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  Discussion on Diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Founder
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New Member:
Carlita

Posted on Monday, Oct 2, 2006 - 7:57 pm:

I have a half arabian/half paint 6 year old gelding that was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Laminitis/Founder. Here is how the story goes... On August 5th I took him on a weekend trail ride with the neighbors, the trailer ride there was really hot with only head side windows open, the horses were hot and sweaty after the 3 hour trailer ride. We settled them in for the night and we rode on some really rocky ground the next day (Saturday). About half way through the ride he was acting ouchy and so I hand walked him through much of that terrain on the way back and then on Sunday I borrowed some easy boots and he showed no signs of soreness and was ready to trot everywhere. We got back home Sunday night and he was acting sore (obviously he is a "barefoot" kept horse, he also has white hooves). I assumed he had bruising and gave him bute for a few days. He seemed fine after a few days. I stopped the bute, about a week later he acted sore again (walking gingerly, not running everyone around like normal). This went off and on for 3 weeks. I called the vet out, to make sure it was just stone bruising and get whatever meds he needed to get through. I decided to have x-rays done to rule out anything broken or anything more serious. The vet recommended blood test. The horse is cresty necked and overweight, but shiney and looks good all over accept for being on the heavy side. The results of the blood test showed an underactive thyroid (I will get a copy of it and let you know exactly what it said), all else seemed normal. The x-rays showed rotation. 7 and 8 degrees, both front feet. He had no digital pulse, no rings on his hooves, not typical stance. He did not lay down a lot, he'd seem totally fine one day and tender or sore on others. The farrier (on the vet's recommendations) put natural balance shoes on, trimmed the toes back some and used equithane gel pads to protect the frog and sole. The horse showed little soreness when the shoes were put on and he walks, runs and acts like he has never felt better. We have him confined most of the time, he gets a little time turned out with everyone (for his ego- he is the boss)he is on a diet (getting a couple handfuls of Nutrena Safechoice AM & PM and several flakes of plain grass hay, along with Thyro-L).

I have had him since he was 2 and now he is 6. He has been "tender-footed" just 2-3 times ever since I have owned him. Never really lame. another vet saw his x-rays and said if it was acute there would probably be dark marks from the separation of the laminea? is this true? My farrier saw the x-rays and because of the lack of tenderness, he thinks that possibly it could have happened slowly over time and the horse adjusted to the pain and never showed acute symptoms? is this possible?

My real questions are:
1. could it be EMS or IR instead of Hypothyroid ? Should I have other blood test done?
2. Is he rideable if he shows no signs of pain? I know he needs to lose weight but it would go faster if he could actually get excercise.
3. Can the rotation go away without corrective shoeing/trimming or is that the direction I will be headed to next?


I have the vet coming back out on Wed to retest blood and x-rays to be sure the coffin bone is stable.

Any info is much appreciated as this is really overwhelming.
Thank you,
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 3, 2006 - 9:48 pm:

Welcome Carlita,
When folks write in with “could it be? ” the answer almost always is “it COULD be” but that is really not very helpful is it? We only know what you post: an localized lameness and a very improbable metabolic condition: hypothyroidism. So I am going to give you an assignment to get up to date with how to find out where your horse is hurting so we can get closer to a good diagnosis. Basically these are the articles that cover the issues you raise but it is the one on diagnosing lameness that really needs to started since you have a question of where the lameness is coming from:
  • Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Localizing Lameness in the Horse
  • Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Muscle & Tendon Diseases » Tying Up, Rhabdomyolysis, and Shivers (EPSM)
  • Diseases of Horses » Endocrine Disorders »
  • Hypothyroidism in Adult Equines
I put in the article on hypothyroidism because you are posting in the article on parathyroids which is a difficult organ.

Hopefully after studying these articles you will understand better where you are at with this horse. But if not come back here and we will try to flesh it out.
DrO
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