I currently have a lame horse (had all the tests done MRI, X-rays etc no diagnosis) okay that's fine but the problem is I really dislike him. His behaviour is awful, he is not nice to be around and I am starting to resent him to be honest. I try and do bits of groundwork with him, not knowing cause of lameness puts me off doing to much, but it is becoming a chore even getting him to and from the field. Just feel terribly trapped with a horse that if he was sound I would move on but I can't. Sorry, not sure point of this, just needed to get it off my chest.
Just need to vent!
- Thread starter Rosanne L
- Start date
You really need to liase with the vets further. Maybe get a second opinion from another vets, if they cant identify the issue. If its a long term lameness then you have to ask yourself if its right to keep the horse going.
His behaviour could be related to to the pain that he's in.
Equally if it isn't and his lameness resolves itself is it right to be passing on a horse that has behaviour issues.
I'm sorry but sometimes you have to face reality.
But first and foremost go back to your vets. Seek some proper advice as well from someone who specialises in behaviour issues.
His behaviour could be related to to the pain that he's in.
Equally if it isn't and his lameness resolves itself is it right to be passing on a horse that has behaviour issues.
I'm sorry but sometimes you have to face reality.
But first and foremost go back to your vets. Seek some proper advice as well from someone who specialises in behaviour issues.
If the behaviour isn't due to pain - talk to your vet again and maybe ask about trying him on some bute - then it's up to you to show him what you want and correct the unacceptable behaviour. If you're going up to him with the attitude that you don't like him and resent the time you spend on him then he's going to pick up on it and act accordingly.
It does seem odd that x-rays and an MRI have shown nothing, makes me wonder if they're looking in the right area. I'd be tempted to get a second opinion from another equine vet at this point in the hope a fresh pair of eyes will see something different.
It does seem odd that x-rays and an MRI have shown nothing, makes me wonder if they're looking in the right area. I'd be tempted to get a second opinion from another equine vet at this point in the hope a fresh pair of eyes will see something different.
Sorry, I appreciate it but I wasn't looking for advice just more to see if anyone out there is going through same thing and just needs to get it off thier chest. He is still under the vet and won't be going anywhere. It is just a very depressing and disheartening place to be at.
I've had horses on box rest before and completely understand how disheartening it can be when you seem to be getting nowhere and no idea what the outcome will be. Since you posted about problems in August and still don't seem to be any further forward I really would be looking for a second opinion, it's not a criticism of you vet but simply that they're human so can make mistakes or get sidetracked into looking in one area and so miss something else.
I never did hold with the view that a horse on box rest should be forgiven for bad behaviour. I would spend a lot of time with them but any sign of pushing boundaries or being rude would be quietly but firmly corrected and as such they stayed nice people.
I never did hold with the view that a horse on box rest should be forgiven for bad behaviour. I would spend a lot of time with them but any sign of pushing boundaries or being rude would be quietly but firmly corrected and as such they stayed nice people.
Thank you. He isn't on box rest he is turned out in the day and in at night with company. Yes, you are prob right about the vet, despite this consultant coming onboard I am no further forward and still no answers. Tricky conversation to have I suppose but got to suck it up and do what is best. Got to start thinking of the ethics of it all too with how long this is going on. I just feel very sad and sad for him as well
In the scheme of things three months isn't that long, particularly given he's being allowed turnout so can be a horse, though I appreciate it feels like forever when you don't even have a diagnosis.
What is the consultant looking at, is he starting from scratch or just working with what your vet says? If you have another good equine practice in the area, or even outside it that are prepared to travel, then I can hand on heart say I'd be looking for a second opinion and asking them to look at the whole horse not just the leg he appears lame on - I've known too many horses show as lame when the problem was somewhere else entirely.
What is the consultant looking at, is he starting from scratch or just working with what your vet says? If you have another good equine practice in the area, or even outside it that are prepared to travel, then I can hand on heart say I'd be looking for a second opinion and asking them to look at the whole horse not just the leg he appears lame on - I've known too many horses show as lame when the problem was somewhere else entirely.
Thank you, yes there is another equine vet that would cover my area. I didn't seek a second opinion sooner as this other guy now working with my vet was so highly reccommended. He has seen him himself twice and seen the MRI report and CT scan. Also took additional x-rays. Has suggested a 2nd MRI but still waiting to hear back about that.
A second opinion is going to work out cheaper than another MRI and a fresh pair of eyes that aren't coming in with preconceived ideas can be invaluable. Out of interest where have they x-rayed, MRI'd and CT'd? With that level of testing I would have expected a diagnosis!
I think you're going to have to be more assertive and insist they're more pro-active. He may have nerve blocked to the front foot but is that because he's makig it sore compensating for problems elsewhere? In my opinion all those scans should have shown something if the foot was the only problem. Vets nowadays seem very keen to rely on tests and diagnostics rather than eye, experience and judgement, yet in cases like this there's a lot to be said for old fashioned expertise.
Many (many) years ago, 20 years actually I had a problem with intermittent lameness with my daughters pony. Nerve blocks, pain killers you name it, we tried it. Eventually she was sent to Newmarket , they operated on her and when they opened her up they found boney spur that was touching a nerve, this was vey deep and hadn't shown on any x-ray or scan. They removed it and she was absolutely fine after that. The Newmarket vets had only come across this once before and I had many follow ups with them, for them to learn from it. Good luck and make your worries known, don't let them ride roughshod over you without an acceptable result.
can only offer sympathy for the situation. I have been lucky that my injured horses including one sadly pts after a long struggle have at least been my friends and it was a pleasure to care for them. And we eventually got to the bottom of what was wrong with the one who was pt - she was retired but was in pain and we let her go.
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