Vet findings

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magic123029

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my mare has been short on one leg for a little while and then afew months ago almost started limping but worse on soft ground than anything, went to vets had 2 sets of nerve blocks (was bilateralon front) and xrays not a lot showed up, had wedges put on, went back, had mri but the lameness is now only really on the front left, shes better to "ride" (now on soft round 15mins max of walk with a little bit of trot thrown in and doesn't seem to "limp" as much), this is what they found -

have reviewed the radiographs and the MR study, as well as Roger’s Vet Report regarding Venus. Imaging has revealed several findings:


(1) bilateral mild navicular bone pathology (LF worse)

(2) bilateral entheseopathy of the impar ligament (ligament that attaches the navicular bone to the pedal bone)

(3) bilateral lateral chondrocoronal ligament desmopathy (small ligament between the hoof cartilage and the hoof capsule)

(4) bilateral STIR signal in the dorsal distal aspect of P3 (fluid or oedema in the pedal bone)

(5) small dorsal irregularities of the lateral lobe of the DDFT in the presesamoidean area on the LF (irregular surface of the tendon in the foot)

(6) bilateral increased the signal in the middle phalanx, likely within the medulla. (fluid or oedema in the short pastern bone).


In summary, Venus has changes in her navicular bones and in some of the surrounding soft tissues in the foot. None of the lesions appears very extensive in the MRI. However, it is possible to underestimate pathology with a standing low-field MR system. I fully agree with Roger that, if she should be consistently lame, further work-up including a navicular bursa block would be required to weigh the significance (e.g. contribution) of some of these changes to the lameness. This will then allow for Roger and yourself to plan further management of your mare, which could (depending on the response to the navicular bursa bock) consist of surgical or medical treatment.

What is the prognosis for this? rideable? serious? thanks
 
Google Rockley Farm - they rehab horses with issues like yours by taking them barefoot and have an excellent success rate for returning horses to work.

My own mare had changes to the navicular bone, the vets felt there was definitely going to be soft tissue damage but I didn't bother with an MRI as I already knew I was going to remove her shoes.

What are her feet like? Do you have any pictures?
 
I can get some tonight, her left hoof is abit smaller than the right always has been the farrier thinks its started to go slightly upright which could be a sign of navicular he said
 
magic123029 said:
im not looking to go barefoot unless the vet advises it
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Depending on how up to date or not your Vet is, they might not be aware of Project Dexter. It might be worth your while taking the initiative and mentioning it to your Vet, rather than waiting for them to bring it up. Don't forget, you can always shoe your horse again in the future - don't be scared of BF, it might be the best chance of recovery that your horse has.
 
magic123029 said:
im not looking to go barefoot unless the vet advises it
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Then we can't help you, you're on the slippery slope. Sorry but there's no other way of putting it. I speak from personal and professional experience of both extensive vet/remedial farriery route and barefoot.
 
Andalucian said:
Then we can't help you, you're on the slippery slope. Sorry but there's no other way of putting it. I speak from personal and professional experience of both extensive vet/remedial farriery route and barefoot.
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This is a bit unfair in my view. Generally on this forum, if someone suggests going against their vets instructions they get jumped on (unless the vet is clearly a bit bonkers). But when it comes to barefoot, suddenly you are meant to ignore the vet, research it yourself and take a leap of faith. I am not suggesting barefoot is a bad thing or shouldnt be used and I am sure it has some great successes. But you have to understand that some people are nervous of it and making people feel they are "on a slippery slope" unless they ignore vets advice is a bit unfair in my view.
 
No pics unfortunately but soft tissue injuries are most often the result of biomechanical dysfunction over a period of time which will subsequently lead to navicular bone changes.

Sort out the feet, get them functioning correctly, horse will then be in a position to fix herself. Integrity of related tissue will improve, bone may remodel.

Don't expect a vet or farrier to know this, after all they have put your horse in wedges so they have already set off in the wrong direction.
 
Fun Times said:
This is a bit unfair in my view. Generally on this forum, if someone suggests going against their vets instructions they get jumped on (unless the vet is clearly a bit bonkers). But when it comes to barefoot, suddenly you are meant to ignore the vet, research it yourself and take a leap of faith. I am not suggesting barefoot is a bad thing or shouldnt be used and I am sure it has some great successes. But you have to understand that some people are nervous of it and making people feel they are "on a slippery slope" unless they ignore vets advice is a bit unfair in my view.
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One would expect people who have had success with wedges to post, but they never do.
Agree that one has to take vets advice in most cases as they have professional training, unfortunately most vets and most farriers have had training which does not take into account the success rates of the barefoot rehab at Rockley, or the philosphy behind it. . They generally reach for the "special shoes", to relieve symptoms, unfortunately the foot then has no way to recover as nature intended. I anticipate that there will be temporary relief, then unfortunately things will probably deteriorate again.
 
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