| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| HelenW |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 10:41:07 AM
Kane my 9 year old gelding has walked out lame today. He has no heat anywhere and is standing ok, there is also no digital pulse. it looks as though its from his shoulder.
My question is would you call the vet out now or wait and see after a couple of days. He is insured for vet fees but I know the insurance company like the vet to be called asap but my gut is telling me that he has probably just pulled something and needs to rest, I have put him on box rest with some bute and a couple of ml of Sedalin to keep him chilled.
I have the Bowen lady coming out next week for his monthly treatment as he is prone to stiffness in his shoulders. I have noticed today though that he is slightly turning in on the lame leg.
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| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kharidian |
Posted - 13 Mar 2011 : 4:52:08 PM
I agree Jamana; I've always worked on the principle that 90% of foreleg lameness is in the hoof!
Caryn |
| Jamana |
Posted - 12 Mar 2011 : 8:45:53 PM
We always work on a rule of thumb that any un-explained lameness (ie no obv heat,swelling or injury) is the foot. And we would tend to call the farrier before the vet.
However we did have ne foal and the vet quickly diagnosed a shoulder injury, she had been kicked by another mare (she was 4 mths old and so not weaned, in a large group of mares and foals) and had had the growth plate completely torn from it's attachment in the shoulder. Lots of box rest later (and a wind sucking habit that was never cured) she was back totally sound, though the low weight-bearing capacity on her injured side did affect the growth in the opposite fore leg and so she could not race.
Helen W, I would take the same approach as you, observe and bute to help any inflammation from a bruise from a kick and then re-assess in a few days. |
| lisa rachel |
Posted - 12 Mar 2011 : 08:19:36 AM
You are right Vera, a reason that I am GLAD shouder lamenesses are rare it can be a pain in the bum to diagnose.. blocking all the way up the leg... easy to lose the will to live!! |
| Vera |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 11:18:19 PM
Lisa, took us quite a while to find the problem was his shoulder. I can't even remember all the things he had but they included dozens of xrays including most leg joints and spine, nerves blocks to most leg joints including stifles and finally a bone scan which showed the hot spot in his shoulder.
Pic taken after surgery
After LOTS of treatment including IRAP
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| HelenW |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 11:11:33 PM
Ha ha ha........Lisa who can tell with horses.....if it's not one it's another with an ailment to keep me worrying. But what would we do with our lives without them ? Well actually I'd probably spend more time shopping for shoes as I'd have a lot more money lol!! |
| lisa rachel |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 10:52:42 PM
Looks like I lost the bet there Helen !!
As long as it hasn't gone deep enough to penetrate the joint, which it certainly doesn't sound like it has.
Cheers
Lisa |
| HelenW |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 10:48:16 PM
Well Vera you may have something there. I've noticed a small graze on the bony part of the shoulder just to the side of his chest. Doesn' look much but I'm wondering if he has caught a kick from my very bossy mare. He looks comfortable at the moment on it. He is very long in the leg and does seem quite prone to injury. It doesn't help the fact that the silly lad has no self preservasion and charges round like a 2 year old.
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| lisa rachel |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 10:48:15 PM
Vera
As I wrote the last post I thought to myself, there will now be an onslaught of posts all about shoulder lamenesses... 
Of course kicks and OCD and sepsis and a few other nasties happen but shoulder lameness has to be the number 1 overdiagnosed lameness (I don't mean by vets). I've even had a horse with caudal heel pain who I blocked to a palmar digital block (at the heel), the owner was still, despite the fact that the horse went from 6/10 lame to sound, utterly convinced it was shoulder... he said ''are you sure the local hasn't diffused up the leg ?''.... (all 2 mls of it !?!).... yes I am sure.
Anyway... main thing is I hope kane is better soon, he looks gorgeous |
| Vera |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 10:21:01 PM
Dennis and I know all about shoulder problems........ must run in the family!! (Kane is Dennis's half brother for those that don't know)
Although in Dennis's case it was as a result of a kick. |
| lisa rachel |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 10:17:32 PM
Personally I agree, providing the horse is fully weightbearing and absolutely comfortable a few days wait and rest may be fine and save £, but I would never give bute unless I was sure of the diagnosis as it can obviously mask the degree of lameness.
BTW....I bet you it's not the shoulder
I would be very rich indeed had I been paid £1 everytime I've been told 'it looks like his shoulder/'high up'',it rarely proves to be the case. Shoulder lameness does happen but it's in the hen's teeth category compared to feet/ lower limb.
I hope he is fully sound soon.
Cheers
Lisa |
| Quarabian |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 11:54:19 AM
If there is no heat so presumably no infection, then the vet isn't urgent you can wait a few days. You could also take his temperature just to be sure. Lovely photo by the way. Bottom line is you are the only one to make the decisions, so trust your instincts.
Don't forget you can ring your vet for advice and reassurance not necessarily a call out straight away. |
| pinkvboots |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 11:49:54 AM
I would wait a few days if it stays the same or worsens thats when I would ring a vet, it is not like he is hopping lame, Arabi pulled his shoulder in the field a few years ago, he couldnt walk I thought he had broken something, I watched the area swell up but luckily was a strain, from not bearing weight on it that day he was 100 sound within two days and back in work in a few weeks. |
| barbara.gregory |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 11:11:54 AM
For me it would depend on how bad he seemed to be. If he is comfortable and can get around easily a few more days isn't likely to alter the prognosis and might save a vets bill; mine is over £50 to come out + £30+vat for an examination before we have anything else so I am not too keen to have him out unnecessarily. Ususlly mine are fairly clearcut as with Taz's eye where I needed the vet ASAP.
Barbara |
| Kazzy |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 10:49:25 AM
If he has done this in the past and you can cope with him and have bute then wait until Monday after a few days box rest over the weekend.
If he hasnt had this before I would get the vet out, anything *new* and I get the vet out betetr being safe than sorry I say!!
Janet |
