Very Strange Lameness; Video and Rads Included

[endlessclimb]

For what it’s worth, we ultrasounded my late mares suspensories twice and didn’t see anything, and we xrayed her stifles and injected them twice and it didnt help. Nothing helped her, she’d go sounder if in really regular work but never perfect.

It might be a collateral ligament if it blocked low. My mare would lightswitch go from that humpy flat tire to nearly sound though, without any changes. Just… boom. So the standing for a second for the block could have “reset” whatever was ouchy. My mare was a weird, weird medical case though.

[mmeqcenter]

I’d definitely ultrasound. My mare had a minor DDFT strain in a hind limb that was all the way down between the heel bulbs, also blocked sound at fetlock.

[candyappy]

@StormyDay

It was fitted to him a year ago, but his pudge level has changed so much I would think it’s probably due to that.
I’ll have it checked again once he’s sound and has dropped a few pounds.

I would not ride or jump him again until you get answers.

[RGFEventer]

Mine presented similarly with a collateral tear in the coffin joint up front. We had to do an MRI to diagnose, but I was told the presentation was pretty typical. He was nearly non-weight bearing when it happened but then only a 1/5 lame when the vet got there and basically sound later that week…but the damage had been done. Similar to a twisted ankle, it hurts a lot in the moment and then not so much.

[StormyDay]

@candyappy

@StormyDay

It was fitted to him a year ago, but his pudge level has changed so much I would think it’s probably due to that.
I’ll have it checked again once he’s sound and has dropped a few pounds.

I would not ride or jump him again until you get answers.

Yes, I’ll be waiting until he is sound again; which he clearly isn’t now

[StormyDay]

@RGFEventer

Mine presented similarly with a collateral tear in the coffin joint up front. We had to do an MRI to diagnose, but I was told the presentation was pretty typical. He was nearly non-weight bearing when it happened but then only a 1/5 lame when the vet got there and basically sound later that week…but the damage had been done. Similar to a twisted ankle, it hurts a lot in the moment and then not so much.

Yeah, I think MRI will end up being the next thing. Strangely he is only lame at the trot. No issues at the walk.

[endlessclimb]

Of course after clearing it with the vet, I’d be handwalking him half to death to help that weightloss if it doesn’t make the lameness situation worse.

[Simkie]

I’d also consider sending the rads off to a boarded radiologist for review. You’ve spent the $$ to shoot them, it’s just not that much to have someone who really specializes in radiology give you an opinion on them.

I hope you get to the bottom of it!

[UrbanHennery]

@StormyDay

He’s now being muzzled 24/7 and is on a thyroid medication to try to get him to jumpstart his weight loss. If only I could also take said thyroid meds

He’s not my first who needs muzzling all the time; I have 4 others. But I truthfully just did not see him gaining weight.

I get that. I knew mine had gotten heavy a few years ago, but didn’t realize how bad it was until I had to call the vet out for colic. She asked if he always looked like a full term pregnant mare or if that might be gas distension. I had to admit that he always looked like that… And then do the horsey diet.

[StormyDay]

@Simkie

I’d also consider sending the rads off to a boarded radiologist for review. You’ve spent the $$ to shoot them, it’s just not that much to have someone who really specializes in radiology give you an opinion on them.

I hope you get to the bottom of it!

Do you have a recommendation on where/who to send to? I haven’t even the faintest clue where to start to look to find one.

[StormyDay]

@UrbanHennery

@StormyDay

He’s now being muzzled 24/7 and is on a thyroid medication to try to get him to jumpstart his weight loss. If only I could also take said thyroid meds

He’s not my first who needs muzzling all the time; I have 4 others. But I truthfully just did not see him gaining weight.

I get that. I knew mine had gotten heavy a few years ago, but didn’t realize how bad it was until I had to call the vet out for colic. She asked if he always looked like a full term pregnant mare or if that might be gas distension. I had to admit that he always looked like that… And then do the horsey diet.

I once had my vet out to check if the mare I had just purchased was preggers. She was so wide, I was sure she was about to pop a baby out at any moment.
She was not. That was an awkward vet appointment

[Ghazzu]

https://acvr.org/find-a-specialist/

[Calvincrowe]

I’ve had a few horses do this “flat tire” thing in the past. One was a DDFT ‘bow’ in the hoof—dead lame, then better, but never, ever sound again…sorry, I started with the worst. I had my jumper essentially “sprain his ankle” in his left hind. Vet palpated, ultrasounded, blocked and given my funds, said stall rest/handwalk/small paddock turnout/tack walk and in 3 months he was back to jumping around. Same jumper presented dead lame LH again a few years later. Off to lameness expert, full workup, 2 hours later…drum roll… blown abscess in heel bulb. Yup, took her and a colleague to finally see the tiny hole in his heel and track on a radiograph.

So, there’s always hope-- suspensories and ligaments do heal. They take time and patience, that’s for sure! And sometimes, it isn’t at all what is initially diagnosed. Good luck!

[Simkie]

@StormyDay

Do you have a recommendation on where/who to send to? I haven’t even the faintest clue where to start to look to find one.

It looks like Ghazzu has a link for you, but I always just ask my vet. They always have plenty of resources. It’s not an usual or weird ask–it’s a super reasonable request. My small animal vet even does it automatically!

[JB]

@StormyDay

Strangely he is only lame at the trot. No issues at the walk.

This is why the trot, and not the walk or canter, is the best gait to look for lameness. The 2-beat nature, the symmetrical nature, the suspension between strides to cause more weight bearing, all combine to make more lameness show up more easily.

[IPEsq]

Friend’s horse presented similarly with a collateral ligament injury in the fetlock. Since the X-rays look good, I’d try ultrasound first before going to MRI. Less risky and less expensive to perform, and you might find the issue. If not, then you’d need the MRI.

[Fiesta01]

My first thought with the under saddle video was stifle.

[starsandsun]

Wanted to mention that what worked for us was Metaboral. Thyro-L was pretty much of a disaster.

[evtrmom]

curious about your experience with Thyro-L? Our chunky OTTB with a Thyroid issue has been on it for 3 years.

[Bluey]

Our Cushing horse was on Thyroid-L for years, as per blood tests.
It was helping very much to keep him, along with Prascend, healthy and sound for way longer than the vet had guessed, looking at his initially abysmal blood results.

It may not work for other horses, I guess it depends where their blood work reads.