Lame... But Where and why?

[PePpAcOrN]

Ugh as i wrote this title... a massive huntsman spider ran over my foot and i freaked! haha.

To the topic.... Cruise is lame, and i don'tk now how or where.
I noticed it Saturday morning when i went to ride him to my friends to get him ready for a comp the following day. He seemed uneven and when i got on it was noticable and when he trotted he was head bobbing slightly and stepping short.

It's his Near side (left) foreleg. I checked his leg.. nothing. no stones in his foot no thrush no cracks no bruising or heat. So further up the leg i still could not feel any heat or swelling at all. I don't know where it's sore, i tried pressing but he didnt have any major responses.

I hosed it for a short time (we are on major water restrictions here) and left him in his paddock. checked in the arvo ... still lame... then yesterday, still lame. My friend could hardly notice it when i showed her but i can totally tell.

I don't knwo what to do? Let it rest a couple more days. Get the vet... or chiro? Give him some bute??

Please Let me know some ideas.

P.S there is no cuts or bumps of puncture wounds.

Thanks guys... late for work now... gotta fly!

[TackRoomGang]

I would personally give him up to a weeks rest, no work before i called a vet out. Perhaps a few days box rest (if facilities permit)!
Let us know how it goes!
Good Luck ;D
Sam

[domane]

A SPIDER!!!! Ewwww...

I too would leave it a little longer before calling the vet unless it gets worse or you find a cause.... they hooley around in the field when we're not looking (and sometimes when we ARE :rolleyes: ) and he may have rolled and just got up awkwardly.... if you can't find a cause, then it will probably just ease off gradually.

[PePpAcOrN]

Thanks so much for your replies!

Ok... gosh i hope so, that he will get better by himself!! I will leave it untill next monday or if it gets better in the next few days thats GREAT!

Do you think i should call into the vet and get some bute for the pain and inflamation? You used to be able to get it from produce but have to get it from the vet now.

humm.. i have no stable :( Plus he would go burkers in a stable.

He was still limping this afternoon. It's barley noticable but i can tell.

I really hope it goes away by itself but i get so worried that it could be something bad.

Thanks for your help it eased my concerns!

[summerguest]

It could be just a bruised sole, or something more nasty like navicular...only time will tell. I do what others advised in that situation....watch and see...Bute may help if there is inflamation somewhere, our vet tends to give 2sachets a day for 3 days then one a day for 4 days then have another look in a few days. Without nerve blocks or xrays /scans you are not going to know for certain what it is....but you obviously don't want to rush into these expensive things if they may come sound by themselves in a few weeks!

I had same thing with a small pony....vet thought it was arthritis (we did nerve block to prove it in foot) we rested her for 6-8 weeks then she was fine, and has been ever since (18 months)

Was hoping same thing would happen when my TB went lame, unfortunately 2 months later still lame, and CT scan show imflamed navicular bursa. Another month on, she still trots lame on lunge....but manages to gallop full speed round field!

Hope yours comes right by itself !!! Fingers x'd

[PePpAcOrN]

Hmm i really hope it's not Navicular....

Either way resting him for a while will be the best medicine. If he is worse in a week i will get the vet.. if he is no better in a couple of weeks i will get the vet. May try to get some bute off my friends vet.

I was prodding around yesterday and i have a feeling it's where his chest and shoulder meet between his front legs.. as when i pressed hard he showed some response (moved away and looked at me and the area) and didn't show the same signs when i pressed the same way on the other side.

He has always had exceptional movement and never been even slightly lame before and i have had him for 1 1/2- 2 years.

Thank you for your imput summerguest appreciated :)

Good luck with your mare... i hope she feels better soon.:)