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  Discussion on Like founder, but not
Author Message
New Member:
tensio

Posted on Thursday, Aug 8, 2013 - 7:49 pm:

I have a 22 yo mare with a history of founder with rotation from which she has recovered remarkably each time. Three years of the past 6 she has foundered and always in the month of august. The vet believes this is a result of cushings. She is not IR. You can see her ribs. But we have her on a controlled diet, hoof supplement, and pergolide.

Two weeks ago she started to show overall stiffness with pain on turns. The onset was very sudden.

I brought my farrier out, we tested her feet extensively and she had ZERO reaction anywhere on the sole on either foot. ZERO reaction on the hoof wall. Nothing anywhere except some sensitivity on the right hoof bulbs and frog. We thought perhaps it is a combo of a navicular degeneration and arthritis. She is shod in bar shoes with frog support and a soft gel equipak.

I have had no improvement, and she will sometimes get worse to the point of near immobility and then be ok walking around. Once she gets going, she always moves well straight. Turns are very painful. She doesn't seem to be sore in the back.

What else can I be checking? Can arthritis be this debilitating and have such sudden onset?
Member:
shirl

Posted on Thursday, Aug 8, 2013 - 8:14 pm:

My mare had problems turning also and it was navicular. And you are right, could be some arthritis also. I think your vet could deaden the heel area then walk/trot her out to see if it makes a difference, then you'd know for sure.

Just an idea.

Shirl
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Saturday, Aug 10, 2013 - 9:08 pm:

In my experience with heel bulb soreness, sore heels and frog sensitivity, I have had horses who had thrush that was not visible to my farrier or Vet, but it was in there and eventually became apparent.

Sometimes this location can also harbor an abscess.

Treating actively on a daily basis for thrush cleared it up in my boys.

In the one horse, post-laminitis, he eventually popped an abscess out of the frog in one of his front feet.

My Vet cut away a lot of diseased frog in both of his feet.

You can also try Clean Trax with the directions followed very closely. I have had good luck with that as something that works more quickly to combat thrush/infection.

Another cause of heel soreness, in my experience, has been with heels that have been left too long so that they have under-run instead of properly being taken back. For my horse, raising the heels in a situation like that caused even more pain and pressure.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - 3:56 pm:

Hello Tamara,
Your description sounds like bilateral front foot pain. Since the hoof testers are negative, to rule the foot in or out I recommend you have the vet out to do nerve blocks as suggested above. Once the location is confirmed a set of diagnostic rule outs can be made and a plan for diagnosis begun. In the meantime read HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » First Aid for the Lame Horse for suggestions on managing your lame horse.
DrO
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