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 » Diseases of the Upper Front Limb » Diseases of the Upper Front Limb topics not covered above »
  Discussion on Lameness: shoulder, elbow or ?
Author Message
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Sunday, Jul 23, 2006 - 8:51 pm:

I have a 4 yr old who gets lame occasionally. He may be lame at the beginning of lunging at a trot, then be o.k., then it comes back again. Like he warms up, it's better, then he gets over tired, or moves wrong, it's worse.

I saw him get kicked 2 years ago in the shoulder/chest area from an angle. He was head bobbing lame immediately after that, and although he's been on stall rest, bute and joint supplements, it still comes back.

So this has become a chronic problem it seems.

I've been told it's his elbow, it's his shoulder depending who is watching him move. At least everyone agrees it's the right front!!!

Just wondering what everyone thinks; is this muscle? Tendons? Could it be a bone chip? Any other ideas?

Any ideas how to tell if this is shoulder pain vs elbow? (from what I remember of the kick, it would be shoulder/chest)

Just seems that this would heal by now and stay healed. No big vet hospitals near by so just looking for suggestions.

Thanks
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 24, 2006 - 8:02 am:

If he was kicked in the shoulder and the problem has existed from that point until now, I would say the shoulder is most likely. However it is difficult to know the nature of the injury and beside those you list, arthritis of the should joint, bursitis of the shoulder bursa, or even a mild neuritis is possible here. Assuming a thorough exam to try and identify the location of the lameness has been conducted and nothing specific found, without advanced diagnostics it is impossible to know which and whether further rest or more aggressive therapeutics (intrasynovial cortisone for instance) will give you a sounder horse. The question is after 2 years of rehab is this horse still able to serve your needs Angie?
DrO
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Monday, Jul 24, 2006 - 9:51 am:

DrO,

No one here to do a thorough exam. Vet comes, says he's lame, collects cash from me.

What is neuritis?

He is on a double dose of joint supplement now, with Bute as needed. We'll see if this supplement makes a difference...last one didn't which makes me think it's not joint.

I really just want to sell this horse as a trail mount. I think he will be fine for this. I have not rode him yet as he's part ding bat, goes into bucking spells which is when the lameness starts for sure. He may be fine for weeks, or months, then it's back.

So I am between a rock and a hard spot: this horse isn't what I want or need right now, he goes lame now and then, his training is behind schedule due to the lameness, etc. It's not in my budget to keep a horse on meds, or pay someone to trailer him to universities, or what not.

I can't be a dishonest horse seller but what to do?

Thanks Doc....I know you hate these questions when vet work hasn't been done on our end! Ever consider moving to upper MI?
Member:
Amara

Posted on Monday, Jul 24, 2006 - 12:30 pm:

i've mentioned before the shoulder problem my little pony had.... my one vet never REALLY believed me until someone lent him a handheld thermography unit to test out... we tested my little guy among others and his shoulder (in the dead of winter with a VERY THICK winter coat) lit up like a christmas tree in town... they are now making small handheld units.. sometimes farriers have them to test hoof temps.... it can be used to pinpoint a hot spot, tho not at all a diagnosis...
vets decided my little guy had bursitis but short of major vet bills didnt know what to do... holistically we went to herbal supp's to reduce inflammation, and chiropractic/massage/acupuncture to keep his body in correct alighment... kept him barefoot and well balanced so that as little shock as possible was transmitted to the shoulder... he was fully sound within a year and tested completely normal-in summer- with a thermography unit..
cost wise it probably cost me around 1k.. he had been having problems for several years before this and pretty much nothing had been done till that time... for me selling him was not an option, but he was a pet not a project..

good luck
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Monday, Jul 24, 2006 - 5:38 pm:

Thanks Melissa,

My farrier has one of those handheld units, I'll ask him to bring it next time he comes out. He is one who feels it is in the shoulder of this horse.

May I ask what herbal supplements you used for inflammation? There may be some inflammation in his chest area now that I think of it. Looking at him from the front, one side is bigger.

Wish we had a good experienced massage/chiropractor here, think it would help him. He stands crooked in back also which may be part of what keeps the front end from healing.

Ah, who knows? He's my goofy guy at any rate.
Member:
Amara

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006 - 1:21 pm:

angie, do a search for ultrabiologics....
they're the ones i've used for just about all my supplements for a long time... i've had some pretty good results...

good luck
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006 - 6:31 pm:

Melissa,

Could you email with more specifics? I did a search, not sure what I was looking for. Did come up with product I have used in the past for me....Think I see where you were going with this.

My email: 2bri4j@dsnet.us

thanks
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