When to stop vetinary treatment/intervention

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251libby

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Now it's too soon to be thinking about this really, but here is a bit of background.
My pony is lame and has been for 6 weeks now, she has seen both the vet and the farrier, and so far no diagnosis. She has been trotted up (cant see lameness) flexions (fine) hoof tests (fine) lunged on soft surface (can see lameness in back left) and lunged on hard surface (can see lamesness in back left but not as bad as soft). There is no heat in her leg or foot and there is only a tiny weeny bit of swelling in back left hock.
Now this makes me think it is a problem such as arthritis (sp)a problem which doesn't have an easy cure.

My pony has RAO (COPD for those using old money! :P) so boxrest is totally not an option, she is ok if stabled for the day but I could really not do anymore than that. She is a horse with alot of instinct, having not been touched before I got her for 4 years. Although she is a fantastic girl now, when doing new things she gets worried. This is why I am lenient to subject her to too much treatment.

She is booked in to go to the vets for 2 days next week for xrays etc, and I expect I'll be able to see from that about how she will cope.

I know it's very early on but I want to think about it now, if the treatment is harsh or they cant find out whats wrong with her I am thinking along the lines of chucking her out in a field for 6 months in the hope she comes right.
Too many visits to the vets will just reduce her quality of life and I'd rather keep her happy.

Any experiences, advice, or just a slap and tell me to stop worrying!
 
Can't really help you too much as probably every case is different but my old horse was very ill last year and spent 2 months in the vets very poorly most of the time and probably if I had known how bad he was going to be the decision may have been not to go through the treatment. A year on he is now fit and well and has even won an in hand class and you wouldn't really know what he had gone through.
 
From what you say, I wouldn't want to destroy her fragile trust if it could be avoided so I would be inclined towards the leave her out and give her time but if it is only arthritis, then hopefully that's easily managed although it will have to be a continuing treatment for the rest of her life.
 
I'm in a similar situation (with front foot of a 4yr old) and we have finally identified low level arthritic changes in the coffin joint. We have box rested him with good results but have now been advised to turn him away as it is better for their circulation- ask your vet about Cosequin or Synoquin which should help x
 
I have found that vets tend to prescribe box rest for most things. My horse fractured his pedal bone pretty badly and I was told that he would basically have to be on box rest until he was sound. After about 3.5 months he was still hopping lame but we were both getting totally fed up with the box rest and he was kicking the stable walls which obviously wasn't doing the fracture any good at all. I decided (against vet's recommendations) to turn him out. OK, he did have the odd moment where he went a bit mad charging about, but generally he was a lot happier and spent most of his time mooching about and grazing. 5 months on I have just had him xrayed and his pedal bone has healed completely, although he does now have arthritic changes in his coffin joint.
 
Try not to stress about it too much until you've seen the x-rays and got a diagnosis, otherwise you can convince yourself of all sorts.

FWIW, mine has arthiritis (spavin in both hocks) which has been successfully treated. Horse is now better than ever
smile.gif
 
I was told two years ago to retire my old shire after his accident. So turned him out and let him chill out in the field for the two years. Vet came the other month and told me he had never seen him look so well and I could start riding him again. We only do small plods round the road but that two years of doing nothing has worked wonders on him. Go with what you feel is the right thing to do. If you want to turn her out and let her just plod round the field it can't do any harm.
 
Have you considered that it could be muscular? My horse went lame a few years ago following cross country. No heat, swelling, visible signs etc. Neither vet or farrier could find cause. Vet advised box rest (as they often do!) but this made no difference. Then one day I got a physio out (they were doing other horses on the yard anyway so thought they may as well look), turned out horse had pulled shoulder muscle. Physio sorted it and he was fine again! Not saying this is what's wrong with yours but may be worth a try.
 
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