Lameness, no heat or swelling

[Anna.m]

Summary: My show mare has developed lameness in her left front leg. There is no heat or swelling. Vet will be out in a couple weeks (large area, 1 vet) and unfortunately, I am not sure how much help the vet will be as they are just large animal vets not just equine vets. So I am seeing if you guys can maybe give me an idea as to what may be happening with my mare.

She finished show season strong with no issues. Had a week off as per our usual routine. Had 1 ride which she was great. Then she pulled her right front shoe in pasture. So she had about 5 days off before she developed the lameness in her left front. Her pasture is very muddy, with almost knee high clay mud and a slippery hill. (she’s moving barns and away from this dangerous paddock) There was no heat or swelling anywhere.

Originally, I treated the foot thinking it was an abscess. Soaking with warm water and Epsom salts, and polticeing, while on stall rest with only hand walking. Pulled her shoe. After 4 days she was going nuts in the stall, I lunged her, and she was sound. So I put her back outside. After a day she developed the lameness again. I was thinking maybe this was because her foot was sensitive from the soaking, so I started treating it with Coppercare.

It has now been a couple weeks. She is still lame. There is still no heat, and no swelling. As I said earlier, the vet will be out in a couple weeks as it is not life threatening, but I’m not sure how much help the vet will be. So if anyone has any ideas on what it could be, or what to look for please feel free to share.

[BlueDrifter]

I hope the vet can narrow it down to hoof for you! Straining the collateral ligaments in the hoof is common, and since it is in the hoof and soft tissue, only an MRI can diagnose for sure – recovery is 6-9 months. Shockwave apparently helps, but need MRI for that, too

[Eventur4life]

I had something similar to this with a TB gelding at my barn! what happened was he pulled his front shoe and it was only off for 2 days then we put another on, but he would not stop limping and not moving! it got so bad that at one point he just laid down and stayed there till we went out! what it ended up being was part of the nail broke off in the hoof when he pulled his shoe so that was in there and it ended up getting infected and eventually abscessed.

is there heat when you feel the front of the hoof itself or none at all?

[Anna.m]

No heat at all.

[joiedevie99]

Lameness that disappears with rest and returns with movement could be soft tissue. I’d want her on stall or small paddock (with safe footing) rest until you can get an ultrasound. There are plenty of soft tissue injuries (both in the leg and the foot) that don’t come with noticeable heat or swelling.

[Magicboy]

I went through this all summer with a mysterious lameness that was indeed soft tissue/muscle strain in a shoulder. Used Bute-less instead of nsaids and acupuncture. Took 2 months of just walking. Horse is fine now

[beau159]

Hmm… I would still wonder about an abscess. It is possible for lameness to “come and go” with them as it moves around. I’ve been told to never put a horse on stall rest for an abscess. You want them to move around b/c that’s going to help break the abscess.

Personally, I would think she would have some sort of outward sign if she strained something (soft tissue) bad enough to create the lameness. Some heat. Or swelling. Or a bump, or something.

So the fact that you say there is zero outward signs just makes me wonder about an intermittent abscess.Especially since you say she’s been in some mud.

Are you able to haul to a lameness vet? I’m not sure how much help a general vet is going to be for a lameness case.

How lame is she? Is it subtle, or it is an obvious huge limp?

[Anna.m]

Unfortunately, im kinda in the middle of nowhere. We are hours upon hours from an equine vet. And since there is only one vet in the area they are picky about rules. (if you see another vet for anything other then an out of town emergency they will cut you as a client, same thing if an equine dentist comes up)

Also, i’ve poked and prodded all over her body, and have gotten zero pain reaction. (and this is a sensitive horse)

[KLeaphart]

Personally, I’d still haul out for an equine vet. Maybe you could find a barn that’s midways between you and the vet. I wouldn’t worry about the other vet’s rules. Unless they have gps on you or are at your barn daily they won’t know you’ve used another vet (unless of course new vet requests records from them, but I’m assuming you have copies). And unless your large animal vet provides quality dental, they have no reason to fire you.

I’m slightly frustrated for you. I can’t imagine not having a local equine vet AND having a ridiculously strict large animal vet.

[J-Lu]

If the vet can’t come out for a couple of weeks, try a course of Bute. 3-4 days. It that works and then your horse feels better or doesn’t feel better, that’s info that the vet can use.

The vet will likely take radiographs. The next is soft tissue imaging.

I’m not sure if I’d feel comfortable waiting for a vet to come in 2-3 weeks for a lameness that that’s been going on for a while. If you have a trailer, I’d recommend hauling out to an equine vet. Make something up to your current vet who may not understand why you wish to wait a month or more for them to come out to investigate lameness.