What could this be.....

CPW

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My horse had mechanical laminitis back in May due to having seedy toe and having a lot of foot resectioned. He was box rested for three months then turned out and I started riding again just on the soft. He was doing really well for six weeks until a few weeks ago when he went lame again.

The vet came out and did a lameness work up, nerve blocks, xrays etc. He was very lame after flexion to the fetlock but blocked out when injected in the heel. Xrays showed nothing and no sign of laminitis, no pulse etc etc.

The vet then came back a week later and did another work up and he was much improved, sound on flexion, still a little lame so blocked the coffin joint which made no difference.

The horse has problems with sacroilliac and due to having so much time off has become lamer. We want to get him back into Rossdales to have this injected (I think the vet thinks this could be a compensation lameness in front) but for this he has to be in work so he is now on two bute a day and I have started walking him on a soft surface just for 10 mins a day initially and building up. He still doesn't look 100%.

I really don't feel comfortable with doing this but at the same time trust the judgement of the vet.

Does anyone have any ideas/suggesstions of what this could be? We are baffled!.......
 
When he went lame again was it the same leg as the previous lameness?
If it was I'd suggest there is an underlying problem. If it is a different then maybe it is simply bad luck.
X-rays of the foot often show nothing sadly. I'd be pushing for more investigation, I wouldn't want to be riding on that amount of bute without knowing what was wrong as you could be doing more damage.
 
Thanks everyone! I have just called my vet to ask for a referral and have called Rossdales. Marchtime, yes it is the same leg, the pain is coming from the foot as this is what he blocked to and I too believe it is unrelated to the laminitis, however back in May this foot was MRI'd and showed nothing apart from the laminitis so something has happened since. I don't want to be riding either!

The other issue is that my claim for this problem runs out on the 1st December and I have £1000 left - anyhow I will get him booked into Rossdales and see what they can do.
 
Referral to a specialist is probably your best bet by the sound of it, not that your first opinion has done anything wrong, they have obviously been doing their best to work it out! (vet studnet here, so no slaggin off vets! hehe) but often its easier to go to someone who has the best idea of what happens.... I hope this works out for you!

In terms of the insurance, it depends what company you are with, some will be understanding and keep your policy going, others might not be so........ helpful.......... I hope you get it sorted and your horse gets better!
 
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