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  Discussion on Rear leg lameness - i need help
Author Message
New Member:
akmikeb

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 1:25 pm:

Iam a first time horse owner. We purchased this mare in May of 08 for our daughter. When unloading out of the trailer she took a misstep with the right rear and gave a yell. To this point she will not lift that foot for picking or shoeing unless aided by a lead rope around her ankle. There is a definate limp in that leg and the hoof is wore in the front from her dragging it while moving. She gets stoved up in that leg if she stands around and does nothing. She is 16 years old and we put her first pair of shoes on her ever in June. That did help somewhat. My daughter has been doing light riding with her, she doesn't balk at being saddled or ridden. There is so much info out there it can be overwelming. I need to be able to narrow this down as the nearest equine vet is 200 miles away. I feel bad as that I have not addressed this problem earlier, Iam not one to let an animal stay in pain or discomfort. As a first time owner there is so much to learn.
New Member:
akmikeb

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 1:36 pm:

First timer back - I did forget to mention that there is no evident swelling or heat in the hoof.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 3:41 pm:

Is there full range of movement in the leg? Does it make any noise? Was there swelling at the time it was injured? Was she lame on it for awhile?

If she is dragging her toe and unwilling her unable to pick her foot up, there could be some tendon damage. I'm sure you will be hearing from Dr.O, but until you do, you might want to read the articles in this lamness section and see if you can find anyting which applies.
New Member:
akmikeb

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 5:20 pm:

Sara- Thanx so much for the info. Does not make noise, no swelling on leg or in hoof area and lame on it since misstepping out of the trailer. As far as movement she does not give full range while trotting or cantering. As far as lifting to pick or shoe, we can get her leg about half way up and then she says no more. So we do not push the issue, our daughter gets her to rest the hoof on it's tip to pick it. I have noticed that when resting, the lame leg is kind of kicked out to the right. At times she will rest fully on that leg, but not for long. I will get to those articles asap. Thanx for your help.
Member:
erika

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 6:05 pm:

Welcome, akmikeb. Sorry your mare is hurting. I can't help you with what's wrong, but it doesn't sound like she would benefit from being ridden before you find out what the problem is. To me it sounds like she still has an injury that still hurts when she uses that leg.

I hope you are able to find some answers and will keep us abreast of what you find.
Erika
New Member:
akmikeb

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 7:01 pm:

Erica - thank you for your concern. I have put the hold on any ridding. Iam letting her out to graze or just take alittle walk. What is stumping me (Iam no horse expert by any means) is there is no swelling or heat anywhere in her leg. Would wrapping it even at this point help?
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 7:05 pm:

Hi akmikeb,

If this mare stepped out of the trailer wrong, she could have easily injured something higher up like her stifle or pelvis and that is why you are not seeing a problem with the hoof or leg.

Also, why after 16 years of being barefoot did you put shoes on her. Her feet by this time should be so tough nothing would bother her.

The fact that she keeps her foot out when standing makes me think that her stifle may be dislocated and may just need to be put back by a chiropractor or a vet that does chiropractic work.

I'd read the articles suggested and try to get a vet out to look at your horse.

Rachelle
New Member:
akmikeb

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 7:57 pm:

Rachell-
Thanx for the info. Iam working on a vet now. We have a local vet, but they only know the basics. As far as her shoes - Cirri came from grass and maintained fields, we have rocks and lots of gravel. Trail riding and creek crossing involved. We felt it would be better for her feet to be shoed. We live in Alaska and the snow is starting to fall, as soon as the gravel is covered her shoes will be pulled off for the winter. I have been reading available articles, so much to learn and know. Question for anyone - is there another pain reliever other than bute? Cirri will not touch it, she will turn up her nose and run.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Oct 2, 2008 - 6:51 am:

Welcome back akmikeb,
There is nothing in your post that allows us to diagnose the problem. Even the apparent misstep could have been because of acute injury or aggravation of an older problem during travel. I highly recommend you allow your local veterinarian examine the horse, it may be a basic problem you have. From there you can decide whether you need to make the 200 mile trip.

As for other NSAID's check out Treatments and Medications for Horses ยป Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx). The newest drug EQUIOOX is quite expensive, our article discusses less expensive forms that has worked for some of our members.
DrO
Member:
canter

Posted on Thursday, Oct 2, 2008 - 7:37 am:

akmikeb, how are you giving the horse the bute? Members here have gotten quite creative in dosing meds, including mixing it up with apple sauce and/or molasses and syringing it into the horses mouth, hiding it in a hollowed out apple or carrot, grinding a tablet up and mixing it into feed. I use the pills, split them in half and hide each half in a Stud Muffin, which is a very soft, malleable molasses and oat treat. My mare snorts those down so fast she doesn't realize there is a pill stuffed in to the middle.

Good luck, I hope you find some answers.
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Thursday, Oct 2, 2008 - 9:14 am:

akmikeb,

When I had a horse on bute for a long period of time, I pounded each pill powder fine, using a hammer and pounding it in a small container, then mixing it with warm molasses and a small amount of water, putting it in a syring as Fran suggests and giving it like a wormer.

