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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1008
| My gelding slipped in greasy conditions one day when I was riding him and hasn't been the same since. I've had him worked on by a chiro, had him vetted, hocks and stifles done but something is still there. The horse doesn't want to give me his nose when loping- he will and then yanks it to the outside. He doesn't feel like his impulsion is as good as it should be. One hind leg still looks slightly "stabby." Vet has suggested doing a bone scan. I'm not really on board with that. Was thinking of doing a thermography scan. Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions? I'm limited on vets in my area and have gotten the two opinions around that I trust. He's also had extended rest but not change. I've been told to keep riding him because it is very minimal. Also sometimes when I ride at the lope he'll kick out and I'm not sure if this is attitude or pain.
One more thing- the horse is horrible to shoe on the hind end. We've owned him since he was a weanling and he's always been bad....one leg is much worse than the other.....to the point that he's almost impossible to get shoes on the back end. I've always wondered if there is pain related to this and maybe the slip made it worse?
Edited by ImaSparkyAce 2015-03-21 7:13 PM
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
 
Location: Oklahoma | I'd do a blood test for EPM before a bone scan, but also look into his SI. My gelding was having trouble standing square and was a real mess for the farrier. Injected his SI about three weeks ago and he's already standing square and holds himself much better. Can't report if it's helped with the farrier issue, but he hasn't been giving me any problems picking up his legs for cleaning. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
  
Location: Phoenix | Mine used to flex his hock when I picked it up. Got hocks and SI injected and now he just gives it and doesn't make that slow fuss about it.
Have you done xrays anywhere? |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| For the problems with hind feet being shod, I had the same problem, my guy had horrible hocks, and when we finally realized it, he was so bad to shoe we actually had a vet come out to sedate him.
I had mine surgically fused, his barrel times sped up by 0.5 seconds practically overnight, but the farrier problems never resolved.
If the horse slipped, a fractures pelvis may have occurred a vet would have to palpate internally.
He could have also damaged his is, I haven't ever had a horse do this so I can't tell you how they check.
As for thermography, I wouldn't waste my money, no proof it is a useful tool for diagnostics.
I would look into lameness locator, or hauling to a equine lameness specialist. Even driving 6 hrs one way may save you money in the long run |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1008
| Haven't done x-rays as vet did not feel they were necessary. The hock and stifle injections were done in stages so I know the hocks didn't fix it as they were the first thing we tried.
I've heard good and bad about lameness locator. Right now the college here doesn't have one. I'd be open to giving it a go. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| ImaSparkyAce - 2015-03-22 8:01 AM
Haven't done x-rays as vet did not feel they were necessary. The hock and stifle injections were done in stages so I know the hocks didn't fix it as they were the first thing we tried.
I've heard good and bad about lameness locator. Right now the college here doesn't have one. I'd be open to giving it a go.
I would never let a vet inject without dong a preliminary set of X-rays.
This is poor veterinary practice, IMO, as the horse may have a chip floating around that needs to be removed that is causing the pain, and injections won't help. The hocks may have been clean and didn't need injections (horse can flex lame and it not be bony, it could be soft tissue, suspensory)
I am gong to assume the vet didn't flex, then block to see where the pain is?
If he didn't I would find a competent vet who will save you money in the long run,
A vet should flex, block, then xray or ultrasound.
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I would have your vet do a rectal exam and check the pelvis. My gelding that had a previous break was and still is more difficult to trim/shoe on his left hind. |
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Veteran
Posts: 139
Location: Abbotsford B.C. Canada | I was cantering/loping circles on wet garssy ground and my horse slipped and came up lame. we did ultra sound and found a tear (weak area at least ) in the right branch of the deep digiatal flexor tendon. It was just where it went inro the hoof so hard to palpate or see anything. There was no heat no swelling but she was lame.
So, I suggest you ask about doing ultra sound after blocking etc and see what shows up. Standing MRI is worth it/ I used shock wave therapy to treat the area under vet directions. Not cheap but I think it worked.
The thing is if you keep working him it is like trying to perform on a sprained ankle, it will cause further damage and create a dangerous situation where a horse in pain may react at just the wrong time. He seems to try and compensate but eventually it gets to be too much for him. He will not be balanced and able to perform until you sort this out in my opinion. He will not be happy and enjoy the work. I stand to be corrected by your vet but this is what worked for me.
I suggest you lay the horse off and spend the dough and get an accurate diagnosis. It may mean no exercise at first, then after a few months of turn out, slowly rehab the horse. That is what I did and after 9 months she was fine and seems good after two years of steady work just walk trot canter but some galloping etc.
I just trail ride this horse as she is 22 now.
