He's just not right... Long

[mrsbradbury]

Horse: 13 year old OTTB gelding;

Okay; just thowing this out there for all of you knowledgable folk. Keep in mind, I have a FULL eval pending for this guy. Just want to be sure I cover all the bases, and ask all the questions.

I have owned this horse for just over two years, came with cold osselets up front, underrun heels and a weak right stifle. We spent the first 6 months just figuring him out, and working lightly. Generally this horse got stronger and stronger, and built up to jumping 2'6" courses quielty and softly with a lead change in a rubber snaffle this winter. Feet looked great, and forgot there ever was a stifle issue.

Incident:(This year late winter/ early spring) Stated horse gets nailed in the field by another horse; severe kick to the right gaskin, heel of shoe tears muscle fiber. X-rays taken, no fracture. Massive infection sets it, horse lives on penicillin and SMZ for 14 days, then continued SMZ for 5 more. Horse had 5 weeks off; came back to work and attended a crossraily clinic~ was good, but tense.

Current Situation: This horse is not "right". His hind end is everywhere. he's currently not working, on turn out and occasional tack walk.

His right rear foot grew absolutely bizarre in the last six weeks. Coon footed with a big bubble, and had 1 1/2" more growth than the LR, and the sole is concave:cry:. This horse is shod all the way around every 6 weeks. The stifle is back. He started grinding his teeth under saddle, showing anxiety and impatience in the crossties.
He had a very very hard time with the farrier, finding his balance and getting comfortable. I almost thought he was nuerologic.:cry:

Saddle fits well (when we were riding.) so, I am sure this isn't the problem.

I am wondering about any experiences with nuerologic issues, vitamin E, stifley things or what do you think? I really like this horse, and want to do right by him. I am almost feeling like the kick incident is coincidental, but maybe not.:mad:

Thanks for listening.

[Dr. Doolittle]

I really feel for you! (And am surprised that no one else has responded...)

I would call the vet and have a neurological test/workup done on him; it would certainly explain the symptoms, and if that didn't wind up being the cause, at least you would be able to rule it out.

I had a TB gelding (RIP :sigh:) who started feeling "NQR" in his hind end, and suddenly just started moving crooked behind (all over the place was the feeling!); it wound up being a neuro issue (not EPM), which later became so serious that he had to be PTS. :cry: Hopefully that's not the case with your horse, but his behavior (and the radical change in his hoof, which would seem to indicate that he is "loading" it differently) is certainly indicative of something being awry. If it *is* something neurological, many of the things that cause these symptoms *are* treatable!

Good luck, and please keep us posted.

[FlashGordon]

Well, I am wondering if the weird growth in the RH foot is related to the stifle + gaskin injury and the fact that he's not weighting that leg correctly... hence the growth is wonky.

How massive was the infection from that kick? I might have hit that harder, with IV antibiotics, but hindsight is 20/20.

If he's got a crap stifle, plus the kick to the gaskin and the subsequent infection, well that is a lot.... I'd expect him to be sore, cranky, not using his back end properly.

I can't give you any recommendation as far as diagnostics, maybe some other folks will have some ideas. But I'd be looking hard at that RH from top to bottom.

Also have you done any BW?

[HenryisBlaisin']

I knew a horse once that had isses from an infection-a tract opened up right over his spinal column, and the resulting pressure caused him to be very weak behind, to the point where he needed a sling to support him. Once the tract was cleared up once and for all, he recovered nicely. I wonder of a pocket of infection could ahve migrated...

[Penthilisea]

If the big kick came in late winter early spring, then it has been less then 3 months. I would give him 3 months of no work, pasture rest, or VERY light work and then see what you have. This serious of an infection or injury can take a long time to fully work itself out.

[LOVE*MY*NAGS]

Sounds like he needs a chiropractor! When their back is out of wack their whole body is out of wack. I would get him checked out! Good luck.

[Go Fish]

I am almost feeling like the kick incident is coincidental, but maybe not.:mad:

Thanks for listening.

I think you might have something there. What does your vet say? I'd start exploring other options with these symptoms. Good luck!

[FolsomBlues]

My only thought is to get a good chiropractor out to take a look at him. If he is out of whack, he could be carrying his weight differently and causing the hoof to grow in funny. I also think you're on the right track with having a vet come out to do the full eval. Just don't rule out the chiro as well.

[mrsbradbury]

Just throwing an idea out there -- it could be possible that the horse torqued it's body in trying to get away when it was kicked. Anything in the rear end structure could have been thrown off kilter - back, sacrum, hips, etc. It would be something that isn't visible as an external injury, but affects the whole horse in movement and mentality.

Again, just a thought, but...you might want to have a GOOD chiro check the horse from toes to nose.

Re: hoof growth. The sole dropped???? Sounds like founder -- maybe due to the drugs? Maybe even a small abscess? Not enough to make the horse dead lame, but just enough to make the horse travel differently.

Ditto Penthilisea's observation -- if the kick was that severe, you may just want to toss the next three months out of the window and give the horse a long rest. Let the body heal.

Best of luck, and I hope your horse does finally come back sound.

Thanks.

Hoof sole is growing the other way, not dropped, but sucked up. I have been just letting him be, allowing his whole self to heal. It's just so sad and frustrating.

I will update after the vet sees him, I will have to research a good chiro in our area.

[Hampton Bay]

If the sole is more concave, I would almost think that indicates that he is putting less weight on that hoof? This is the injured leg, correct?

If that is the case, he is obviously compensating for that injury, and he may still have some pain. I know I had a bruise once from a kick that took a year to fully heal. So it is not too surprising that it may take more than 3 months to heal from an injury where there was tearing to the muscle and an infection.

Also, it could be that standing in the crossties and having the farrier work on him is causing him to put weight where he is hurting, so he shows it by grinding his teeth and fidgeting.

I would also have the vet out for a checkup, and then if the vet is OK with it, have a chiro look over him. Maybe try some massage ans stretching if the chiro will show you what to do.

[Fharoah]

Have you thought about doing a bone scan?

[chism]

Your horse sounds very similar to mine. He had a meniscal tear last summer, did the stall rest & injection thing & he started to look better. He's still not under saddle, just on turnout. Now his back end is all wonky and at times he appears almost neurological. He has lost most of his back end muscling and what he does have is uneven due to compensating for the right stifle. I think it's quite possible that the changes in your horse's hooves are due to the same sort of compensation.
I had the vet out again this week & and after blocking RH suspensory & hock, he's convinced it's still the stifle so we injected again. I have an appt for acupuncture on the 16th. Hopefully it will make a difference. I just want my nice horse back. :(