Lame Horse, Please only answer from experience, don't just reply, omg go to the vet NOW!

Question

Ok, so my horse is lame, not like major, he doesn't look lame, just looks like he's got an uneven step, but I no he's lame because he's changed. If that makes any sense at all!

I've given him about 10days off now, and i've given him a few bute sachets. He's happy enough and I don't think he's in any pain.

Any ideas what could be wrong with him, a friend said that it might be something to do with his back, and is uncomfortable..?

Any experience of this..?

Thanks

Answer 1

your totally right you dont need a vet at all.

*holds back the laughing*

serious answer tho (cause you should go to the vet you just dont wantta spend the money on the vet, even small problems now can turn into big problems later)

my horse: was jumping him when suddenly he felt off, like he miss stepped and that was the end of that.  got off him, gave him a night and bute, and then..... went to the vet. the vet couldnt find what was wrong with him and then.... went to an equine hospital.

5 hours later and 1,000 dollars worth of testing, his little lameness wasnt little at all. he was done, aka dead lame in both front legs.

a day later, 3,000-4,000 dollars later he was fixed well enough to not be in pain and be rideable for 3 more years.

what they did to fix my horse: blocked his legs till they could pin point the problem, xray a few times.  then once problem was found, they went in, cut his nevers in the front knees(this perm blocked his front legs), scrapped out his extra bone growth in his knees. his problem was in the hoof. . . you cant do any surgeries on the hoof so they just cut his nevres so he wouldnt feel the hoof issues.

do i think your horse has this problem? no.

so with my own personal experiance: take your horse to the vet already.

Answer 2

i think this forum might help, you probably wont get a answer as quick as you get on hear, but they will come.

or search for some good horse forums in google, there will be a lot, you can either join or look through there health sections or health topics.

http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/Community-Lan...

Answer 3

You need to check for heat and swelling.  There are many things that can cause a horse to come up lame.  Is it just on one leg?  I am assuming of course that you have checked the hoof and there are no obvious injuries.  I have never heard of a back injury causing lameness as far as a limp, usually the horse won't want to move and will shrink from touch.  Have you given the butte consistently?  Sometimes it takes a while to get the inflammation down.  I strongly recommend a vet check - 10 days doesn't sound minor.

Answer 4

If you are a rich person call that vet every time he hiccups.  Do the right thing and buy a GOOD VET BOOK. I say this a million times but no one seems to listen. WHEN YOU OWN A HORSE THE NUMBER 1 THING YOU NEED IS A GOOD VET BOOK. PERIOD. If not the vets will cause you to go broke. Sure they love it when you call. Learn to be a horseman or woman. Vets are for true emergency situations. I float my own horses teeth, I give vaccines and I treat lameness. I have had vets ask me how I got a horse well so fast. I have been told by vets to put down a horse and the horse went on to win 6 races in a row. Become a real horseman/woman. You know your animal better than the vet.

I own the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Book... and it is a good beginner book.

http://astore.amazon.com/saferhorse08-20

BUY A GOOD BOOK and read it daily.........................

Answer 5

he could have laminitis which if left untreated can get serious so i would get a second opininion from someone you trust about horses and can actually see your horse and the way he moves.

Answer 6

hmmm, well, the best bet would be to at least call your vet.

dont ask him over, just call him and see what else you can do.

alot of horses are different went it comes to laminitis.

so just call him/her, and see what else you can do to make your horse more comfortable. =]

Answer 7

Sounds as though your horse is just "off"....can be a stone bruise or abscess; or, some shoulder/neck/back issues.   Hard to tell without seeing the horse.  If you've had no improvement after 10 days of rest, or very little improvement, then yes, you need to consult with a vet.  Horse lameness issues can be difficult to diagnose with "off" issues because it's not a pronounced lameness.  It's a  lameness which suggests he's uncomfortable....the key of course is where.   It's the detective work that can drive you nuts.   Soft tissue injuries, tendon and ligaments, can take a long time to heal.

Dealt with pedal osteitis for over 20 some years with one show horse....kept her comfortable and showing for that entire time.

http://www.anvilmag.com/farrier/012f4.ht...

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index....

Answer 8

The horse you see in my Avatar is just coming off of founder. And I  have had a lot of experience with lameness. There are many things that could cause lameness, but I seriously doubt it is his back. He could have an abscess, a stone bruise or other things. If it is an abscess try soaking his hoof in a solution of Epsom salt and water twice a day for about 10 minutes. If he is limping, he is in pain. If he isn't better in three days, call your vet. And be VERY careful with the bute.

