Has anyone had a horse that felt lame on one specific limb (head-bobbing) but tracked up correctly on all limbs in both directions? Has been extensively hoof tested by farrier and heading to vet clinic but wanted to ask here because I’m totally perplexed.
Is the horse gaited?
Rein lame?
Have you blocked?
Under saddle?
It ended up being a navicular avulsion fracture and a DDFT strain - one month stall rest, two months small turnout, and three months tack walking working up to trotting after 8 weeks.
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Yikes. I’m glad you found a diagnosis and thanks for the update!
Is that a typical rehab schedule for such an injury? I haven’t dealt with either of these things, just a plethora of other soft tissue stuff, so I’m curious. How old do you think the injury was when it was found? My last soft tissue issue was a year of rehab - I do not envy anyone dealing with even a bit of that. Good luck!
Thank you! I believe this is a typical rehab timeline but I will stress that the avulsion fracture is extremely mild and the DDFT strain is mild as well. In fact, the fracture did not even show up on x-ray and was identified by MRI. He went back to the clinic for ProStride and Shockwave last week and the vet was very happy with his progress and allowed him to go outside a week early!
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Hi! Just found this thread – I’m dealing with the same thing with my mare (head bobbing on LF but tracking up etc). We’ve tried everything, except for shelling out thousands for MRI. I’m wondering if maybe she also has DDFT strain…do you have any videos of your horse pre-treatment?
I don’t but I will say - my guy rehabbed and was doing great for months but came up completely lame on the same limb one day randomly - same symptoms (no swelling heat etc.). I couldn’t afford another MRI and x-rays again showed nothing (didn’t do an utlrasound since this wouldn’t have shown up), so I committed to the same rehab, but I tripled everything. The horse just finished stall rest and started small turnout; he will have off until spring which will make it a full year of having off. It really sucks and I don’t know at this point at what capacity he will come back. All this to say - if you suspect a DDFT issue, treat it like one. Only time and rest can help these types of injuries.
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I had one with DDFT strain in the foot plus a bone bruise in the same area plus something else. Treated, rehabbed, returned to work. Then went lame again with the same thing. Treated. Started rehab multiple times, only to have him go lame part way through the trot work. Finally couldn’t even get him sound. Turned out without shoes for six months. Horse miraculously fixed. Back to jumping and showing at the beginning of 2022. No problems with the front end, but we do treat him like gold. And we have been dealing with an SI issue, but that seems to be under control.
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Love that success story - gives me hope.
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