Worried - Dante 'resting' front feet

Sol

Sol

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The joys of being able to watch the horse from my bedroom window.

Wednesday - all fine, then came to ride late afternoon, and noticed he was a bit reluctant. Then proceeded to walk fine on a loose rein doing his own thing, asked him to walk into the bridle and he marched along happily. Rolled left front toe. Asked for trot... rolled left front toe/stumbled a little. Walked. Rolling left fore every 3rd stride approx. Lead home, still dragging that toe every few strides.

Thursday - Farrier out, trimmed, didn't mention any issues, said he was perfectly fine without shoes though for some reason mum had mentioned having a front set on when I'd said no (on the phone), and when he went to put a shoe on I said no shoes thanks and he said he'd trimmed that left fore back a bit more thinking shoes were going on, but he should be fine.

Today - noticed that when he's been stood resting, he's been placing one front foot further forward (as in exaggerated enough that he's not just stood crooked) however when I've looked again a bit later/another point in the day, he's been resting the other front foot, so definitely not just that left fore which would make *some* sense :confused:
I have photos of his feet taken tonight but I don't think it's to do with the trim. He seems happy enough in himself and did not favour either foot whilst I was outside with him about a while ago (for at least an hour) and is currently grazing.
I am worried about laminitis (never had a horse with it, and if I am entirely honest beyond the very basics do not know much about it) or is there a good chance that it's more possibly an injury, someone has previously mentioned possible shoulder problem due to dragging front toes (he does often drag his front toes on the roads but wednesday was different, more of a stumbling roll of the toe although he didn't actually 'stumble'?)

Vet WILL be out on monday at the latest!
 
Forgot to mention, his coronet bands are 'warm' but certainly not 'hot' the rest of his foot seems just normal/cool - also I'm crap to tell if there's heat in his feet because I have ice cold hands at all times... (and I admit I don't really know what I'm feeling for). His feet/legs have been cold hosed. I would like to see him trot up but I'm currently here alone, so it wont work (plus only people who will be around either wont be able to get him to co-operate, or wont know what they're looking at!)
I should be at a yard either sat, mon or weds. I look forward to having more experienced people around again. Lamness is quite strange to me considering I've never had a horse unsound for anything not extremely obvious (ie, big wound on hock!) :(
 
Be careful, there is a lot of laminitis rearing it's ugly head at the moment, they only need to be a bit footy, not necessarily really hot feet and not the typical laminitic stance either (Friends I know have horses down with it in the last fortnight and two showed no typical pain symptoms apart from being slightly tender when going over harder ground on their front feet) I was going to suggest an abscess when I read your first post because pointing is one of the symptoms. I hope it isn't lami and I hope it is something simple but thought I might just warn you.
 
Tormenta said:
Be careful, there is a lot of laminitis rearing it's ugly head at the moment, they only need to be a bit footy, not necessarily really hot feet and not the typical laminitic stance either (Friends I know have horses down with it in the last fortnight and two showed no typical pain symptoms apart from being slightly tender when going over harder ground on their front feet) I was going to suggest an abscess when I read your first post because pointing is one of the symptoms. I hope it isn't lami and I hope it is something simple but thought I might just warn you.
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Thanks. I'm unsure of what to do in the mean time, until I know for sure. Stick him in his stable and give him hay, keep hosing his feet? Don't like to keep him in unnecessarily but if it's for the best.... :/
 
I would keep him in and have the vet look over him asap. Also heat in the foot is not a reliable sign of laminitis. I have known horses with bad cases with feet that are not hot. I hope its something simple and resolved quickly!
 
shortstuff99 said:
I would keep him in and have the vet look over him asap. Also heat in the foot is not a reliable sign of laminitis. I have known horses with bad cases with feet that are not hot. I hope its something simple and resolved quickly!
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Thanks, off to put horse in stable. I'm sure he will be thrilled. I presume he's fine with hay?
What do I do over the next few days about hard feed? He'd normally have a cup of balancer & a scoop of hi-fi original... is he ok to have that or do I just not give him a feed at all? (besides hay)
 
My Farrier doesn't like the old regime of starve and no movement. He recommends that they get hay, something lo-cal like a chaff based product if you need to feed a supplement and a little turnout in hand for 10-15 mins twice a day or more for the first few days. He thinks that the sudden deprivation of both feeding and movement can be detrimental. Basically, common sense and still allow movement to keep things flowing.
 
