WWYD - unsure on following vets advice

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Tiger21

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I have been having soundness issues with my young horse since the end of feb. he began feeling unlevel going downhill so had the usual saddle/back/teeth checks. he had the physio who thought he was a little tight on his fore shoulder (limb he is off on) but nothing major. I tried him with a week off, no better and no changes on danilon for a week either. I had the vet come out again a couple of weeks ago and he found some inflammation in his fetlock joint around the tendon sheath which may be fluid - it doesn't seem to be painful to touch. took xrays which came back clear. I had been advised to keep him in light work for the next few weeks and see if there is any improvement and it is this that I am not completely comfortable with as is it ever a good idea to continue riding a lame horse? I am thinking about getting a second opinion as it has gone on long enough I can't see it miraculously improving if I carry on as normal. might be worth adding that he looks almost sound in trot and in walk is obviously lame. any advice or anyone had a similar problem?
 
I totally agree with your thinking. If you know your horse has something up, you want it finding and treating before it worsens or further damage is done by working the horse until the problem is more obvious. IIWY I'd be heading for the second opinion if your vet isn't interested in action.
 
I think you only have a limited number of options:
- either keep riding the horse until the slight lameness becomes more severe and the source of the problem is apparent,
- or ask for a referral to a specialist centre for a more exhaustive set of tests,
- or chuck him out at grass for a few months and hope time sorts things out.
 
I would be unsure too - as far as I know the only lameness issues for which continued work is the best option are those arthritic changes which you would hope would fuse, such as bone spavin. Any soft tissue damage would surely only get worse with work - perhaps he is hoping for it to get worse so he can come up with a better diagnosis? If that is the case it is hardly ethical, to opt for further low grade pain. As above I would ask for a referral (or even a second opinion?) or give a few weeks field rest and see if it improves.
 
If nothing conclusive has been found with a slightly 'off' horse, continuing to gently work the horse is commonplace to try and make whatever is causing the problems more clear so it can be diagnosed and then addressed as required.
If you're worried by all means ask for a second opinion, but I have continued to work a slightly off horse for a further 2 weeks and then the problem was then more obvious and then treated.
 
You don't say how young the horse is or what type and it's well known that big horses don't finish growing/maturing until at least 7 years old so should be taken carefully.
It could well be due to growing problems and his body/limbs are just not ready for the work you want which has made him sore. If he is still growing then he will be unlevel and shouldn't be worked at all until he's levelled off. Turning away for a month or so to grow in peace without any stress on his limbs could well be all he needs.
This is well worth a read for anyone with young horses. http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=610099
 
^^^This. Can show injuries which are worse than lameness would suggest, or reassure you that given you already know the bones are OK, there's no visible structural damage. Either way, would help you answer the question of whether to keep working him. I'm with you - it goes completely against instinct to work a horse that you think is in pain, even though you can see the logic of vets wanting clearer 'bigger' symptoms.
 
I'd get a scan done to rule out anything soft tissue/ tendon wise and if that didn't show anything a couple of months of Dr Green with no work to let whatever it is settle. I'd go with your instinct, if the horse isn't right why would you keep riding him?
 
lots of questions so will try and answer everyones here. He will be turning 5 this month about 17.1hh with unrecorded breeding but thought to be a IDx. He was only backed the back end of last year and has in no way been pushed hard with only light hacking and maybe schooled once a week max. he hasn't done any jumping and has only cantered a couple of times out on a hack up a long straight. there was no scan done but that was more along the lines of what I was expecting to be the next step if a soft tissue injury was suspected. there is definitely some puffiness round his fetlock so I have pretty much decided that I am not going to continue riding because I don't enjoy it when he is like this and can't see why he would either but now need to decide whether to get someone else to look at him or just to try some time off. thanks for all your responses.
 
It might well be worth getting a second opinion and a scan done. We were recently advised to keep working a pony with a mild lameness (apparently to make it worse so the vet could see what was wrong), weren't comfortable with it, and called in a second opinion. The mare had done her check ligament and working it would have made her worse. Still not sure how the first vet missed it...
 
Hmmm....I think it depends on how good you think your vets are...

My friend had a youngster who was vetted by a well-known equine vets and passed all clear for eventing. Youngster was known for being a bit quirky, and one day was a bit stiff behind. Became on/off lame and never seemed to quite clear or stay sound. Xrays, bute, tildren etc later, and a diagnosis of early arthritis in hocks, and she was advised to keep working him as normal to keep him muscled and moving to help support joints.

Moved to new area and got new vet out to see horse as still undergoing treatment...vet immediately said he didn't know what the problem was, but not arthritis/mechanical. Took him to Liphook for lameness specialist, and showed clean hock xrays but neurological problem - he had cord compression in multiple cervical vertabrae and was immediately classed unrideable. She'd been hacking and jumping etc preparing for the season up to this point, as instructed by vet :(

I'm only used to human xrays but couldn't see a thing on the supposedly arthritic xrays taken at the start of the whole palava. I'm sure keeping working is the right thing for some horses, but in her case, it was frankly dangerous, and we wished we'd gone with gut instinct that there was something else going on :(
 
Given that you first noticed the issue going downhill I would be looking at horses back end. Front limb issue could be secondary! Arthritis is a lazy diagnosis from alot of vets and something I would definitely challenge. Seek a second vet and rather than zone in on the limb you know definitely has an issue ask for a full work up! My older mare showed small swelling at base of for tendon and on & off lameness...she had actually done bilateral hind suspensories. Once we treated them foreleg was perfect. She jumped for another 18 months before injuring her sesamoid and retiring!
 
amage said:
Given that you first noticed the issue going downhill I would be looking at horses back end. Front limb issue could be secondary! Arthritis is a lazy diagnosis from alot of vets and something I would definitely challenge. Seek a second vet and rather than zone in on the limb you know definitely has an issue ask for a full work up! My older mare showed small swelling at base of for tendon and on & off lameness...she had actually done bilateral hind suspensories. Once we treated them foreleg was perfect. She jumped for another 18 months before injuring her sesamoid and retiring!
Click to expand...

Beat me to it! Discomfort going downhill shouts hindleg problem to me, and suspensories in particular.
 
Thanks guys getting a second opinion on Friday because like alot of you have suggested I think there is more to this and it needs a bit more investigation - hopefully the news isn't too bad...
 
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