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Discussion on Sore back after work
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Member:
Miamoo
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 1, 2006 - 7:22 am:
I have a 7 yr old QH mare who went on a 2 hour trail ride yesterday. It was mostly walk but had a bit of trot and canter in it. She came back sweaty and we damp sponged her and put on a cooler. We took the cooler off before trailering because she gets wound up in the trailer sometimes and gets all overheated.
This mare has had regular work this summer and has been showing regularly with no problems but has had mostly ring work. We turned her out to pasture when we got home and she seemed fine.
She laid down last night when she came in rather than eat her grain. I gave her a dose of Banamine because I was afraid she could be colicking. This morning the mare is very stiff through the back. She DrOps her back down just from the lightest touch. This is not like her. She normally loves a good currying all over. I am assuming we over did it or something but It didn't really seem like we did all that much.
What should I do for her. Is it o.k. for her to have bute today after having banamine last night? Is there anything I can put on her back topically? DMSO?
Thanks,
Ella 
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 1, 2006 - 9:59 am:
Hello Ella,
Yes you can start bute twice daily and topical treatment will depend on the cause of the soreness. The acute sensitivity to touch suggests skin irritation. If the tack did this you really just have to wait. Besides the bute, perhaps soothing ointments would help and one containing a lot of aloe would be a first choice for me. Check you saddle carefully for fit. If this is the beginning of a dermatophillus (rain rot) you may not see typical lesions for a few days. The infection often presents as severe back pain. You should treat according to our recommendations in the article on the disease, Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases » Hair and Coat Problems / Itching / Irritated Skin » Rain Rot and Rain Scald: Dermatophillus.
DrO
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Member:
Miamoo
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 1, 2006 - 2:06 pm:
I really think this is muscular rather than rain rot. She is groomed regularly and is in in all bad weather. This seemed directly related to the ride. I am afraid I may have trucked her before she was cool enough and stiffened the hot muscles. I feel bad.
Ella 
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Oct 2, 2006 - 7:18 am:
Perhaps Ella,
but you will find these pages full of folks who thought as you did only to have the horse break with rain rot by the end of the week and you said you really did not do much.
The important clue is the light touch of a brush causing intense pain. To initiate muscle pain usually requires deep palpation, at least at first, until the horse anticipates you are going to hurt him. Of course I cannot rule it out but traveling while hot is not a likely cause. A blood test for elevated muscle enzymes will tell you if you have muscle injury, see the article Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Muscle & Tendon Diseases » Tying Up, Rhabdomyolysis, and Shivers (EPSM) for more on this and some treatment ideas for sore muscles. If you feel you are uncertain as to the problem and its severity, you should consult your veterinarian for help.
DrO
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Monday, Oct 2, 2006 - 1:53 pm:
Hi Ella,
I am one of those people who Dr O is talking about. My horse did the same thing. The vet came out did all sort of tests. She thought it was lymes. You could not touch his back. He almost fell when I got on his back. Not one sign of rain rot. Then about 5 days later he got the worst case I have ever seen. Dr O said it was rain rot fron the get go. He was right and my vet who saw him wrong. She had never seen a horse so sore before the scabs came.
Katrina
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