WWYD - lameness

[Stroppy Mare]

What would you do in this situation -

Horse goes intermittently lame 1/10ths in trot when ridden. Sound in straight lines and on the lunge. Vet wants to investigate but says isn't lame enough.

Vet recommends working horse gently to make horse more consistently lame

OR

Would you just turn out in the field, dose up on superflex/buteless type supplements and hope horse comes sound of own accord?

 

[be positive]

The most likely place to be causing the lameness is the foot so I would ask my vet to investigate it even if the horse does not show to be lame when he comes, the chances are with flexion tests, lunging on a hard surface and possibly nerve blocks something will show or as I have done in the past just ask for xrays they do not cost too much and may show something such as an imbalance that can be dealt with without requiring more tests.

If nothing shows when flexions are done I would get a physio in as it may be coming from higher up and a session of physio may sort it, just turning away may help but you will be several months further on which may ultimately have an effect on treatment and insurance.

If your vet wont investigate ask to be referred for a full work up where they are used to seeing horses that are not fully lame, if you are not insured this can cost a fortune with no guarantee they will find anything.

 

[Stroppy Mare]

Horse is insured. Vet thinks its either her feet (due to time being unshod) or her knees. My guess would be both knees due to some obvious arthritic changes (as picked up by vet).

The problem is is that she is only very slightly lame occasionally, it's fairly guaranteed when ridden she'll throw in a few ouchy strides fairly regularly, lunging you're pushed to see anything. Vets want her in to the practice for full work up (ideally what I'd like), but say as she's only just lame the nerve blocks may not be fully conclusive. She's not wanting to just X-ray either as they may show changes (horse is 15) but may be not what's causing the lameness.

On my own examination, she only gets about 80% normal knee flexion on both knees, they can be taken through full range with a little bit of work but she's extremely uncomfy and will (mini) rear to take the pressure off the knee. Obviously feet are a little bit more difficult to examine with bare hands, but I have taken all joints through range without a problem.

 

[be positive]

If she shows that much discomfort when picking her feet up I would expect nerve blocks to the knee to reduce this pain response so that would, with xrays, prove pretty conclusive, you may well find that she is bilaterally lame so blocking one will make the other show worse.

As she is 15 there are likely to be some changes by treating them there is nothing really to lose even if there is more going on somewhere else, the problem with waiting too long is you only have 12 months to get to the bottom of it before you get exclusions and end up paying yourself.