Answer 9

my horse had this before and it was from two much grass.. i know its not the answer  you want but if he has been lame for 10 days i would atleast give the vet a ring he might be able to help over the phone or else ask your farrier i have found that my farrier knows a lot more about horses than any of the vets around do! also maybe just keep him in his stable but take him for a few 10 minute walks a day..

hope this helps!! (",)  

Answer 10

it could be his hooves. maybe he has something in them, (i doubt), or one of his hooves might be a bit...overgrown(?) than the others. i would check the hooves first.

Answer 11

this could be anything! a simple pulled muscles or twinge or even arthritus, if a couple of butes has sorted it and rest it would suggest its not really serious however this doesnt mean it couldnt become serious, i'd keep a close eye on him.  

Answer 12

ride him and see if his step is different and how and  then maybe call the vet  

Answer 13

You probably shouldn't call the vet until you write down what you have observed.  When did you firist notice it?  If you have ridden, longed, etc...what did you notice that is different?  Have you had any problem saddling him?  When he is out in the pasture, do you notice him favoring one direction over another?  One lead? How does he position his legs when he is standing at rest?  Stuff like that....watch him until you can give the vet something to go on.  And then...OMG go to the vet NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 14

In my experience : omg go to the vet NOW!

> update:   I note that most of the other distinguished answerers concur with this conclusion: omg go to the vet NOW!

Answer 15

It could be he back - or discomfort in the mouth.  I know that sounds crazy but we had a horse in our yard who started going uneven and like yours he had nothing obvious to see or feel.  He trotted up sound but ridden he was uneven.

Then I was washing his mouth out after a training session and discovered cuts and a blood blister in his mouth and on his gums.  Once he had healed from those and was ridden in a hackamore he went fine.

Try and borrow a hackamore and see how he goes with that.

Meanwhile call the vet or chiroprachter.

Answer 16

omg go to the vet now ;-)

Answer 17

Even though there's no heat, it could still very well be an abcess of sorts.  

I just had a friend who went through this.  They never did find anything, even when she hauled him 45 miles to the BIG veternary clinic in Bakersfield, had them xray the entire leg which came up clean.  They applied a poltice to the hoof and wrapped it.  24 hours later, the hoof's fine and he was like his old self.

Answer 18

Guess what I'm going to say!

After 10 days of being "unsound" with no signs of improvement after box rest and bute, I would now be looking to speak to my vet.

Yes, this could be a muscluar problem, it could be a back problem, it could be a shoulder problem, it could be a shoe/foot problem, it could be in his leg (tendons and ligaments) there are lots of things that it could be, and I could go on with the various things that it could be.

Rather than speculating any further, and that is all that this is, pure speculation as no one can diagnose without actually seeing this themselves, you would need your vet to come see him.

Hope this has helped

Answer 19

Hi!

A couple of my horses have had this lameness. It turned out my new farrier had shod them wrong.

But if not just let him rest and turn him out to fields and wait a couple of days. If still no improvement call the vet.

But if i were you and has waited 10 days i would call my vet.

Answer 20

could be in the joint, clean the area and to a cool hydro for about 10 minutes and watch the horse move after, If it doesn't help try it warm. If that doesn't help it's probably just a bruise if it's not a big limp.

Answer 21

I had a problem like this too and did the same as you did. My horse didn't seem in pain but when I slowly worked her up to trotting again she was off still. I know you said not to go to the vet but its hard to figure out whats wrong without them. I went and it wound up my mare pulled her check ligaments. Also your horse could have laminitis or a pulled flexor tendon?

No swelling? No signs? No switch in feed or barn mates? Maybe he isn't happy with something and is pretending to be lame. Check if your tack is pinching, etc etc, or else have someone else ride him and see if he acts differently for them.

Answer 22

if he is lame but there is no heat or swelling on the leg then i can almost confirm that it has something to do with his back or hip area...too often ppl dismiss this because they see no physical signs of lamness but you need to call ur vet so she/he can pinpoint where EXACTLY it is and for a proper diagionsis.

Answer 23

it sounds as if your horse has a problem with his back, i would get a physio to come out and have a look.

Answer 24

Well lameness can come from anything from the teeth to a bruised sole and everythingg in between. The only sure way to check is by getting the Vet in.

Here in Germany there has been a great increase in unspecific lameness due to the onset of kissingspine syndrome not being detected. Actually this is mainly being caused by bad riding, and horses constantly being ridden with hollow backs due to draw reins, neck extenders, etc etc and not activating the hindquarters.

Good luck and hope your boy gets well soon