Lameness

[chez111]

Hi there,

My horse went lame at the weekend, the last time I rode her previous to this the ground was heavy going and I think she may have pulled something?
There was a pulse in her leg which seems to have gone now but she is still lame. Should I just try and keep her moving around, maybe put tendon boots on? I sometimes think its better to keep them moving - bit like us if we pull something, how long should I give it before calling the vet?
hope you can help.
Chez

[Sharon H]

If you can't pin point a cause for the lameness and it's severe then I would call the vet out asap.

[ponyvet]

I would follow Sharon's advice and call out your vet. There are loads and loads of things that can cause lameness, and digital pulses, and some are not so bad, some are terrible.

It is very rarely ideal to keep them walking if they are lame, especially if there is any tendon damage, so keep her box rested until the vet sees her (as soon as possible please?). The sooner she is seen the sooner she will get better.

It is possible that the vet will say she's fine and not to worry, but better to be safe than sorry. it's a flase economy to try and carry on hoping she'll get better without calling the vet, as serious (expensive) problems can develop later on!

PS. Box resting means just that....NO TURNOUT not even for 5 mins whilst you muck out!

[Wally]

Sorry ponyvet, but I have found that 99% of unexplainable lameness will resolve its self.

If there it goes on for longer than 4-5 days then I will call the vet, but I see no point in calling the vet before that time as it resolves its self 9 times out of 10.

Severe lameness is different, if they are hopping I'd call him/her.

Maybe I'm just lucky, but this system works for us.

Kina went lame a few weeks ago, she was kept off work and withinn a week she was fine again.

Magnús was lame the farrier came, she could find no cause, but within the week he was fine. When we took off his shoes we found the cause, an abcess, it had vented under his shoe and we only found the hole when we removed it. But he was fine.

I find lameness is something our vets are bad at pinpointing, we get a sachet of bute and told to keep an eye!

[ponyvet]

Bless ya wally, but you're still box resting them!

If all you get told is to stick them on bute and watch out, I'd say you have crap vets! But we've discussed that before haven't we? Anyway you of all people would be able to spot a nasty lameness a mile off! I'm sure you agree though that anyone who isn't sure should call their vet. Though I do think it's probably most likely that the horse has bruised it's sole after walking on rough ground. Tendon strains tend to become swollen and very painful fairly quickly and should be quite obvious!

PS don't forget what kind of rubbish I'd get if I don't advise people to see their vets! They'd all only come back when it's developed something horrible and say I told them to ignore it!!:D

Oh and you would, of course, not wait at all if your horse had a wound possibly affecting a tendon or joint would you? :p (if you would you're in big trouble!! :eek: )

[chez111]

Well guys,

It turned out to be an abscess on her foot - after posting the thread I went to see her and she was worse but only wanting to put weight on a certain part of her foot.

I got the blacksmith who removed her shoe - Ive been polticing it ever since, she seems fine now and there is no more gunk coming out.

Good job I didnt get the vet straight away - at least I saved myself the call out fee!

cheers

Chez