You may have trouble finding the strain or damage if it is deep within the joint or hoof capsule or the tendon sheath , therefore you need the best diagnostic tools available. The extra money to define the problem will pay itself back I am sure. You may have to haul to a clinic that can do MRI but nuclear scintigriphy may be available locally and it may work as well. I also used shock wave therapy to treat her. Another girl in my barn used the full deal of shock wave and platelet enriched plasma and stem cells and had a horse recover from a fairly severe tendon injury. It took about a year but she was back doing endurance with her .
Ligaments and tendons do take a long time to heal but I was very happy in the end. You have so much invested in the horse now, losing a year may not be so bad if you have a sound horse in the end. Maybe you aggravated an injury that was there before from what you said. When they slip it may hyper extend a joint or tendon in my case but not really show as much as a dramatic tear would. It really hurts them but my girl showed no clinicval sign other than lameness.
Also, I suggest you use a natural anti inflammatory like ground flax or the new Alltech algae supplement with DHA, and try previcox perhaps under vet's guidance .
The hind leg may need some time off anyways.
Just cowboy trying to keep going and share a war story! I am not an expert !!!
Coastal Rider
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Id check his pelvis |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1008
| cheryl makofka - 2015-03-22 12:04 PM
ImaSparkyAce - 2015-03-22 8:01 AM
Haven't done x-rays as vet did not feel they were necessary. The hock and stifle injections were done in stages so I know the hocks didn't fix it as they were the first thing we tried.
I've heard good and bad about lameness locator. Right now the college here doesn't have one. I'd be open to giving it a go.
I would never let a vet inject without dong a preliminary set of X-rays.
This is poor veterinary practice, IMO, as the horse may have a chip floating around that needs to be removed that is causing the pain, and injections won't help. The hocks may have been clean and didn't need injections (horse can flex lame and it not be bony, it could be soft tissue, suspensory )
I am gong to assume the vet didn't flex, then block to see where the pain is?
If he didn't I would find a competent vet who will save you money in the long run,
A vet should flex, block, then xray or ultrasound.
The horse was blocked and flexed during the exam and flexed/blocked positive to the stifle. However after the injections/rest he was still the same and at that point I had other things going on in my life and just had to turn him out to rest. I didn't continue on him because I knew something was up. Have been starting to leg back up now after the rest and can tell the problem is still bothering. Will get the pelvis checked when I get him back to vet. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| ImaSparkyAce - 2015-03-22 8:44 PM
cheryl makofka - 2015-03-22 12:04 PM
ImaSparkyAce - 2015-03-22 8:01 AM
Haven't done x-rays as vet did not feel they were necessary. The hock and stifle injections were done in stages so I know the hocks didn't fix it as they were the first thing we tried.
I've heard good and bad about lameness locator. Right now the college here doesn't have one. I'd be open to giving it a go.
I would never let a vet inject without dong a preliminary set of X-rays.
This is poor veterinary practice, IMO, as the horse may have a chip floating around that needs to be removed that is causing the pain, and injections won't help. The hocks may have been clean and didn't need injections (horse can flex lame and it not be bony, it could be soft tissue, suspensory )
I am gong to assume the vet didn't flex, then block to see where the pain is?
If he didn't I would find a competent vet who will save you money in the long run,
A vet should flex, block, then xray or ultrasound.
The horse was blocked and flexed during the exam and flexed/blocked positive to the stifle. However after the injections/rest he was still the same and at that point I had other things going on in my life and just had to turn him out to rest. I didn't continue on him because I knew something was up. Have been starting to leg back up now after the rest and can tell the problem is still bothering. Will get the pelvis checked when I get him back to vet.
I would get some X-rays and ultrasound on that stifle as the stifle may be catching and need to be blistered, split, etc |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| ImaSparkyAce - 2015-03-22 8:01 AM Haven't done x-rays as vet did not feel they were necessary. The hock and stifle injections were done in stages so I know the hocks didn't fix it as they were the first thing we tried. I've heard good and bad about lameness locator. Right now the college here doesn't have one. I'd be open to giving it a go.
Not worth your money.
Find the best lameness vet in your area, take the time to haul to them and tell them in advance what you are dealing with. It will take money and time, so be prepared. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1008
| lindseylou2290 - 2015-03-23 9:08 AM
ImaSparkyAce - 2015-03-22 8:01 AM Haven't done x-rays as vet did not feel they were necessary. The hock and stifle injections were done in stages so I know the hocks didn't fix it as they were the first thing we tried. I've heard good and bad about lameness locator. Right now the college here doesn't have one. I'd be open to giving it a go.
Not worth your money.
Find the best lameness vet in your area, take the time to haul to them and tell them in advance what you are dealing with. It will take money and time, so be prepared.
Thanks. I've been there a couple times and about ready for round three.......getting frustrated as I just want my horse back! |
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Expert
Posts: 1226
| I agree with finding the best lam was vet. And I also agree could be SI but if he slipped I would lean more toward stifle |
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