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Discussion on Coronet band swelling
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Member:
vickiann
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008 - 12:58 pm:
Dr. O, my old paint horse has been kind of "off" in the front and given his past history I didn't worry too much but yesterday afternoon it seemed worse so I gave him a couple of grams of Bute, which obviously made him feel much better. I walked him around on the cement this morning (18 or 19 hours had passed since I had given him the Bute) and he was sound, which for years was never the case, so I think that the bottoms of his feet must be okay and arthritis must not be too much of an issue. Then when cleaning his feet out I felt that right in the front center of the Coronet band he has a hard, swollen area that is about an inch and a half long and three quarters of an inch wide. Pressing on it did not seem to bother him and I don't notice any unusual heat there or in that foot more than the others. Do you think that there may be a foreign object in there (I read your article) or that he bumped his foot? I gave him another gram of Bute this morning as I want him to continue to move around more than he has been doing recently. Is there anything more that I should be doing or do you think that I need to have my Veterinarian look at this? Do you think that this swelling relates to him not being very sound if he tries to move around at faster than a walk? His hair is quite long now so this may have existed for some time without me realizing it.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 26, 2008 - 7:51 am:
I would expect a foreign object or acute trauma with swelling to be painful on pressure Vicki. You do see bony changes in this area that are and are not associated with lameness. Without knowing what the bump is, how long it has been there, and whether the chronic lameness localizes to the area, I cannot answer your other questions about its significance. Having the vet out while your horse is lame (off bute it sounds like) would be the quickest way to answer these questions.
DrO
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Member:
vickiann
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 26, 2008 - 7:10 pm:
Thanks, Dr. O. I gave him a bit over a gram of Bute this afternoon and he has been moving normally at a walk, but he still seems inclined to hang out in the barn while the others are out finding some grass. The swollen area seems to have gone down in size somewhat. The effected leg is the one that he has had some prior, transient, longstanding difficulties with over a long period of time, which is what makes it difficult to determine whether the damaged Coronet area is the problem or not. He is 22 - 23 and retired but I strive to keep him moving and comfortable. I will watch this closely and if the bump does not continue to improve steadily or if there is lameness after I stop the Bute I will get my Vet. to check him out. Will let you know how it resolves. Thanks again.
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Member:
vickiann
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Posted on Friday, Mar 28, 2008 - 3:43 pm:
A small horizontal crack in the hoof wall has developed below the swollen area. The swelling seems to be slightly improved. There is no heat or tenderness.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, Mar 28, 2008 - 4:51 pm:
Sounds like he may have had a gravel Vicki. Horses frequently get swelling at the coronet band and sometimes up their leg even more with a gravel IME.
Is he moving better?
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Member:
vickiann
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Posted on Friday, Mar 28, 2008 - 7:12 pm:
Thanks, Diane. This did occur to me but he never was actually lame while standing or at a walk. My other boy who had a gravel and is a pretty stoic patient was profoundly lame (including lying down) with a gravel. Maybe this could have been a minor abscess. In any case, he is now out and moving around, though there will be some issues as this hoof grows out! Thanks again --
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Member:
vickiann
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Posted on Saturday, Mar 29, 2008 - 5:39 pm:
Diane, My farrier has not seen this yet, but he too thought that it sounded like an abscess. I've never had this type of hard swelling/deformed area when an abscess broke out at the coronet, so I appreciate you telling me about this. My boy seems to be doing okay -- out grazing and even moving with speed when the other boys do, so this cannot be too bad as long as there are no setbacks. Thanks, Diane, and Dr. O. This is a great place to learn new information.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Saturday, Mar 29, 2008 - 6:27 pm:
Hi Vicki, glad your horse is better. I too have had them become so lame they couldn't walk, and I have also seen where you hardly notice the difference. I think it depends on the route the gravel takes.
Some of my horses swelled up and some just had a "pimple" looking thing on their cornet....They have to keep us guessing ya know
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Member:
vickiann
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Posted on Saturday, Mar 29, 2008 - 9:17 pm:
What an experience it is to keep a few horses! Thanks for sharing, Diane.
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