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Discussion on Hind leg stiffness in Shetland Pony
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Member:
juliem
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Posted on Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 - 11:49 pm:
My Shetland pony mare, 8 years old, suddenly exhibited extreme reluctance to move and when she did, she moved in a very stiff manner and viewed from the front, she seemed to be almost staggering behind--I even thought it looked like something neurological. Very small steps with dragging toes. When her hay was brought into her stall and she was outside, she pawed energetically, but still was reluctant to come in--almost like she was constrained. She did move with coaxing with a halter. She was very sensitive to me touching her hind legs in the gaskin area, more on the right side. She would let me pick up her right front, but almost fell when I lifted the left front. She seemed so sore on the rears I didn't try picking them up. She had been vaccinated three days prior, and had pulled my husband in the cart for about 45 minutes two days prior--lots of it at a trot--with no hesitation. The sudden onset at first made me think she had been kicked. I confined her and gave her a gram of bute twice a day for two days and she was much better the second day and by the third seems back to normal. She has always dragged her hind toes, but it was more pronounced during the lameness. Now, my questions: Is this a stifle problem? I've read the articles and it doesn't quite fit, but she is a Shetland. And, can I put her right back in harness, or does she need some time off and rehab? Any other thoughts? Thanks, Julie
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 - 9:55 pm:
Hello Julie,
there is an excellent chance she is reacting to her vaccinations with a very sore neck which gives the appearance of very sore feet. For more on this see, Horse Care » Horse Vaccines, Vaccination, Coggins Test »
Vaccines and Adverse Reactions.
DrO
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Member:
juliem
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Posted on Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 - 11:27 pm:
She was vaccinated in the back of the left buttock. By the third day, she was picking up a trot as she harrassed the new yearling and it looked like her typical pony gait. Could it have been a mild stifle lock? The article says Shetlands are prone to UFP. She didn't seem sore on the fronts as she would paw energetically when she wanted to move but acted as if she couldn't.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Apr 23, 2007 - 8:16 am:
The location of the vaccine is all the more reason for it to appear as a hind limb lameness Julie and explains why the horse almost fell when the left fore was picked up. Your description does not sound like UFP.
DrO
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Member:
juliem
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Posted on Monday, Apr 23, 2007 - 2:41 pm:
Thank you Dr. O! Julie
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