I think your meant to soak the hay from what I can remember. Hay can be as bad as grass, thats why horses still get these problems in the winter.
 
Kaylum said:
I think your meant to soak the hay from what I can remember. Hay can be as bad as grass, thats why horses still get these problems in the winter.
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It shouldn't be so much of a worry if it is last year's hay but if in doubt, I agree, you can soak it overnight.
 
Tormenta said:
My Farrier doesn't like the old regime of starve and no movement. He recommends that they get hay, something lo-cal like a chaff based product if you need to feed a supplement and a little turnout in hand for 10-15 mins twice a day or more for the first few days. He thinks that the sudden deprivation of both feeding and movement can be detrimental. Basically, common sense and still allow movement to keep things flowing.
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Will basically see how he is tomorrow then, and either he will be off to a livery yard where there are plenty of more experienced people, and ample facilities for whatever he needs, or I will at least hunt someone down to watch me move him/move him for me and possibly walk him for a short while? he doesn't appear lame anyway, from what I can see when he's just moving about on his own, which has to be good to some extent. Wouldn't want him just stood in anyway, don't see how that could be any good for the rest of him? plus he will get so bored he'll destroy the place! Thanks again
 
Tormenta said:
It shouldn't be so much of a worry if it is last year's hay but if in doubt, I agree, you can soak it overnight.
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I will hunt down something to soak it in just in case. He normally has been having dampened hay in his stable (I just hose it down) anyway so he should be fine with that. Thanks :)
 
Be very careful. It sounds exactly like our last pony that got laminitus - we thought that it was shoulder lameness at first (farrier as well). I'd be inclined to get it checked out - I'm not a fan of calling out the vet for the slightest thing, but laminitus is one of the things that is best caught early, and I'd rather lose the cost of a call out fee than leave it too long... At the very least I'd be having a phonecall with my vet.
 
Honey08 said:
Be very careful. It sounds exactly like our last pony that got laminitus - we thought that it was shoulder lameness at first (farrier as well). I'd be inclined to get it checked out - I'm not a fan of calling out the vet for the slightest thing, but laminitus is one of the things that is best caught early, and I'd rather lose the cost of a call out fee than leave it too long... At the very least I'd be having a phonecall with my vet.
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Thanks, I've already spoken to Dad and will phone the vet tomorrow and see what they say. I do need to get the vet out anyway (want to arrange physio as a 'routine' thing) so wont be a lost call out. Would rather have him looked at than not. At least then even if it isn't lami, I know if its something that may occur again...
 
TBH, I'd get him in tonight, on a deep shavings bed if poss. You can give him a bit of hay soaked for an hour or so while putting some to soak for longer.
Better to be on the safe side with suspected laminitis. Then I'd call vet and farrier.
 
Have you felt for a pulse? It's one of the signs if it's Lamintis he will have a bounding pulse. Also you could try turning your horse on a tight circle on both reins if he doesn't cross over and sort of shuffles that's another sign. Put him in on a deep full shavings bed and feed soaked hay, and feed a high fibre low sugar diet. F hope it isn't but better safe than sorry. Food luck x
 
No way I can get him on a decent deep shavings bed tonight, if he isn't moved tomorrow then I will be stuck. No shavings here, I can't collect any (fractured wrist, can't fit them in the car either!) and nobody is here tomorrow except me. Will check for a pulse when I go and give him more hay shortly. Will phone vet in the morning and see what they say & arrange for him to be seen.
 
How old and what type ?
What work has he done in the past.

My older boy, a warmblood, had slight lameness, kept resting a front leg, tripping and not good down hill.

Turns out he has mild ringbone, and boney changes on coffin joint..Made quick recovery after treatment.

Hope your horse doesn't have this just wanted to share.
 
blucanoo1990 said:
How old and what type ?
What work has he done in the past.

My older boy, a warmblood, had slight lameness, kept resting a front leg, tripping and not good down hill.

Turns out he has mild ringbone, and boney changes on coffin joint..Made quick recovery after treatment.

Hope your horse doesn't have this just wanted to share.
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Just turned 7, TBx, spent the last two years doing an average amount, mostly flatwork, some jumping/hacking, XC very rarely. Supposedly hunted a little as a 4yo but I think this is untrue.

Thanks for the info though, something else to ask about
 
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