the Cushing test back on Friday, my horse doesn't have Cushings as expected, she was much lower than 30 which I know is the 'magic' number, the vet said she was in the low 20's.
Over the course of the weekend I discovered from a few liveries and staff that she had been pawing the ground in her paddock quite a lot, she did this on the night that I got the call from the YO to go and get her in because she was trotting and walking in endless circles and up and down the fence line. So I suspect she is experiencing pain in her feet. I know they can paw for several reasons, hunger, frustration, anticipation. But I feel that this pawing and the constant walking that has been seen on two separate occasions now indicate foot pain. She is on 2 bute a day at the moment.
I trotted her a few strides to show my friend on Friday afternoon and my horse was decidedly worse on the off fore this time, very, very lame on concrete, I'd say around 7/10th.
So on Friday when I finally got the result of the ACTH test (it had been kept frozen over the bank holiday weekend) I told the vet she was very lame on the off fore and asked the vet whether it was possible to have both front feet medicated with Arthamed at the same time as he knew she is booked in for this Friday at the clinic. He said this shouldn't be a problem. So she is going in on Friday on my day off and then will be on a weeks box rest to try and let everything settle down.
It's a nightmare trying to keep her quiet in the paddock though. I suspect the lack of grass is a deciding factor and she gets bored even though I leave out plenty of hay. I strip graze her to keep her weight down so she only has around 2/3rds of the paddock at the moment. Even when I was in there poo picking she was rearing with the horse in the paddock next door, running around broncing and jumping with all four feet of the ground (I was wincing at the thump when she landed as the paddock is like concrete). She doesn't help herself that's for sure.
I've decided if this treatment doesn't work and she can't remain paddock sound then she is going before the winter, heartbreaking though it is. She's had a fabby life, had lots of love, had over £30K spent on her in treatment and has wanted for nothing. I'm not going to let her retire in pain.
Thanks for all your support, particuarly those who have PM'd me.
Over the course of the weekend I discovered from a few liveries and staff that she had been pawing the ground in her paddock quite a lot, she did this on the night that I got the call from the YO to go and get her in because she was trotting and walking in endless circles and up and down the fence line. So I suspect she is experiencing pain in her feet. I know they can paw for several reasons, hunger, frustration, anticipation. But I feel that this pawing and the constant walking that has been seen on two separate occasions now indicate foot pain. She is on 2 bute a day at the moment.
I trotted her a few strides to show my friend on Friday afternoon and my horse was decidedly worse on the off fore this time, very, very lame on concrete, I'd say around 7/10th.
So on Friday when I finally got the result of the ACTH test (it had been kept frozen over the bank holiday weekend) I told the vet she was very lame on the off fore and asked the vet whether it was possible to have both front feet medicated with Arthamed at the same time as he knew she is booked in for this Friday at the clinic. He said this shouldn't be a problem. So she is going in on Friday on my day off and then will be on a weeks box rest to try and let everything settle down.
It's a nightmare trying to keep her quiet in the paddock though. I suspect the lack of grass is a deciding factor and she gets bored even though I leave out plenty of hay. I strip graze her to keep her weight down so she only has around 2/3rds of the paddock at the moment. Even when I was in there poo picking she was rearing with the horse in the paddock next door, running around broncing and jumping with all four feet of the ground (I was wincing at the thump when she landed as the paddock is like concrete). She doesn't help herself that's for sure.
I've decided if this treatment doesn't work and she can't remain paddock sound then she is going before the winter, heartbreaking though it is. She's had a fabby life, had lots of love, had over £30K spent on her in treatment and has wanted for nothing. I'm not going to let her retire in pain.
Thanks for all your support, particuarly those who have PM'd me.