Hind end lameness... thoughts would be appreciated

[BoyleHeightsKid]

Here is one article
https://www.turnerequinesportsmed.co…limb-lameness/

I think the one @imaginique is referring to is one in the AFA journal. The author of the article calls it the “hoof point” but it seems to be behind a pay wall
https://www.americanfarriers.com/art…blem?v=preview

Howard Jesse, author of the AFA article.
https://www.facebook.com/21344606966…4487493274382/

IMO hind foot balance is WAY overlooked when it comes to hindend lameness.

[StormyDay]

@stargzng386

If you are in the Northern Virginia area there is a vet who is mis-diagnosing a lot of horses with anaplasmosis. He does 10 days doxy and sometimes throws in Zyrtec saying there is an allergy component as well. Please PM for details if you need to confirm but I would strongly suggest you get a second opinion.

PMed you

[StormyDay]

@BoyleHeightsKid

Here is one article
https://www.turnerequinesportsmed.co…limb-lameness/

I think the one @imaginique is referring to is one in the AFA journal. The author of the article calls it the “hoof point” but it seems to be behind a pay wall
https://www.americanfarriers.com/art…blem?v=preview

Howard Jesse, author of the AFA article.
https://www.facebook.com/21344606966…4487493274382/

IMO hind foot balance is WAY overlooked when it comes to hindend lameness.

I will look into it, but he never has had any issues before and I feel like that would be an ongoing issue?

[StormyDay]

Thought I’d give and update.
After he was misdiagnosed (that’s a story ) he actually improved a lot. He was probably a .5/5 lameness on bad days. I had my normal vet out to look at him and do a lameness exam. She felt he had something going on in the right hock. We took an x-ray, and sure enough he has some fusing starting. As he’s pretty young and it’s only in one hock, it was probably something he was born with.
The rest of his hock is healthy and not fusing, just a bit at the front.

He was injected and he’s on bute for 10 days. We will see how he reacts to that and decide on next plans.

I’m very glad it’s nothing soft tissue related. He can go back to work Monday, which will make him happy as he LOVES to work and was very confused why I didn’t ride him on Friday with everyone else.

[stargzng386]

So glad you have an answer and a plan!

[LuvEquines]

I’m a human surgeon who used to work for vets and reads a lot of medical and veterinary articles for fun. If nothing specific can be found, I just read a vet article saying vets should always keep EPM in their minds for any gait abnormality that has no known cause. We just had a case like that. The horse had been hit by lightening and abandoned on me. We knew the lightening affected the left side and she’s blind in the left eye, but gradually she started walking funny on all 4 legs. Vet wanted to euthanize her but after reading that vet article, I insisted vet give me EPM medication and she dramatically improved and was seen bucking and CANTERING in the field last week! So glad I tried the EPM meds, even though vet thought I was nuts LOL

[StormyDay]

@LuvEquines

I’m a human surgeon who used to work for vets and reads a lot of medical and veterinary articles for fun. If nothing specific can be found, I just read a vet article saying vets should always keep EPM in their minds for any gait abnormality that has no known cause. We just had a case like that. The horse had been hit by lightening and abandoned on me. We knew the lightening affected the left side and she’s blind in the left eye, but gradually she started walking funny on all 4 legs. Vet wanted to euthanize her but after reading that vet article, I insisted vet give me EPM medication and she dramatically improved and was seen bucking and CANTERING in the field last week! So glad I tried the EPM meds, even though vet thought I was nuts LOL

As EPM is pretty common around here it’s a pretty standard treatment for neuro issues with no real cause. However, I’ve worked with several horses with EPM and IMO he has none of the symptoms.
I’m glad your girl improved!