Illusion100
Well-Known Member
Owned by friend and bought as a happy hacker around 6 months ago. Cob/Native type, approx. 10 yr old mare. Not vetted.
Arrived very portly with loads of feather. Unwilling to pick up feet and looked 'off' when moving, so feathers removed to reveal horrible weeping sores under inflamed, hard folds of skin. This was treated under Vet advice along with thrush, has recovered quite well but not completely.
Feet weren't the best but now barefoot and feet looking much better. Has also lost a good deal of weight and is looking well in that respect.
Horse began to appear lame/uneven/off in front and prefers to walk on soft ground were possible. No lumps, bumps or heat in any legs, X-rays showed nothing in the feet but there is a small bone spur at the RF fetlock but not thought to be of significance and not investigated further. Still isn't right though.
Horse difficult and/or can completely refuse to have fronts picked up.
Very recently the horse was highly reluctant to walk in from the field and then was agitated/sweating up in stable/behaving abnormally, however the next door neighbour was kicking off something shocking and so was suspected of being the cause of the upset while horse was in.
Horse is currently on 1 bute per day, along with some supplements (can't quite remember which as none have made any improvement, so went in one ear and out the other!), some chaff and cubes. Lives out full time with another horse that is quite a bully (always chasing away from hay, even though there are a few sources available and just general mithering) and wasn't rugged.
Went to see horse with friend, horse plodded in from field reluctantly looking short in front but tracking up well enough behind. Didn't have a happy camper face, HR and resp. rate normal, no thermometer so temp not checked. Feet good, no sign of thrush. When picking up fronts, horse offered right away but after 10 secs or so violently snatched both fronts and then did not even want to lift them off ground, also snatchy with hinds which is unusual. Got a nice stretch off LF, RF didn't really want to know. Horse appeared to have discomfort in RF shoulder (apparently physio had also found this but Vet and physio disagree on cause of pain), however the top line, right from the withers to the top of tail felt very rigid to me, palpation caused significant agitation, borderline on dehydration but urine normal colour/flow/quantity.
When asked my opinion I said if horse was mine I would be wanting bloods run as the horse presented, imo, with Azoturia type symptoms and PSSM is also in my mind. I was going to ride the horse to see how it felt under saddle but changed my mind after feeling the rigidity in the muscles, although it would have possibly given a clearer picture if exercise made things better or worse I suppose. Ulcers are also crossing my thoughts.
Horse is insured. I did say several times that if the horse was mine, the Vet would be out (and I am not worrier) but their horse, their choice, I can't force them to so interim advice was to keep a very close eye, rug to keep warm/dry, separate from bully horse to reduce stress/not being able to eat, no haylage but hay ok, water trug instead of automatic drinker to monitor drinking, cut out all feed/supplements and if muscles not significantly softer very soon, Vet needs to come out sharpish. Reluctant to advise electrolytes/Selenium/Vit E unless seen by Vet, so didn't.
What are your thoughts on symptoms, possible causes and what would you be wanting to have tested? Any similar cases you know of and what was the diagnosis/tx? Anything else you would advise? Horse usually has a fantastic and willing temperament also.
I would have offered shortbread to you all but ate it in the time it took me to type this, sorry. *Hangs head in shame*
Arrived very portly with loads of feather. Unwilling to pick up feet and looked 'off' when moving, so feathers removed to reveal horrible weeping sores under inflamed, hard folds of skin. This was treated under Vet advice along with thrush, has recovered quite well but not completely.
Feet weren't the best but now barefoot and feet looking much better. Has also lost a good deal of weight and is looking well in that respect.
Horse began to appear lame/uneven/off in front and prefers to walk on soft ground were possible. No lumps, bumps or heat in any legs, X-rays showed nothing in the feet but there is a small bone spur at the RF fetlock but not thought to be of significance and not investigated further. Still isn't right though.
Horse difficult and/or can completely refuse to have fronts picked up.
Very recently the horse was highly reluctant to walk in from the field and then was agitated/sweating up in stable/behaving abnormally, however the next door neighbour was kicking off something shocking and so was suspected of being the cause of the upset while horse was in.
Horse is currently on 1 bute per day, along with some supplements (can't quite remember which as none have made any improvement, so went in one ear and out the other!), some chaff and cubes. Lives out full time with another horse that is quite a bully (always chasing away from hay, even though there are a few sources available and just general mithering) and wasn't rugged.
Went to see horse with friend, horse plodded in from field reluctantly looking short in front but tracking up well enough behind. Didn't have a happy camper face, HR and resp. rate normal, no thermometer so temp not checked. Feet good, no sign of thrush. When picking up fronts, horse offered right away but after 10 secs or so violently snatched both fronts and then did not even want to lift them off ground, also snatchy with hinds which is unusual. Got a nice stretch off LF, RF didn't really want to know. Horse appeared to have discomfort in RF shoulder (apparently physio had also found this but Vet and physio disagree on cause of pain), however the top line, right from the withers to the top of tail felt very rigid to me, palpation caused significant agitation, borderline on dehydration but urine normal colour/flow/quantity.
When asked my opinion I said if horse was mine I would be wanting bloods run as the horse presented, imo, with Azoturia type symptoms and PSSM is also in my mind. I was going to ride the horse to see how it felt under saddle but changed my mind after feeling the rigidity in the muscles, although it would have possibly given a clearer picture if exercise made things better or worse I suppose. Ulcers are also crossing my thoughts.
Horse is insured. I did say several times that if the horse was mine, the Vet would be out (and I am not worrier) but their horse, their choice, I can't force them to so interim advice was to keep a very close eye, rug to keep warm/dry, separate from bully horse to reduce stress/not being able to eat, no haylage but hay ok, water trug instead of automatic drinker to monitor drinking, cut out all feed/supplements and if muscles not significantly softer very soon, Vet needs to come out sharpish. Reluctant to advise electrolytes/Selenium/Vit E unless seen by Vet, so didn't.
What are your thoughts on symptoms, possible causes and what would you be wanting to have tested? Any similar cases you know of and what was the diagnosis/tx? Anything else you would advise? Horse usually has a fantastic and willing temperament also.
I would have offered shortbread to you all but ate it in the time it took me to type this, sorry. *Hangs head in shame*
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