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  Discussion on Undiagnosed lameness
Author Message
New Member:
cathy812

Posted on Monday, Nov 5, 2007 - 11:05 pm:

Hi Quick question. My daughters horse is totally lame at the walk but fine at the trot and canter. The vet hasn,t a clue. Xrayed stifel and hock, Nothing there. Nerve blocked stifel and hock no great change. Any suggestions would be great. Also only lame under saddle or bare back. Runs, bucks has great time in the field. Thanks
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 - 7:49 am:

Welcome Cathy,
Can you give us some past history to what you know about this horse and then describe exactly what your horse does at the walk that makes you think lame?
DrO
New Member:
cathy812

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 - 8:04 am:

Hi DR. Well past history there really isn't any. He is a 12 yr old oldenburg Is used for some dressage and some hunter. When he walks his left hind doesn't track he takes a few good steps and then kinda of brings the hind forward with a stabbing motion. He goes fine at the trot and canter though. No swelling or any trauma that we
can see. Doesn't limp when hand walking. He doesn't show lameness until you are on him bare back or saddled. That is really all I can think of that I know. Thanks Cathy
New Member:
cathy812

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 - 8:08 am:

One more thing Dr O. He seems to get really bad when he is in a collected frame at the walk. Thanks, Cathy
Member:
bthcks

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 - 7:53 pm:

While at first I suspected a "tricky" horse, now I think you should consider a equine massage therapist or chiropractor for this horse.
Member:
ekaufman

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 - 9:03 pm:

Cathy,

Dr. O will be your best guide, but I have to ask: on the "stab" step does the leg follow its normal arc through the air, does it paddle out to the side, does it contract up towards his belly, or (d) other? Does it improve or get worse with regular work, or during a single session? (I, of course, am wondering if this is a mild stringhalt.)

- Elizabeth
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007 - 7:45 am:

Beth, I am uncertain why a masseuse or chiropractor would be much use here. First we need a diagnosis.

Cathy, concerning the history: how long has the horse been doing this and how did it first come on. Has it worsened or improved over time?

Elizabeth is right on track: we need a careful description of this stabbing motion as some diseases of the hind limb have a very characteristic appearance. Take us through the whole step cycle slowly and use the normal motion of the other hind leg for comparative purposes.
DrO
New Member:
cathy812

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007 - 10:15 am:

HI, I read the articles on stringhalt he doesn't bring the hind leg up to his belly at all. The leg comes under him normally but without dragging it doesn't lift it up all the way either. and from behind his left back end kind of DrOps. When he had the flexsion exam when the vet did his hock and stifel he trotted off bucking and then went normally. When I say stabbing Its not a hard stab its more like he doesn't follow thru and track up like the right. This started a few weeks ago. Had the vet out for the lameness exam. She checked him over palpated and flexed and my daughter got on him. She was not sure why the walk looked so strange but the trot and canter were perfect. So she suggested stall rest with hand walking and bute and gave him a muscle relaxer. No improvement. So on recheck we decided to block his stifel and hock on left side. with a little improvement. Also took xrays and saw a little arthritis at stifel and hock but to be expected with a 12 year old horse. We did decide to inject cortisone in both hocks and stifel to see if there would be any improvement. Again his trot and canter is awesome some improved steps at the walk but nothing sugnificant. I have had a massage guy out he said his left side was very sore. I have a chiropractor coming Friday. He doesn't show any favoritism on that hind while standing. DoEsn't shift back and forth. Lifts his back leg to clean his hoof no problem. Stands fine on it alone when you clean the right hoof. Hope this info is more helpful. One more thing this horse is very sensitive to everything. We call him the prince and the pea. So I am hoping this isn't serious. Hopefully something pulled. I was just concerned if it was in his back and we are consentrating on his stifel. Thanks for everyones help with this. I'll wait to hear from you. cathy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Nov 8, 2007 - 7:04 am:

The lack of lameness at the trot and canter suggest a mechanical or neurological factor rather than pain. This is also supported by the lack of effect of bute and that he stands equally on this leg. But the exact nature of the problem remains hard to discern Cathy. Do I understand this correctly that it is not every walking step but just intermittently present at the walk?

If this continues to be a problem for you I would recommend a referral to a veterinary school for a full evaluation including possibly a neurologist.
DrO
Member:
cathy812

Posted on Thursday, Nov 8, 2007 - 11:14 am:

Hi DrO Yes it is intermittently at the walk. Which has gotten a little better with stall rest. I will give him a little longer to see if it improves more, You mentioned neurological issue. What might that be and how is it diagnosed. He is fine in every other way. Thanks for your help. Cathy
Member:
ekaufman

Posted on Thursday, Nov 8, 2007 - 2:59 pm:

Cathy,

Look at the articles on this site that discuss Stringhalt and rhabdomyolysis as starting points for broadening your analysis of your horse's symptoms.

I guess from your description I'm not totally clear that it is a lameness behind-- did you have a full lameness eval. on all legs? If the opposing fore is painful, a horse may sometimes travel short on the hind leg to compensate. I apologize if I am muddying the waters, and you may have ruled this out already.

There is a range of neurological conditions that can show up in one or both hind legs at the walk only. They can have many origins-- trauma, inflammation, viral infection, etc.. The poor old hind legs show it first.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Nov 8, 2007 - 6:22 pm:

From a clinical appearance, lameness of neurological origin usually have a "consistently inconsistent" appearance. That is to say they vary somewhat step to step which is why I was interested in whether this was a consistent thing. There are exceptions however.

The first job is to determine if this is a neurological condition and if so then determine if this a peripheral nerve or central nervous system condition. Once that is determined possible causes can be conjectured and thoughts about ruling them in or out can be done. For more on neurological conditions that cause lameness see, Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Incoordination, Weakness, Spasticity, Tremors » Diagnosing Incoordination, Ataxia and Weakness.
DrO
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