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Discussion on Mystery lameness
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New Member:
cattt
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 1, 2009 - 11:07 pm:
Hi everyone,
I have a 2yo AQHA colt, started under saddle with a very strange unsoundness. He appears to be off on the right front but mostly when lunged to the left. At first we ( the vet and I ) thought it was the sole or heel, but after a complete block of the front right he is still 75% off. I have had xrays taken from the knees down, both front and no problem to be found. This colt is a bit over at the knees and tends to trip, sometimes badly, when not trimmed every 6 weeks, other than that I am stummped. It seemed realistic to have a sore inside right heel and be off to the left but now???? There is no swelling, no heat, no sensitivity to palpation, either front. I have no idea. Don't want to spend a lot on this colt, but would like to know if any one has had this same type of lameness. I have decided to treat this as a soft tissue problem and have been hand walking for the last 2 weeks, with 2 grams of bute the 1st week and 1 gram the second week. Now working on 3rd week and so far ok, no apparent lameness but that seems very deceiving to me.
Any information would be appreciated.
Chris
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Mar 2, 2009 - 7:28 am:
Welcome Christine,
Unfortunately I have seen many different type lameness present this way and some hard to explain why this horse seems reversed. I have seen a statistic that 10% of lameness will be worse when on the outside. When I see this and cannot find a easily identifiable cause I start thinking of either high suspensory or low check (accessory ligament to the deep digital flexor) desmitis.
That does not mean you should abandon a logical progressive examination. You start at where you quit blocking last time, repeat the last one if confused if it made a difference, and continue upward up the leg as described in the article. You get to these structures pretty quick. If these structures block out see the articles in the lower leg lameness section we have one on each of these.
DrO
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New Member:
cattt
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 - 11:09 pm:
Hi Dr O,
I have an update on my mystery lameness. It appears we are going back down to the right front hoof. I employeed the service of a very respected vet in the San Diego area, with of course a song and a dance. I was so ready for some tendon or ligament issue but now we are thinking coffin bone wing bruise/fracture. I never noticed that my colt had more heat in his rf coronary area, I always focused on the hoof. Although the lameness is almost gone, more so on hard ground, not what I though before. I have read your articles on the hoof and fractures and I feel very hopefull with my colts young age he will be as good as gold soon. I am however wondering why my vet didn't mention using front shoes during this healing process. It seems likes like the best thing to do to stabilize the hoof. Where does the articulation come in? Is that in the joint or in the coffin bone its self? I have had 2 vets look at the colts exrays and so far no one has seen any thing in the coffin joint. That from what I gathered is where the articulation comes from? Also, forgot to mention this new vet did do a block on the rf inside heel are and the colt was sound???? My first vet must have missed because he said the colt was blocked all the way to his pastern joint and still off. The colt has always been positive to hoof testers on inside 1/4 rf. Will keep you posted.
Thanks Again,
Chris
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 - 8:23 am:
Excellent that the block clarified the general location of the lameness. But this alone does not give a diagnosis, for more see Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Overview of Diagnosis and Diseases of the Foot.
Note that the articulation is the joint itself chris and I am not sure about the indication for shoes without a diagnosis.
DrO
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New Member:
cattt
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 - 11:34 am:
Is it possible that this could be a nasty bruise and it's just going to take time? My Vet will be reviewing the x rays from the first Vet and if need be take new views to confirm. I thought I read something on this type of injury in another section of this site. Should hear something today.
Chris
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Member:
hollyw
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 - 11:51 am:
Chris, when you mentioned shoes, I winced, and wonder if one of those cushioned hoof boots might not work better if you feel you need to protect the sole. The cushion would absorb shock, yet would allow for circulation in a way that a fixed, iron shoe wouldn't. It probably depends on whether or not you are dealing with a sole bruise or a bone bruise or a joint problem . . . but it seems that a cushioned boot might be a solution for at least two of those issues.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 - 7:54 pm:
Yes a nasty bruise is possible but there are so many possibilities. You don't want "possibly" you want at least a "probably". Bruises are usually diagnosed with hoof testers and finding a sensitive spot that does not correlate with other causes of solar sensitivity.
DrO
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New Member:
cattt
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Posted on Saturday, Mar 21, 2009 - 3:56 pm:
OK, we have a very strong "probably". After 2 weeks to get the new "super vet" out, and 1 1/2 weeks for any form of a diagnosis,a big bruise is what he came up with.The x-rays, again looked fine and thats that. I do feel confident with explanation of the lameness.It does seem to fit the colts lameness on the outside of the circle. I am back in the saddle and Dr. O, is there and certain way of bringing a horse back from a bad bruise? I am taking it very slow, have not been on him for 8 weeks, now just walk, jog and starting trot on soft ground. I have always been hand walking, but do need drugs for the crazy outbursts. I was told to put him back to work and get the circulation going through the hoof, but no schedule for rehab.
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 - 11:15 am:
Hi Chris,
I'm rehabbing a mare from a nasty over-reach bruise (like yours, this was a diagnosis based on the presentation, and ruling out the other likely explanations). I bought her some good over-reach boots, am very careful about footing, and have been letting the horse tell me how much she can do. My vet told me to evaluate her at walk and trot in hand before and after every ride, to make sure that she didn't get sore during the ride.
Mine went into the injury competition fit-- I've been surprised how quickly she has come back to form. My vet feels that I'm being aggressive in my rehab, and I have to agree, but so far the mare has improved every day, and given me no indication of sourness or increasing discomfort. This morning she used her "injured" foot to beat on the steel gate at breakfast time. Hmmph.
Mine had a total of 2 weeks off (in her paddock, but I never locked her up), with hand "walking" at the end. I started her back under saddle with one day of full walking. Then I added trot transitions with increasing trot. Day 4 I added canter work. She's been back about ten days now, and is schooling simple changes; yesterday I hand-galloped her.
My focus is to make sure she doesn't get sore again on the old injury and, now that I know she has a tendency to over-reach, to be conservative in challenging her balance when she's tired.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 - 7:12 pm:
Hello Chris,
In general once the lameness from the bruise is gone there is no specific rehab for the injury. I would just say keep avoid hard ground for a while.
DrO
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