Advice needed please

[Alex T]

my pony has been lame at walk for about three days now!!it started on weds when he was slightly lame at walk .(i just glanced over the field as we were leaving and thought maybe i had caught him at an akward moment)when i turned him out thurs morning he was slightly lame so i went back up the yard at lunch time to check him and he was really lame . he was stood in the middle of the field and was very reluctant to move when i went to bring him in.i hosed his leg off and asked a friend to look at him, i thought maybe it was a foot abscess but as he is lame on his bad leg (he had damaged his check ligament about 3 years ago and spent a year on box rest , has not caused him any problems since though)i was rather worried my friend advised me to get the vet just and case as hes an old boy at 22. the vet came out friday morning and took the shoe of he said that there was some pain in the heal but couldnt find any routes of an infection just some brusing (little red spots?)he thought maybe it was a foot abscess but that it was just forming or possibly pressure from the shoe(he was shod 3 weeks ago).on the vets advice i am to turn him out as usual and if he gets worse possibly poultice the hoof and if hes really really lame eg holding his leg up to give him bute twice a day.

the thing is my boy is obviously in alot of pain and is pretty lame at walk and although i trust my vet leaving him till tuesday seems along time for him to be in pain for!! his hoof is hot and so is his pastern the vet said there was a raised pulse in his fetlock and ruled out his tendon .

so really just wondered what you guys thought it could be?? or what i should do or could do to help him??sorry its long didnt want to miss anything out!

[Retty]

I would be inclined to rest up & give some pain releif - also speak to vet again.

[NoviceNic]

Could it be early days of laminitis??? Just wondered as you mentioned his lack of wanting to walk...:confused:

[julia gulia]

If it is an abscess then don't give him bute as this will slow the abscess from popping. Didn't he tell you to soak the foot and keep it wrapped? Ummmm I guess you didn't really get a clear diagnosis :confused: Or am I having a halter moment ???

[Alex T]

novice nic- this is what i wondered he hasnt had it before but hes on a very rich diet as he cant eat hay.

julia- no he didnt give any diagnosis at all which is why im soo lost!!he kinda headed for a foot abscess but didnt tell me todo anything!!

iv phoned the vet again today and hes said to give him some bute as hes getting crabby and spent most of yeaturday lying down in the feild !!hes asked me to get the shoe put back on . so i have rung my farrier and he is going to come out tonight and have a look at him for me !!

im still stuck on what it could be the heat is mostly in the hoof and the corenet band (spelling) so im hoping it is a foot abscess

opps forgot to add (im tack cleaning hehe) the vets going to do nerve blocks once the shoe is back on

[Alex T]

well i had the farrier out last night to put the shoe on!!he had a little look and was just saying he thought it was brusing and now he wa foot sore where the shoe had been removed when....he found a small abcess in the toe much to my relief!!so i have to poultice it twice a day for 3 days and then dress it for another day or so and then i can have the shoe back on!!!

hes a very happy pony this morning and couldnt understand why he wasnt allowed in the field and dragged me everywhere

[teabiscuit]

good-glad he's on the mend :)

[julia gulia]

oh....you must be so relieved:) Now you have a definite diagnosis:D
Have you been told not to turn him out? Moving around will help the abscess to drain.

[teabiscuit]

nappies :D

i use nappies (disposable ones) to keep dressings on and protect hoof, they#re perfectly shaped for the job and lots cheaper than vet wrap
echo julia about turn out

[Alex T]

i was told to keep him in ! the feilds are rather muddy though i might turn him out for an hour or so tommoz as he does has an equi boot so should be ok i guess