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  Discussion on Swelling after being w/out wedge shoe for 2 days.
Author Message
Member:
Spencer

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2003 - 7:03 pm:

Dr. O,

Posting in a new section with a new question, sadly. My horse (you know him from the recurring colic postings over the past few weeks...) was lame for the first time EVER in 5 years. He has a warm swelling about 2/3 of the way up from coronary band on his front left lower leg. The swelling is more on the inside than outside. I looked up the anatomy and it seems to be either the suspensory or the deep flexor area. Here's the tricky part...this horse has a slightly under run front left heel and a slightly clubby front right foot. I had both front feet x-rayed in April because I was not happy with the way the feet were looking (angles seemed off, underrun getting worse). My vet recommended trimming down the heel and putting a wedge shoe on the front left to correct the angle of the pastern. Right foot was ok and breakover on both was good. He is trimmed in a 4 pt or natural balance with a bit of a rolled toe. Re-xrayed after shoeing change and vet was happier with the angle. That was in early April. Fast forward to Sunday August 3, my horse pulled the WEDGE shoe off in the field. The farrier just replaced the shoe today, Tuesday. So for two/three days the horse had to walk around without his wedge on a very low heel (lower than a normal trim b/c wedge takes up the angle). Could walking on this low heel for two days have strained a lower leg tendon? And, not to get ahead of myself, but is stall rest absolutely always prescribed for tendon injuries? I am hoping that small flat turnout would suffice since this is the horse that you've advised me on for recurring colics. Is there anyway, prior to my vet appointment, that I can gauge how bad this is? I need to determine if I am doing the wrong thing in turning him out. I CANNOT imagine NOT turning him out. One alternative is he can go in our indoor ring at night if that's better and/or until I can determine what wrong with his leg. Thanks. S.
Member:
Paul303

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2003 - 11:55 pm:

If he was messing around enough to pull a shoe, are you sure he didn't pop a splint?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 6, 2003 - 3:36 am:

Hello Mishelle,
Without having seen your horse before and after I cannot judge if this is likely: has your vet diagnosed this? A horse lame following a shoe being pulled off would most often develop a abscess (from stepping on a nail of the flopping shoe) or a bruise on the sole. Without knowing the cause of the lameness, stall rest is safest until a diagnosis is made.
DrO
Member:
Spencer

Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2003 - 10:45 pm:

Thanks to both of you for replying. Had him checked out by the vet the next day after being lame...he was sound for the vet check but still a bit swollen. Next day, 95% of swelling gone and sound so we determined that he must have dinged himself in the heel or some other acute trauma from the shoe pulling. He passed hoof testing just fine so if it doesn't appear to be an abcess. Crisis averted for now. Just couldn't bear the though of anything having just come off such a bad time w/the colics. I panicked a little. Thanks for replying. S.
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