This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Localizing Lameness in the Horse »
  Discussion on Shoulder Bursitis?
Author Message
New Member:
Seraph

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 - 10:09 am:

I'm very worried about my 5 yr old warmblood filly. Vet diagnosed shoulder burisitis in the left fore several days ago. Has been lame approx a week and is not improving. Vet prescribed 5 days of DEX 10 mgs @ day. (No bute and no stall confinement). She is very active in her paddock!

She is a large mare (16.3+) and 1 yr under saddle, working walk/trot/canter on straight & bending lines. Has had history of intermittent sticky stifle (not severe) on right hind. Has once in a while very briefly locked under saddle in down transitions or sometimes walking she will feel like she stepped in a hole, but it is not a common for this to happen and it is almost instantly resolved. (However as a yearling at liberty, she would gallop very hard and sometimes lock and actually fall over much to her surprise!)

Under saddle it is difficult to maintain a true canter on a circle (both leads) Prefers to disunite. I can influence her to maintain correct gait but it is sometimes stressful for her. In the early a.m. she is a bit stiff in this right hind and I notice she drags this right toe somewhat. (Although she drags both to some degree)

Is "bursitis" from over work? I understand it is from repetive strain but I can't determine what the "repetitive" strain would be from, other than normal under saddle work for a young horse? If so, I am worried that this cannot bode well for her dressage future if this work is problematic at this stage? She works anywhere from 3 - 5 days a week, 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour. Can this become a chronic issue? Could the left fore be compensating for issues in the right hind?

Could it be bicipital bursitis? Or is "burisitis" a general term for any inflammation? She has (and never did show) any heat or swelling anywhere. I find this a little strange? Vet pressed on shoulder joint and she reacted. He did look at her hoof, pastern, knee etc but there was absolutely no pain reponse. I know true shoulder injuries are rare, and I cannot seem to find very much info on this.

How long before I should see improvement, and what is the long prognosis of this if is bursitis? Vet told me he could inject the joint after a week. This is a scary solution for me. Any insight you can provide would be very much appreciated.
Member:
Seraph

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 - 10:04 pm:

UPDATE - both my ferrier and vet were out this evening, as she was even worse. Vet thought it was possibly in the foot now (instead of the shoulder) as again there is still no heat or swelling, and the DEX was obviously not having any affect (thereby ruling out inflammation).Vet wanted to consult with my ferrier, so I called him and he rushed out to meet with vet. However he could not find anything specific either.

She reacted a little to hoof testers, but if it was a developing abcess, neither professional wanted to go down that deep and suggested I just wait it out. Also my vet said you would notice the vein on the inside pastern IF there was a deep developing abcess, but again there was no sign.

How can a horse be so lame and not show any physical sign other than the lameness? She is still a grade 3 + on a soft surface. Vet thinks possibly a deep muscle injury or possibly a bruised sole (I am assuming without an abcess). He told me to do nothing and call him in a week, as did my ferrier. Vet also says it is definitely a movement lameness as opposed to weight bearing, as she will stand on the affected foot all day long!

Is it possible to have a bruised sole without an abcess, and have it NOT react to testers even though is a grade 3 lameness? Or can you have a deep muslce pull and NOT have any heat/swelling or reaction at all to palpation? I hate to wait a week in case something is going on that should be treated, but seems I have little other choice. At that point my vet said he will block if she is still lame.

Any ideas? She has never been sick or lame a day in her life. She is bright and eating and jumping around her paddock like she was perfectly normal. I've got a warm blanket on her in case it is a muslcle injury, but I'm at a loss to explain it. I guess I'm also a bit disappointed that neither professional could make a diganosis, despite the severity of her limp.

Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 - 8:19 am:

Seraph,
You may be better able to evaluate the lameness exam and answer many of your questions by reading the article associated with this forum. Since you know which leg skip down to Where in the Leg Is It? and start there. Not only will it answer your questions but it will give you many ideas how to go about better defining this problem.
DrO
Member:
Seraph

Posted on Friday, Oct 29, 2004 - 8:51 am:

Thank you Dr. O. Excellent resource!

I still have a question though if you don't mind?. There is still no change - very lame, no heat, no swelling, no digital pulse etc. etc. In your experience/opinion, (given the severity of her rather sudden lameness on very soft ground) would you expect the culprit to be in the foot? Is it possible to have a bad (bone or sole?) bruise without any infection or any other sign? And if so, how long do you think this might be problematic?

Thank you again for this wonderful source of information! Seraph
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Oct 29, 2004 - 6:57 pm:

Your history is classic for a solar abscess but with a good exam should have been easily found, see Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Hoof Abscesses, Bruises, and Gravels.

Worsening lameness with rest and care strongly suggests an infection somewhere if not the foot, if this is in a joint the clock is running, see Equine Diseases » Lameness » Joint & Bone Diseases » Joint Infection, Joint Ill, and Septic Arthritis.
DrO
Member:
Seraph

Posted on Saturday, Oct 30, 2004 - 10:04 am:

Thank you Dr. O. These articles were extremely helpful.!! I definately would have joined LONG ago (instead of just browing the discussions) if I had known how detailed and extensive the information on your site is. A fabulous resource!!!

In any event, I have a theory after reading the first article you suggested, and I wonder if you might consider this.

I took her temp last night and she is dead on 37 degrees, so I am assuming that we are not dealing with infection or an abscess at this time. Secondly, she is (and always has been) unshod, AND has always been ridden and stabled on a wood product surface. She has never seen pavement or gravel. However, it has occurred to me that that this mare does love to dig. She will dig a foot or so to bare earth along the fence line on daily basis. Don't know why.?? But what I'm thinking is that the actions of her daily digging has allowed some dirt or bacteria or tiny bits of gravel to travel up through the white line area? Maybe this would cause severe pain, but may not be abscessing at this point? What do you think?

If that is the case, how would you proceed? I dressed her hoof with Animalintex (which lasted about three hours) and will continue to do so. Not sure how to get her to stop digging either. She is out and has hay 24/7, but she gets bored I suspect. Maybe I should get her shod after this to protect her hoof somewhat.

Does this theory make reasonable sense given her recent history? This idea surfaced only after reading your article, and I am so happy to have found this resource. Thank you again!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Oct 31, 2004 - 8:04 am:

I would proceed by confirming that is where the pain is coming from: such bruising should be very sensitive to hoof testors. Seraph until you know where the lameness is coming from you cannot rationally diagnose and treat this lameness. If I could not find the lameness with a good exam including hoof testors I would proceed as is detailed in the above reference on finding where in the leg is the problem.
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC