My pony is lame - and the vet can't diagnose!!!! Update: Back from the vet clinic...

[joharavhf]

So my pony has had breathing issues all winter. Got those under control and NOW the *#CKER is lame!!!!!!

I had the vet out on Friday and he didn't flex test on the right hind when we were going straight.....But when we put him on a trot circle (about 50 feet in diameter) he was almost 3 legged lame on the right hind. :cry: (She also did hoof testers on all the legs and they were negative.)

So she said the next step is to do nerve blocks to try to determine where the lameness is occuring. She goes to do the first one and he kinda kicks out at the needle. We put a twitch on and he is still very worried and basically threatening to kick. At this point the vet says she's not going to continue because it's not worth getting killed over. We walked him up and down a slope and she felt the issue was not a stifle issue.

She recommends a week off, 2g of bute per day and if he doesn't get better call her. Then she gives me my bill of $122 ($10 of it was a call fee - split between other people).

She did not recommend stall rest - and today he was trotting around like a mad man and didn't look lame at all. Had the wherewithall to kick up his heals when I shooed him away....but then I put him on the lunge and trotted - and he's lame.

He's always seemed NQR to me. We just got him in August and he had been under saddle for 10 times - was a harness/farmwork pony beforehand. I figured the issue was related to straightness and lack of strength. I did not do a vetting because he was 7 hours away and WAY up North in Maine where it was almost impossible to get a darned coggins drawn! Plus he was pretty cheap.

I don't know what the heck to do. I've just put in a big insurance claim on him for the breathing issue....so if I go forward with the lameness - will they drop me??? Should I just give him some MORE time off and hope he gets better? Technically as long as he's sound enough for leadline then it's "okay" but I've been having a TON of fun with him this year and was hoping to event him...even bought two new saddles for him.

What would you do?????

[Riley0522]

I would get a second opinion. The nerve block could be pretty useful. When my horse had nerve blocks done, he didn't even realize there was a needle until it was already done, I don't understand how she couldn't get one done on him.

Hope you figure it out...lameness is very aggravating, especially when you can't figure it out!

[joharavhf]

When my horse had nerve blocks done, he didn't even realize there was a needle until it was already done, I don't understand how she couldn't get one done on him.


He really *was* being naughty. He's a wimpy little guy. Whereas all of my other horses ENJOY acupuncture, he's always flinching and going all goofy on us. I don't fault HER, I wish she would've tried a little harder, but I wouldn't want her to get kicked either.

[Patty Stiller]

Has he only been lame since under saddle? Has the saddle been carefully fitted?
Has the trimming or shoeing been changed in any way, OR has he just been shod after being barefoot?
And lastly, can you post you have photos of him standing at rest on a flat place, and photos from the side of his hind feet, taken close up on a flat surface?
I know this all sounds directed everywhere but at the problem, but something may raise a red flag that can help you.

Sometimes ( often) hind end issues are originating somewhere else.

[ImJumpin]

You need a second opinion. Your vet was unable to complete a lameness exam leaving you with many unanswered questions. Blocking would help to localize an area of the pain. Once you can establish that, you could proceed with the appropriate diagnostic tests-- perhaps xrays or ultrasounds.

A vet bill slightly over $100 is not that high considering what you might face in the future. You need to decide what you are capable/want to spend trying to diagnose this pony with your parents now. If you aren't willing/able to put more money into him, your best bet might be the bute/rest route, but know full well it might not resolve the issue and you still might have a lame pony on your hands. If it is soft tissue, the injury may seem to resolve with a short amount of rest, but without a proper rehab, it will pop back up eventually.

Sounds like there are a lot of variables at play here. Did you have a vetting when you aquired the pony? How are his feet? Any significant changes in routine that could have made him sore? Some mentioned saddle fit-- something else to look into.

[joharavhf]

Has he only been lame since under saddle? Has the saddle been carefully fitted?
Has the trimming or shoeing been changed in any way, OR has he just been shod after being barefoot?
And lastly, can you post you have photos of him standing at rest on a flat place, and photos from the side of his hind feet, taken close up on a flat surface?
I know this all sounds directed everywhere but at the problem, but something may raise a red flag that can help you.

Sometimes ( often) hind end issues are originating somewhere else.

I don't know when the "lameness" started - since I just got him in August. He is 7 in August. The saddle was just re-adjusted a week ago by a well-loved saddle fitter in the area - both saddles needed flocking, but the trees were the right width. The pony is barefoot all around and has never ever worn shoes. He has GREAT feet, but IS a little sore on the LF from a stone bruise that has been going on for a while. (The lameness is on the RH). He has recently been adjusted (about a month ago) and has been acupunctured 3 times in the last month (for the lung issue, but SHE felt it was a LH issue, NOT RH issue!).

I'm going to post a picture and video - though I KNOW they are not good conformation shots! This is all I have right now:

Buck Standing Picture from August (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=3910114&id=607510304)

This is a video taken 2 weeks ago. He's not REALLY lame in this one, but you *can* see a gait hitch here....:
Buck Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJDokFw1zKo)

[joharavhf]

You need to decide what you are capable/want to spend trying to diagnose this pony with your parents now.


Sorry. I have to giggle at this one. I AM THE PARENT :D It's technically my daughter's pony, but she's only 4 years old and I have to ride him in order to get him trained for her.....We have a lot of time in the world, but I was really having fun with him. After 10 years off with a geriatric horse (who died in June, and the reason we bought the pony) and a baby horse (who is NOW going under saddle!), he was really a lot of fun!

[SLW]

In the facebook standing the photo the front hooves appear to be two different lengths with two different angles- the white LF being more upright. Until that is corrected it would impossible to determine what might be wrong in the rear. Hard to tell from the photo but Buck look like he grows an underslung heel too.

He is sturdy and looks like a sweet guy!!

[BumbleBee]

I don't know when the "lameness" started - since I just got him in August. He is 7 in August. The saddle was just re-adjusted a week ago by a well-loved saddle fitter in the area - both saddles needed flocking, but the trees were the right width. The pony is barefoot all around and has never ever worn shoes. He has GREAT feet, but IS a little sore on the LF from a stone bruise that has been going on for a while. (The lameness is on the RH). He has recently been adjusted (about a month ago) and has been acupunctured 3 times in the last month (for the lung issue, but SHE felt it was a LH issue, NOT RH issue!).

I'm going to post a picture and video - though I KNOW they are not good conformation shots! This is all I have right now:

Buck Standing Picture from August (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=3910114&id=607510304)

This is a video taken 2 weeks ago. He's not REALLY lame in this one, but you *can* see a gait hitch here....:
Buck Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJDokFw1zKo)


Looks left hind to me as he is just swinging the leg not flexing the joints.
(hock or stifle)

Super cute pony definitely worth sorting him out. Good luck, perhaps with a few more handlers you could get the blocks done. It shouldn't be hard if you can get one person to hold up another leg so pony can't kick out.

[joharavhf]

I *think* the hooves appear to look like that because he's standing downhill, on uneven ground. HOWEVER, I too am questioning the trim as of late. I use a natural trimmer lady, and she's very good - all the vets who have seen him comment on his feet (and how AWESOME they are). That said, it DOES appear to me that he's what I've heard called "coonfooted"...Like his heels are too high, need to be lowered so that the hoof and pastern angles can match.

I have a trimmer appointment tomorrow and just may have her hold off doing him so I can have the vet give an opinion (and maybe take rads). FWIW, my home vet who could not diagnose said nothing about the trim/angles.....But then again I understand that vets are not always really well versed in trimming/shoeing.

He is a super sweet cutie pie....perfect for my daughter to grow up with but not if he's broken!!!!!

