Mystery lameness, any thoughts?

[bimba]

Would very much appreciate any thoughts as to what could be wrong with Teej as I'm at a bit of a loss. He has been intermitently lame on one of his forelegs since monday, is virtually sound in walk but hopping in trot, has no heat, no swelling, no cuts, is happily weight bearing on it (he's been standing resting a back leg), still trots down the field to meet everyone in his usual cheerful manner BUT is still lame although he really doesn't seem to be in any pain. I've given him a bute a day just in case there's any inflammation but it doesn't seem to be doing anything, he's been cold water bandaged which makes no difference and I'm kind of at a loss as to where to go. I've been leaving him out as my inclination would be he's been running around in the field which is fairly steep and at the moment pretty solid and has tweaked something so is better off moving but now I'm wondering if I should keep him in. The farriers coming either tomorrow or saturday to have a look at his feet just in case in a abcess and give him a trim as his feet have really grown in the last 2 weeks but apart from that I don't really know what else to do. Never easy is it??

[Loony]

I feel your pain with mystery lameness at the moment!!!

Sounds to me like he's probably just tweaked something in the field, maybe you could keep him in for a night and see if he looks any better in the morning?

[Tiaki]

It's hard knowing what to do. Keeping him in could help, giving him chance to rest more on a thick bed but it could also make it worse and cause stiffness on top.

I would be inclined to leave him out and don't give him any bute for 24hours before the farrier comes if possible so the farrier can see the full extent of the lameness.

xxx

[beks the artist]

Hmmm... my personal experiences of abscesses (believe me I have dealt with a lot!!) is that they are lame in walk AND trot, I am not saying it isn't an abscess but thats my experiences of them. The Farrier can see if that hoof is sensative and if so will do some digging.

I am more inclined to think it's a twist. Just like us, we maybe running around and suddenly, "ouch!" and can be sore for a few days.

If it carries on for more than a week, I would be inclined to call the vet if the Farrier cannot see anything wrong xxxx

[loosie]

Hi,

Without much more info, there's no way for anyone here to have any idea of the cause, sorry. It could be a myriad of different possibilities. I would definitely keep him out, unless he's obviously suffering for it, or is being forced to run around despite pain by other horses or some such.

I would not be giving bute for more than a couple of days without a(good) vet's advice, especially if it's not acheiving anything anyway - as with most drugs, they're bad for their system, so should only be used only when necessary.

As your farrier's coming tomorrow, I'd see what his thoughts are first - but I wouldn't let him 'dig' anywhere. Invasion of sensitive tissue is generally not a good idea & should only be done by a vet(IMO but also legally). If the farrier can't work out exactly what's wrong & what to do about it & it goes on longer, I wouldn't hesitate to call in a vet who is experienced & knowledgeable with lameness.

[beks the artist]

^ It would really depend on the vet and the farrier. My vets are VERY rural ones who mostly deal in sheep and cattle, not so much with horses. I have one very experienced horse vet who likes to work with our farrier when an abscess has been diagnosed with digging.

My current horse Taran has had a lot of abscesses in his life with me. He came to me with terrible, long feet. His previous owners said he had problems with his feet, apparently, although I do take everything I am told with a pint of salt. Taran has now been shod in his backs for one year (he was always shod in the front with me as he got very foot sore unshod) and I have only experienced one abscess in that 12 months. Farrier came, and there was instant relief when he 'dug' a tiny amount out. I poulticed for 36 hours and then regularly cleaned it out with salted luke-warm water. Taran was pretty much instantly sound. A Farrier, in this country is legally allowed to dig out a horses' hoof, as I understand it. My Farrier has worked wonders with my horses and I call him before the vet when there is a hoof problem, my vets are happy with this and work closely with the farrier - ie perscribing my horses bute or anti-biotics.

But yes I would agree a vet should be called too x

[clippi]

Could it be further up? His shoulders for example - Clip once had mystery lameness only slight and only in trot, after much poking and prodding we came to the conclusion he had twanged his shoulder hooning around in the field, it settled within a week

[My Crazy Clan]

I would say abcess too, sisco was the same once turns out it was one.

[loosie]

My current horse Taran has had a lot of abscesses in his life with me. He came to me with terrible, long feet.

Abscesses can be 'one off' type accidental affairs, but particularly if a horse suffers more than once in a blue moon, this indicates unhealthy feet - which sounds like you already appreciate) and solar/frog abscesses generally indicate the need for protection, as the bottom of the foot is not strong/thick enough to deal with the surfaces the horse has been worked on.

Taran has now been shod in his backs for one year (he was always shod in the front with me as he got very foot sore unshod)

I think, as you've said you do, it's a great principle, to take everything you're told with a 'pint of salt'. Do your own research so you can make more informed decisions on what you're told, by anyone, 'expert' or otherwise. That said, my opinion/experience regarding the above....

I am not dead against metal shoes btw, but it's important to understand the 'cons' of them as well as the 'pros', and given this, I think horses are generally better off without conventional shoes, particularly when their feet are not healthy to begin with. Even if you decide to keep him shod, it sounds like he definitely needs protection & support for the bottom of his feet, which the shoes do not provide - one of the cons. This may only be necessary for hard/rough trails & when he is having his breaks from shoes. If you're going to need hoof boots or such anyway, there's no real point in having shoes. Also be aware that what may be seen as one of the 'pros' of shoes is that reduced circulation/flexion = reduced feeling, so just because he's apparently gimpy without shoes doesn't mean to say he's sound with them - he just doesn't feel it much.

My Farrier has worked wonders with my horses and I call him before the vet when there is a hoof problem, my vets are happy with this and work closely with the farrier - ie perscribing my horses bute or anti-biotics.

That's good then. If he's a truly good farrier, you're lucky to have him!