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 Next step for hind limb lameness
Author Message
Member:
lexi

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 31, 2012 - 4:49 pm:

My 5year old gypsy cob gelding was chronically lame the day after quite an exerting ride with lots of steep inclines and descents. He was sound all the ride including a gallop after the hills and I just thought he was a bit sore in muscles next day as he was reluctant to do more than walk at pasture and rested his near hind a lot more than usual. This has got worse 2days later and he is obviously lame at walk now so I called the vet who suspects ligament or tendon damage at the fetlock/pastern of his near hind and put him on box rest with anti inflammatories. There is slight puffiness like windgall but no real pain response or heat to touching. He seems reluctant to stretch the fetlock/pastern at breakover and short strides it. The vet recommended a full work up with x rays and ultrasound and nerve blocks next week but if it is tendon ligament sprain/strain I do not want to damage it further by travelling him to the clinic. In hindsight he may have been 'off' for a month or so as he favoured right lead in canter and sometimes bucked into left lead, he tended to throw me onto the right diagonal in trot and was reluctant to extend in trot, preferring to raise his shoulder and hop asking to canter instead. I put these down to being young and unbalanced at the time but now wonder if these were clues. He also seems worse the first stride or after standing but loosens up after a few strides although still lame not as bad, turning to left is very painful for him.
Is this history consistent with ligament or tendon damage?
Does it give any clues as to whether problem could be higher in leg or even back? Would loading and travelling him in a trailer cause more damage if it is ligament/tendon as I thought he shouldn't move? Could I cause damage by waiting a couple of weeks for work up or won't it make a difference? Any advice appreciated, thank you.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 31, 2012 - 6:14 pm:

Hello Jo,
Sorry to hear about your horse. Yes, this would be consistent with soft tissue damage but it could be almost any type lameness and anywhere in the leg. The above findings are not localizing and somewhat subjective. The article associated with this discussion area describes proper localizing techniques but put briefly: nerve blocks.

Not know what is wrong I cannot answer whether he might hurt himself further on a trailer trip or by waiting further for diagnostics. The trip is not likely to be much more stress than the riding you describe. And if it has not worsened with the current wait, further waiting has only a small chance of further damage, particularly if you enforce paddock or stall rest. Check out HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » First Aid for the Lame Horse for more on the care of the undiagnosed lame horse.
DrO
Member:
lexi

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2012 - 4:49 pm:

Hi thanks for your advice. I decided to book him in for the nerve blocks ultrasound etc so I know the extent of the damage, how long to rest for etc. I received a call from the vet at the end of the morning saying that yes the horse was lame but 3vets could not agree on which hind leg he was lame on so could not proceed with nerve blocks! After extensive walking, trot ups, lunging, tight turns and flexion tests all vets agreed he is lame in hind end, that this is worse for first stride after standing, worse on tight turns particularly to the right (although he was obviously limping on near hind and continually resting it on first exam a week ago before box rest). He was no worse after flexion tests, and they noted his off hind swung in towards midline during trotting up. He was deemed to not be lame enough for nerve blocks (particularly as it seems to improve with exercise) to be productive and prescribed anti inflammatories and paddock rest for 4-6 weeks thinking that it may be higher in the leg bilateral lameness/muscular/back. DJD was ruled out due to his age and the fact he has only been in work 1year.
He has made rapid improvement in 1weeks box rest but is it still possible that this could be suspensory damage as I think the reason 2vets ascribed the lameness to right hind was him being worse when turned to right yet I have read that is consistent with suspensory damage to left hind? Also prior to lameness he would rather go up a gait than extend within a gait. I do not want to turn him out in the paddock even restricted to walk if this is a possibility...would he improve/loosen up with exercise if this is suspensory damage or is this more likely to be pulled HQ muscular/back which would benefit from 'pottering around' rather than standing. I am confused as to what to do for the best/what next steps to take. Any advice much appreciated as he is my horse for a lifetime, thank you
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2012 - 9:18 pm:

Hello Jo,
The observations you describe of the nature of the lameness is neither diagnostic for a particular lameness nor does it rule out any possibilities. Pretty dependably unresolved high suspensory problems worsen with exercise. I cannot judge whether this is a back muscle problem from here. This should still be treated as a undiagnosed lameness with the recommendations in the article above.

If the 3 vets cannot agree as to which leg is lame I can think of three suggestions:
1) Follow their recommendations.
2) Begin on the leg that 2 of the 3 suggest and if blocks don't block the lameness in that leg, start on the other.
3) Get a referral to an institution that has lameness experts and get a fourth opinion.
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