ETA: the picture on FB was taken about 2 weeks after we had gotten him. At that point he had NEVER had a trim in his life other than a rasp put to the hoof on occassion by the owner. While his feet were LONGER, they weren't in terrible condition. This picture was after the 1st trimming by my person.

[joharavhf]

Looks left hind to me as he is just swinging the leg not flexing the joints.
(hock or stifle)


*THIS* is what the acupuncturist thought. She had "points" for the LH, NOT the RH. But if it is the LH, then it would make sense that the RH would be compensating for the LH and therefore becoming more sore over time.....

[Dressurfan]

It looked like LH to me as well. He is really adorable. I hope you can get a second opinion from a vet.
Also, my horse recently had a not-quite-right subtle lameness that the vets couldn't diagnose and it went away with a course of Adequan. Might help your pony as well if they can't pinpoint anything.

[joharavhf]

Also, my horse recently had a not-quite-right subtle lameness that the vets couldn't diagnose and it went away with a course of Adequan. Might help your pony as well if they can't pinpoint anything.

I asked my home vet about this as well. She said whereas we didn't have a diagnosis at this point she'd feel bad having me spend the $$$$ to do the Adequan ESPECIALLY if the insurance company wouldn't pick it up. I've used it before with GREAT results on my laminitic gelding - totally off label use, but it worked. That's what made me ask about it this time around :D

I'm calling this AM to get an appointment with the clinic.....

[joharavhf]

Went to the clinic this AM....and the darned pony wasn't lame!!!!!!!!!! :mad:

Well, he WAS lame, but it wasn't on the hind. He didn't flex positive AT ALL on the hind end and was completely sound on the circle to the left and right. He WAS lame on the LF which has the stone bruise he's been nursing for a while.

So the vet recommended an additional 2 weeks of rest with 2g bute/day, and then get him back in to work slowly. If at that point he still is off then I'll need to consider shoes (and pads perhaps) for him to protect the bruise. Not sure what the hind end issue is. Perhaps it still is a muscle related stiffness that will work out with more strength and time?

Any other thoughts on what could cause uneveness on the hind end?
Thanks!!!

[Laurierace]

I HATE when that happens! I can't tell you how many times the vet has stood there looking at me like I am nuts as I jog back and forth along the pavement! Hopefully that means he is better and this is all behind you.

[Patty Stiller]

I can't see the photos because I am not a facebook member and am not going to join (the registration page is not secured)
But on the video he appears lame on the LEFT hind?

However he is only going one direction too, so seeing him go the other way might show something on the right hind.
The fact that you just had the saddle flocked last week is a big deal, if it is the same saddle you used in him since last August. Saddle trees can be wide enough but can still "bridge" the back, causing pain in behind the withers and in the croup.
Back issues that develop from ill fitting saddles can remain for a very long while after the saddle is corrected, until the acupuncture /chiropractic gets them fixed.

So he may just have some issues from the saddle. Now that it is fixed, (hopefully) maybe it will get better. :)

[joharavhf]

I can't see the photos because I am not a facebook member and am not going to join (the registration page is not secured)
But on the video he appears lame on the LEFT hind?



The general concensus is that he doesn't articulate that left hind joint as much as the right. BUT he does not FLEX on either legs.

Right now we're going to treat for the stone bruise (LF) and give him the two weeks off. I'll likely end up putting (GASP) shoes on him to give him more comfort on the fronts. Also going to pull a Lyme titer and maybe investigate EPSM as it *could* be a muscle tightness issue. (which would jive with him seeming to work out of it after work....and his muscles are HARD and TIGHT)

Frustrating, but the funny thing is my vet said he's sounder than her 4 foot jumper EVER was :lol: That gives me some hope!

Patty, do you have any advice re: shoeing? I see you're a Natual Balance specialist :D What would be the difference in shoeing him in the NB method vs. traditional method? (Here I go hijacking my own thread!)