lame oldie

[trieste]

My horse Trieste is nearly 31 years old, she does suffer with athritus and is on Aviform suppleaze gold. Generally she does well - had a scare when she couldn't get up but once me and a friend gave her a hand stood happily demanding brekfast. Had already flapped and called the vet and by the time he got there she was wondering what all the fuss was about and where was her breakfast - had waited untill the vet had seen her. He agreed as she was perfectly ok and holding (she's actually put a little on) weight it would be best to continue not rugging her as that might hinder her getting up and she has a field shelter, and give her bute in the evening.
This has been fine and she's been looking and doing really well, nobody can believe that she's 30 - I've had her since she was 7 so know this is so.
Unfortunately yesterday afternoon when I went to see her she was holding her nearside hind up and trying not to use it, she is sort of waving it about as though it's annoying her - she was right down the bottom of the field and came up for her tea and then went right down the bottom again so it's not preventing her from getting about. When you look at her sides the offside looks normal round the hip but the nearside is all sort of concave and I tried to sort of gently massage it as the muscle felt tight but she wasn't very happy.
I don't really know what to do, I don't think calling the vet is going to achieve anything - other than a large bill. She seems quite happy, eating well, walking from one end of the field to the other for no good reason.
My friend has a back lady to her horse Flint, could she help, what about bowen treatment, :o:o I'm afraid I don't really know anything about these treatments.
Thanks for reading

[trieste]

Just had a call from my friend who does breakfast, to say she was at the bottom of the field again, took her time coming up but demolished her breakfast and had eaten hay from last night. She seems quite happy but I wonder if there's something I can do for her. Has anybody got any thoughts.
Thanks
Sue

[kaytenherponies]

Is there any heat in leg or hoof? I would personally box her over night see if that helps. If this is not possible monitor the situation and call vet if it doesn't improve in 48 hours. If it gets worse call the vet you cant be too careful

[trieste]

Update - After worrying that I was going to have to make a horrible decision that my old girl was suffering badly with arthritus and it wasn't fair on her any longer, it turns out to be a foot abscess:D:D I'm so pleased as that's something fixable. I was so worried that the vet would say she's old and that there wasn't anything he could do - hence wondering about alternative treatment - and that it would be kinder to let her go. I suppose all my recent experiences with vets are with my Guinea Pigs and they always seem surprised how much money one's prepared to spend on them - I was asked if I was sure I wanted an xray on one as that would be £100 and the after care was implied that would be too much trouble for us.:mad:

[kazscott]

My oldie was a bit like your one.. he gave us a couple of scares as he got older and on a couple of occasions he needed a hand to get up but once he was up he was as right as rain. I think your doing the right thing. Plenty of turnout and you will know when there is something wrong with them. THey are such a worry when they get older but you just have to do your best by them. I found tho that i needed to keep my old guy rugged to keep him warm and the weight on him. Good luck with your senior:)

[Wally]

I was going to suggest that kind of waving and holding a foot up could be something in it.

We are worrying about one of our old girls who hobbling about in this cold weather. Did her feet last week and she is so stiff poor lass.

[trieste]

They are such a worry when they get old and I've had her such a long time - she was my first horse and filled my dream as a child of having a horse, I had to wait til I was 21 but she was well worth the wait. I've already been through the time to let them go with Bodie who I bought as a companion for her, had him for 13 years until he was 26, then he just got thinner and thinner and there was nothing we could do except let him go. The problem with horses as opposed to other animals is the decision has to be made sooner rather than later - as the saying goes 'better a month too soon than a day too late' - doesn't make it any easier though. Anyway things are looking ok at the moment thankfully.
Luckily Trieste has only been lame twice the whole time I've had her, once with an obvious cut and the other was when she was hooning round the field and twisted her front leg, hence I just feared the worst.:o