Tuesday morning my coming-three year filly showed up for breakfast three legged lame, after being just fine at bed check the night before (she stays turned out, just stalled long enough to eat). She had no desire to put any weight on her left front, but hopped into her stall ready for breakfast. I checked her over from stem to stern, and there was no swelling, no heat, no marks, nothing in her hoof - I couldn’t find a single reason why she would be limping. Not sure what to do, but knowing she wouldn’t like being stalled and might make things worse, I opted to just let her be for the day and see what, if anything, showed itself that evening. I was thinking maybe she had laid on a rock or rolled on one, she was stiff and sore, something along those lines. Was hoping it would work itself out and she’d be better by dinner.
Husband checked in that afternoon when he gets home, “Hey did you know Zoey was limping?” She had been lying down in an open stall when he arrived, and stayed down while he went and said hi (he knows horses lying down can mean trouble). Then she got up, realized her friends had left her behind, and took off after them in a short-strided, three legged, choppy run.
I gave her a dose of Bute that night and again the next (Wednesday) morning. She was still limping badly, so I called the vet and explained what I was seeing, and made an appointment for Thursday, the soonest he could see her. I chose not to take her in as an emergency - she was fine otherwise, great appetite and and full of P&V, just - lame. And she was now putting weight on it, albeit very little - would throw it out to the left side and use the inside of her hoof to walk on.
Thursday afternoon I loaded her, still acting like her leg was falling off, and off to the vet we went. First thing he did was block her hoof - after a few minutes, she walked and trotted off fine. Still slightly gimpy, but definitely massive improvement. A little more blocking, even better gait, no limping at all. Okay, it’s in her hoof. Took some x-rays, nothing there, vet says it’s probably an abscess, been seeing a lot lately for some reason. Okay, cool, we’ll pack and soak until it comes out.
While she’s there, we go ahead and do her annual stuff, since was due. She got sedated for the X-rays, and then even more for her dental work, as she had some teeth ready come out. Pulled those, got her shots, etc. and then I load a very drunk horse back in the trailer and bring her home.
And she has not taken a lame step since.
Yesterday (Friday) she was throwing her tail up in the air, trotting around all snorty - and not limping. Her hoof is not packed, and I’ve checked and nothing has come out either top or bottom, like it would if the abscess had pushed through. I only gave her three doses (1 gm each) of Bute - Thursday evening, Friday morning and Friday night, mostly for the teeth but also in case she was still gimpy, but chose not to this morning, just to see.
Is there a chance her hoof is just still numb from being blocked? I haven’t called the vet yet, just watching to see what happens, but I have no other real explanation, just conjecture.
What do y’all think happened, for her to go from “I can’t put weight on it” to “I’m sound as dollar”, in one hour and half vet visit? I’d loved to hear your opinions!