Lameness after injury - need to hear your stories

[TBJumper]

Posting for the first time, worried and hope to find some similar experiences.

We had a massive, record snow storm last week in Alberta Canada, roads became impassable. The next day, my 7 year old TB showjumper came back from pasture with a cut on the inside of her front pastern. She also scraped the pastern all the way to the bottom, but very shallow scrapes. She was lame at the trot. The cut was full thickness of the skin but did not seem much deeper than that. I called the vet and sent them some photos. They did not seem too concerned and said they could only come in a few days. So this is 2 days from now. They know she is still lame today on day 5.

The cut is improving slowly but the lameness does not seem to be much better. She has been on stall rest. No heat, or swelling anywhere other than around the cut today. She had more swelling initially around the same area. She is still sore around the cut - obvious reaction when I press on the surrounding skin.

I know if can be many things but I am just stressed out and looking for stories that sound like mine…

Thanks.

[SporthorseFun]

I am wondering if the cut is part of the leg having more trauma, from bruising maybe, and it is sore? My horse got kicked on the hind cannon bone, it bled like crazy, and like you, I sent pictures to the vet. The vet said the cut didn’t look worry some and to wrap with a standing wrap after treating with Vetericin. The leg swelled for three days, so I wrapped a couple more days in a standing wrap, even though the vet said 24 hours. He was not lame though, and I guess it was a deep cut, but not so traumatizing to the leg. I understand your concern, and you are smart to want more information. Please keep us posted. Speedy healing.

[TBJumper]

Thanks for much. Our trainer and I collectively pushed the vet so they are coming tomorrow morning to do diagnostics. Will keep you posted. I agree with you - I think she stepped into something in deep snow without being able to see and maybe twisted her leg or something.

[IPEsq]

I’d probably pull SAA when the vet comes and maybe start antibiotics depending on how that comes out. It’s good that there isn’t much swelling. There is a lot of movement in that area so could just be ouchy from the cuts. It wouldn’t hurt to ultrasound the soft tissue just in case.

[TBJumper]

In case someone is reading and interested in the outcome. She was barely lame at all today - of course :). The vet said the level of lameness she had before and now was consistent with where the cut was - movement was pulling the skin and was painful. They found no other problems. She is back outside and will be off for another week before going back to work. Said to keep the cut wrapped until it closed but not to restrict movement to allow for a full range of motion once it healed. No sign of any infection either so no need for antibiotics. What a relief :)).

There is so much information on the web that suggests that any lameness with these cuts is a big issue. Apparently it can just be from the cut skin itself. While it is still wise to get a vet to look at these higher risk cuts, lameness does not always mean it is a huge problem…

[hybriseris]

@TBJumper

She was barely lame at all today - of course

Ha, of course! Glad the outcome seems simple, speedy healing to your mare!

[SporthorseFun]

Awesome! This is good to know. Thank you!