I gradually started adding it to the feed pellets, small amount at a time, with the pellets being pretty wet, until he would just eat his mush with the bute in it. Less messy and easier that way.

I do however have a mare that never would accept it hidden in her pellets and had to keep giving it to her in the syringe.

Where are you in Alaska? I know of someone there who does equine massage, and is going to school to be a vet assistant. She's my "hoof guru" also. She may be able to help you if you are close enough. She is near Kenai I think.
Member:
akmikeb

Posted on Thursday, Oct 2, 2008 - 11:00 am:

Dr. O-
Thanx for the info, I will check out those articles. Iam also in the process of trying to get ahold of previous owner and vet for the mare. Try to get some background info on her. This site has helped so much already. I Thank everyone who has responded.
Member:
akmikeb

Posted on Thursday, Oct 2, 2008 - 11:08 am:

Fran & Angie- Thanx for the ideas for bute. I have done the honey, sweet feed mix and she just tosses it out of the bucket and walks away. I will do the molassess warm water trick today. How many times a day or week do you administer the bute? I know these may seem like silly questions, guess I need a book "Horses for Dummies"
Member:
canter

Posted on Thursday, Oct 2, 2008 - 12:47 pm:

How much and how often bute is administered would depend on a variety of factors, including the horses weight and severity of problems. If there is such a thing as a "standard" dose, it's probably 1 gram, 2x/day. You'll probably find more exact info on the bottle or syringe, and I would bet DrO has more info in the medications>AntiInflamatories section.

...And no question is "silly" when it comes to the care of our horses...keep asking!
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Thursday, Oct 2, 2008 - 3:03 pm:

Here are some more tricks of the trade for getting medicine down a horses throat. Buy a mortar and pestle to crush the bute pills into a fine powder ( bute crushes up really easy). I have found that regular pancake syrup works really well. Mix the powdered bute into the pancake syrup ( do not use water to dilute it) and use a dose syringe with the tip cut off ( to make a wider opening. use only about 2 oz of syrup ( this makes a very sweet paste that you can get into your horse. Also, I try to condition my horses to accept the dose syringe by giving them plain syrup ( just a little) before I give them the bute. Then they don't anticipate getting the bute all the time and wind up thinking they are getting a treat.

I think my first priority here though would be finding out exactly what's wrong with your horse, because the bute may be contraindicated and not be doing very much good.

Rachelle
Member:
akmikeb

Posted on Thursday, Oct 2, 2008 - 6:18 pm:

Rachelle- Syrup should work. Iam getting ahold of a vet and yes I do not want to mask any of the symptoms. It is hard to tell if a horse is in pain, Iam used to dealing with dogs. I just do not want her to be uncomfortable.
Member:
twadwis

Posted on Saturday, Oct 4, 2008 - 9:28 am:

Since you can pin point the moment of injury (or aggravating an old one) where she miss stepped, plus the lack of other symptoms, I would look for a joint 'out of place' and a good/experienced equine chiropractor can help you. Until you find out what is wrong bute may not be appropriate, it can help with pain but doesn't 'fix' the problem. I also wonder about shoes. Barefoot horses can do just fine on rocks and tough ground if they have sound feet and get time to adjust.
She sounds like a great horse for your daughter, I hope you can figure out the problem.
Member:
klowe

Posted on Saturday, Oct 4, 2008 - 12:29 pm:

Hi, Akmikeb- I am also a relatively new 1st time horse owner of 18 months. I have 2 older horses with DJD issues (very clever of me!). I have been using naprosyn (Aleve) for 10 months, with the approval of a vet. I also tried bute, but my horses hated the flavor I picked.

I have followed the dosages in Dr. O's article on NSAIDS, and found once a day dosing to be quite effective for these chronic-type symptoms. At first I mixed the Aleve with molasses and water and put it on their feed, but I found that if I put it on their feed, they eat it without problems. I add some oil to make everything stick.

I grind the tablets in a coffee grinder, a suggestion I found on this site. Local Walmart has 200 tabs for $7.22, and Sam's Club has 300 tabs for $8.72. With a prescription, at least in NM, 2-500 mg. tabs/day are on Walmart's $4 list and according to the pharmacy, the price would just multiply by the horse dosage.

Personally, I have and no doubt will continue to ask my share of silly questions...but everyone is very patient and kind here. No need for "Horses for Dummies," this is the best money I have spent learning what I need to know!

Good luck with your horse. In Alaska, I realize you may not be able to just run to Walmart...

Kathy
Member:
akmikeb

Posted on Saturday, Oct 4, 2008 - 12:41 pm:

To everyone who has responded to my pleas for help - I thank you very much. I have learned alot in the last week from chatting and articles. I have tracked down the original owner and vet of this mare and they have all of her previous history. After learning her past alot of questions have been answered. She has not one, but two previous injuries and one of them was aggravated by the trailer. I have quite with the bute as they had her on vitamins, supplements and did stretching exercises with her. Today that owner is driving up to see us and work with me on everything this mare has learned and the exercising and stretching. On monday I will be in touch with the vet, who has her medical records for the last many years. I feel alot better about this situation and now can be a better owner for Cirri.
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