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Regular
Posts: 62
 
| I have a gelding I purchased the beginning of this year that went lame in April on the left front. He first showed signs of an abscess, which drained then showed signs of a second abscess. After about a month I took him in for a lameness exam and xrays. The xrays showed pretty much nothing, the vet told me to keep soaking and wrapping since everything pointed to an abscess. After a couple months with no improvement, I decided to do an MRI. The MRI showed changes to his navicular bone (the left being a bit worse) but my vet didn't want to call him full blown navicular since they weren't too bad. She said the changes to his navicular bones, thin soles, a bit of underrun heels and soft frog were the reasons he was lame. We injected his navicular bursas and made some shoeing changes - frog support wedges with impression material. He was sound almost immediately after doing this and has stayed sound while being ridden the last month until today. The only thing that has changed is he is not out on pasture due to weather. He has a large turnout but doesn't move around much during the day when the weather is nasty (I'm in NW Washington, so he won't be out to pasture again until next spring). He isn't head bobbing lame but shows some lameness when working small circles to the left. Could this be due to him not moving around much the last two days? Is there anything I can do to help him? I am feeding EquiBone and in the process of purchasing a PEMF machine, he is in PHT bells 24/7 as well. Would exercising him 10-15 minutes in the morning and then riding him in the evening help? I work an 8-5 job so working him during the day isn't possible for me. I'm willing to do anything and everything to get this guy feeling good!  | |
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
     
| If you had the bursas injected in April , it's possible they have worn off in a high motion joint. Something to consider. Usually with hocks and low motion joints you can get 6 months to a year but high motion not near as much. I would be more in favor of an injectable like polyglycan or legend over a feed through. | |
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Regular
Posts: 62
 
| His bursas were injected a month ago, I'm hoping they didn't wear off already.. | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
              Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | What are you feeding him?
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2020-10-12 8:31 AM
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Regular
Posts: 62
 
| Alfalfa & orchard, soaked beet pulp pellets, renew gold, Platinum Performance GI, Magnesium, Copper & Zinc pellets, California Trace Plus, EquiBone, GLC5500max, Noni Blue label, flaxseed oil and some herbs.
Edited by Haley1996 2020-10-12 9:45 AM
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Expert
Posts: 3514
  
| Haley1996 - 2020-10-12 9:36 AM
Alfalfa & orchard, soaked beet pulp pellets, renew gold, Platinum Performance GI, Magnesium, Copper & Zinc pellets, California Trace Plus, EquiBone, GLC5500max, Noni Blue label, flaxseed oil and some herbs.
You are feeding a lot of supplements. I would simplify the feed. Renew Gold and Alfalfa/Orchard. You might decrease the Alfalfa and increase the grass hay. But be sure he is drinking enough water. You don’t need to feed a joint supplement with Equibone. So I would feed the Equibone. I would eliminate the other supplements. If he is prone to ulcers, Purina and ADM both have a product that you top dress on feed. Sometimes simple is better. You could give Movex which is Chondroitin. It would help with the inflammation and improve the synovial fluid providing a cushion. I have a discount code for it if you want to try. | |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2930
       Location: North Dakota | Haley1996 - 2020-10-11 8:54 PM
I have a gelding I purchased the beginning of this year that went lame in April on the left front. He first showed signs of an abscess, which drained then showed signs of a second abscess. After about a month I took him in for a lameness exam and xrays. The xrays showed pretty much nothing, the vet told me to keep soaking and wrapping since everything pointed to an abscess. After a couple months with no improvement, I decided to do an MRI. The MRI showed changes to his navicular bone (the left being a bit worse) but my vet didn't want to call him full blown navicular since they weren't too bad. She said the changes to his navicular bones, thin soles, a bit of underrun heels and soft frog were the reasons he was lame. We injected his navicular bursas and made some shoeing changes - frog support wedges with impression material. He was sound almost immediately after doing this and has stayed sound while being ridden the last month until today. The only thing that has changed is he is not out on pasture due to weather. He has a large turnout but doesn't move around much during the day when the weather is nasty (I'm in NW Washington, so he won't be out to pasture again until next spring). He isn't head bobbing lame but shows some lameness when working small circles to the left. Could this be due to him not moving around much the last two days? Is there anything I can do to help him? I am feeding EquiBone and in the process of purchasing a PEMF machine, he is in PHT bells 24/7 as well. Would exercising him 10-15 minutes in the morning and then riding him in the evening help? I work an 8-5 job so working him during the day isn't possible for me. I'm willing to do anything and everything to get this guy feeling good! 
I have a horse with clean x-rays but has heel pain on his front feet. Haven't sprung for an MRI. Coffin injections help. Do special shoes with a wedge pad. I started him on pentosan this year and it really, really helped him tremendously. No longer stiff at all for warming up. I did the loading dose, and then I have been giving him a shot every 2 weeks for maintenance. It's working so I'm not going to change it. Adequan helped too, but not as much as the pentosan. (which I am glad b/c it is cheaper!) If you are able to get him out for a quick walk in the AM, I think that willl help. My guys gets stiff when he is not turned out 24/7 with free movement, so usually if we have to stall at a show/race or something. | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
              Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Haley1996 - 2020-10-12 9:36 AM
Alfalfa & orchard, soaked beet pulp pellets, renew gold, Platinum Performance GI, Magnesium, Copper & Zinc pellets, California Trace Plus, EquiBone, GLC5500max, Noni Blue label, flaxseed oil and some herbs.
Why do you feel the need to feed the supplements? He sounds like hes has lamintis, I think your feed program has alot of suger intake going on, I would pull all the supplements,I think with all the extras you are feeding would not be a healthy mix for this fella, I would look into just feeding the Renew Gold and have your hay checked to make sure it dont have to much sugar in it, I know nothing about Orchard hay since I only feed coastal, Alfalfa is good but I only feed a little bit of it since my horses are healthy and fat so not to much of it because it will really beef them up to much. If I were you I would look into EMS, Insulin Resistance these are a Metabolic Syndrome and can really effect their feet if they have to much of a sugar overload.. Ask your vet about this and have your horse tested. I have a IR gelding and have to be careful on what I feed him. I only feed him Triple Crown Lite with coastal hay a tiny bit of alfalfa and he gets to go out to pasture a couple times a week for short periods because the grass is really high in sugar. But I would look into these Metabolic issues, I like you was always trying to find out why my gelding was sore and lame sometimes untill I found the right Vet. | |
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Regular
Posts: 62
 
| I'm not leaning towards laminitis since his feet have been looked over with a fine tooth comb... but I do agree I am feeding way too many supplements. I have had a VERY hard time putting weight on this guy. I tried months and months of just a small amount Haystack Special Blend & Renew Gold, pasture, a little alfalfa and free choice local grass with some herbs but he didn't gain any weight (I also treated him for ulcers to be sure that wasn't the problem). After feeding everything I listed above he has finally put on quite a bit of weight and is looking decent. I'll ask my vet about insulin resistance and other metabolic issues at our next appointment, thanks for the suggestion! | |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
  
| Check into Equithrive. They have a testimonial on the website on a navicular horse. | |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
    
| How long is he into his shoe cycle? My gelding has pretty similar issues (poor foot conformation due to check ligament surgery done too late) and he is very sensitive to his angles. He is done every 5-6 weeks and I can see him getting a little tender towards the end of his cycle. | |
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