Very confused as to what to do next.

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popsicle

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A bit long, so will keep it as brief as I can. Got vet to horse (15) who was showing slight excerise intollerance and whos breathing was a bit noisy on exertion. Vet watched horse being lunged first and stated that  she was very slightly lame on one front foot.  (Not when trotted up straight though, even on concrete.)  Lungs, heart etc was ok and no wheezing.  He then proceeded to scope, take blood and swabs of trachia.  Forward 1 week....  Swab showed SLIGHT Infection in trachia and medicines / powder was given. Nearly £500 later she is only slightly improved, so vet says we need to look at her foot as the increased respiration may be pain.  (Talked about nerve blocks etc)  I SUGGESTED that we give her bute and if her breathing is Ok then it must be pain and if not, then it must be something else.  He agreed to send 10 Bute in the post to give over 5 days whilst not riding her, then ride slowly on the 6th day and normally on 7th and see how her breathing is then.  Now for my questions.
1/  Why did he not just suggest the bute first?  (The cheaper version, perhaps?)
2/  Surely I need to be trying her when she is taking the bute, not after she has finished taking it? ( He says its an anti inflamatory and needs 5 days to cope with any inflamation).  surely it will be out of her system as a pain killer by day 7?
3/  You know when you know the horse so well and you just have a feeling for it?  I don't really think its pain as she has often been a bit uneven in the past without the breathing thing going on.
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4/ My tutor, who knows the horse well doesn't think she is in pain.Can anyone comment please?  Also advice on the bute thing.
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The vet seems like a nice guy, he is new to the practice as they never stay very long, so he doesn't know my horse at all. I wish I could just turn my trust over to him, but as an ex sales manager, i am quite skeptical about vets using (hard selling and making as much profit as possible)
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If its front leg lameness might it be worth asking your farrier to have a look for abcess bruising or similiar.
 
I'd be skeptical too. If you are insured, get a referral to a good horspital and let them get on with getting to the bottom of both the breathing problem and the lameness. It you aren't insured, just change vets to a small practice with not too many vets, and without a constant stream of newly qualifieds passing through. Good Luck (sorry, no suggestions as to how to fix horse though.
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I would say get a second opinion too. To be honest, if there is something wrong with one of mine that I am not clued up about I would always get a second opinion anyway, as no vet out there can be expert in all things, and there are many differing opinions out there.

As for the bute thing -it is something I suggest my clients to ask the vet when things like this happen as it is such a good way of ruling out pain - but I very rarely come across one who suggests it first unfortunately! I would personally give it a couple of days of bute and ride as normal and not leave it until you finish the bute.

I know of a few horses that are struggling with this dry weather and getting a form of RAO because of it, although it does tend to be mild - the jury's out as to whether it is the dry weather or pollen though (or something entirely different of course!
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). Without sounding rude, what is your horse's weight like as this could certainly have an effect on the exercise intolerance and the breathing - and it is that time of year when they can pile on a few pounds?!
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Thanks for all your suggestions. Changing vets is not really an option as they are the most local. (12 miles away). The small animal vet in town won't take on any more horses. The next nearest vet is 25 miles away and from what I have heard change vets like changing socks too. cellie. Farrier has confirmed there is no obvious problem with her feet and naggy, she has put on a few pounds since the spring grass came through, but certainly not fat, by any standard, also this problem started in February, when she was an ideal weight. I will try the bute thing, but firstly I am going to try some antihistimines, just to rule out allergy.
 
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