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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
  
| Ok - I will try and make this brief but I have literally been banging my head on a wall for the past month trying to figure out a solution.
I have a gelding with contracted tendons, under-run heels. He had check ligament surgery as a 2 year old (too late imo).
I ran him in a 2 degree wedge natural balance shoe for 5 years without issues but he started getting really peggy in the front, took him in, xrays, negative palmar angle, sore coffin joint. Vet recommended an additional 2 degree wedge pad. If no improvement, inject coffin joint.
3 years later in that same setup (never needed to inject), he has now fallen a handful of times this summer/spring. This horse has always stumbled but now its like his pasterns buckle over, similar to us rolling an ankle. The clumsyiness isn't my concern as much as the WHY cant he catch himself? As mentioned he has always been clumsy. He can literally run a gorgeous, clocking pattern and then next run almost goes down or does.
Took him to the U, x-rays clean, minor 1 of 5 on the lameness scale and only on certain ground, if you squinted and titled your head type of lameness. Blocked his foot, little difference but its so minor to begin with, I believe your mind could play tricks on you either way.
A retired vet I know thinks its soft tissues, explained it as almost his tendons/ligaments are so contracted that its almost as if "give" is gone.
Another vet says, try injecting the coffin joint but wouldn't blocked it have corrected it if that were the issue? I don't want to inject without reason.
Another vet says, bute him for 10 days and put him back to work and find out of its pain and/or mechanical and not convinced its coffin joint because he didn't flex off positive which he said he should if it was coffin joint.
At this point, I have dropped the 2 degree pad because his new xrays showed him within normal limits with the 2 degree and we figure less crap tipping him forward right now, the better.
No one believes it to be neurological as the stumbling isn't new. I even talked to an animal communicator and she said no pain in his front legs/feet.
So........ someone help me  |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | I would have to wonder if he’s got Suspensory tears . You can’t jack up the heel, take pressure off of the DDF, without loading the Suspensory. It’s a physical (Engineering) fact. That could be what’s causing the soreness and causing him to stumble etc. |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| Liana D - 2018-08-09 4:41 PM
I would have to wonder if he’s got Suspensory tears . You can’t jack up the heel, take pressure off of the DDF, without loading the Suspensory. It’s a physical (Engineering) fact. That could be what’s causing the soreness and causing him to stumble etc.
The retired vet is leaning towards this theory. Although they didn't get any tenderness when palpated. I asked to ultrasound and the vet at the U advised he would but thought it was a waste of money. I didn't want to pursue if he already had his mind made up as I know issues with suspensory are not easy to find as it is. |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | stayceem - 2018-08-09 4:50 PM
Liana D - 2018-08-09 4:41 PM
I would have to wonder if he’s got Suspensory tears . You can’t jack up the heel, take pressure off of the DDF, without loading the Suspensory. It’s a physical (Engineering) fact. That could be what’s causing the soreness and causing him to stumble etc.
The retired vet is leaning towards this theory. Although they didn't get any tenderness when palpated. I asked to ultrasound and the vet at the U advised he would but thought it was a waste of money. I didn't want to pursue if he already had his mind made up as I know issues with suspensory are not easy to find as it is.
Agree. You need someone that actually wants to investigate. Not all vets are good with an u/s. Hope you find the problem. |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| Liana D - 2018-08-09 8:19 PM
stayceem - 2018-08-09 4:50 PM
Liana D - 2018-08-09 4:41 PM
I would have to wonder if he’s got Suspensory tears . You can’t jack up the heel, take pressure off of the DDF, without loading the Suspensory. It’s a physical (Engineering) fact. That could be what’s causing the soreness and causing him to stumble etc.
The retired vet is leaning towards this theory. Although they didn't get any tenderness when palpated. I asked to ultrasound and the vet at the U advised he would but thought it was a waste of money. I didn't want to pursue if he already had his mind made up as I know issues with suspensory are not easy to find as it is.
Agree. You need someone that actually wants to investigate. Not all vets are good with an u/s. Hope you find the problem.
That is what the retired vet said, someone will need a really good eye on ultrasound and so if he already somewhat had his mind made up then I didn't wanna pay for it. There is a great vet that was actually on the Olympic team so if I can narrow this down, he was my next step but I guess I was looking for validation of what I was suspicious of before I spend even MORE money to get to the bottom of this. Thank you |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Bute is cheap and a good test. I am with whom ever said to bute for 10 days and see if you have any change. If he gets better you know there is some form of pain causing the issue if he is still stumbling it might rule out a bunch of things.
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| ajs2002 - 2018-08-10 7:44 AM
Bute is cheap and a good test. I am with whom ever said to bute for 10 days and see if you have any change. If he gets better you know there is some form of pain causing the issue if he is still stumbling it might rule out a bunch of things.
I have been teetering on this but what if its an injury, I don't wanna make it worse. I am also so sick of falling down but yes it could rule out pain. I wonder if I have to do it for a full 10 days.  |
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Location: in the ozone | Have you considered PSSM2? |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| slipperyslope - 2018-08-10 1:33 PM
Have you considered PSSM2?
We've considered genetic issues but doesn't seem to fit the criteria. At least not above the various other options. |
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Pasterns Buckling