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Discussion on Dragging back hooves
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Member:
Debhall
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Posted on Monday, Aug 22, 2005 - 8:35 pm:
I have a 4 year old quarter horse mare that is dragging the toe of her back hooves. It first started with the left leg. Vet checked and could not find a problem. Improved some when I gave her bute. Today when is about 6 weeks after the vet checked her she is now dragging both rear toes. The only thing that we have done different is we rode her for the first time on the trail since the vet checked her.Thanks for any help
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 23, 2005 - 11:12 am:
When I have had this problem it has been because of poor farrier work; too much toe or improperly balanced feet.
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Member:
Ejar
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 23, 2005 - 12:08 pm:
Stifle issues can cause toe dragging. My mare developed stifle stiffness which caused toe dragging this spring. It is related to development. My vet put her on a series of three estrogen shots to help with her ligaments, and the problem has resolved itself.
Good luck.
Erin
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Member:
Caroltd
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 23, 2005 - 1:44 pm:
Erin, how old is your mare and when you say "related to development" what do you mean?
Carol
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Member:
Ejar
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 23, 2005 - 3:05 pm:
My mare is a just six y.o. warmblood. She has had two other growth-related issues in the past (epiphysitis and a check ligament problem), and her stifle issue has been attributed to the same thing. I am just waiting for the OCD diagnosis of some other joint! (Note more than a hint of sarcasm... but I don't consider it outside of the realm of possibility with my mare. Her younger years were lived at other people's barns, where although well-meaning, they did more harm than good).
When she had knee issues the year after having a pastern issue, I joked with my vet that the hock was next. Well, we skipped the hock and had a year and a half of soundness, only to see her stifles get stiff this year.
At first I though she had smacked her stifle getting up (she is a lazy horse, always taking naps in the sun!), and she improved with bute. But as soon as I stopped the bute, the toe drag came back.
She has been described as having "loose" stifle ligaments, and it is really easy to manipulate that joint (much to her displeasure).
That's when my vet decided to try the estrogen shots, 3 at 2 week intervals, since the hormone plays a part in ligament elasticity. We are getting our third shot of estrogen this week.
She is no longer on bute and is moving gracefully again - no pain, no toe dragging.
And I'm crossing my fingers than we can have another year of soundness.
Erin
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 24, 2005 - 7:38 am:
This is a very often discussed subject Grayce's Mom. Run a search on the discussions using "dragging" and it should provide a good evenings reading.
DrO
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