grace Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 (edited) Just wondering if anyone else saw Countryfile yesterday there was an article on abandoned horses.....if you missed its worth a look on the iplayer Edited May 14, 2012 by grace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooster Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Glad Loki was feeling a bit better today. am getting really frustrated with the vets now. They just keep nerve blocking various areas of his legs and not finding anything. Wouldn't mind if they hadn't already done this 4 weeks ago. They are now talking about doing an MRI scan. Will ask them tomorrow if going ahead with the scan will affect the management of the problem. As if it is something soft tissue that the MRI will pick up and treatment will be bute and box rest, I'd rather do that than spend a fortune on an MRI scan and still have the same outcome... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooster Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 I think I have just made a bit of a fool of myself on the phone to my usual vet I posted on the BD forum about the problems that we have been having, and one poster suggested I call my vets up and get their take on the results so far (something I hadn't even considered doing). So I phoned the vets up, ended up in tears, then the dogs all started barking and I feel a right muppet. Anyway, Emma said that they were still awaiting his discharge forms from his latest visit, and then seemed really surprised when I told her that he was still there. Anyway, she is going to give Leahurst a ring and get all the results faxed over so far, then Peter (practice owner) is going to have a look over them and call me back with his take on the situation. My friend who is a vet student there is in the middle of her finals at the moment, so she hasn't been able to check on him like she did last time (which I totally understand). I just really miss him :mecry: I keep looking at horses for sale, but then feel really guilty as Blue may still come sound yet. My friend said that if we treat it as tendon/ligament damage, it'll be about 12 months rehab before he'll be back to full fitness again, which is a long time when there is no diagnosis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Posted May 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 I really feel for you Lets hope your vet can get it sorted as sounds like Leahurst aren't doing anything your vet couldn't be doing at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabbagepatch88 Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 Oh gooster poor you really hope you get it sorted! I was really impressed with milo yesterday. Ever since he's had the spavin hes been reluctant to round or carry himself in walk, I guess as its uncomfortable for him to take the weight behind. Yesterday I hacked him and where nomally he marches off at the quickest walk known to man, he steadied, came completely off the forehand and I could feel the hinds really powering underneath him. He was completely light and wonderful for the entire hack which is unusually good for him even on a good day! He had the physio last week and I've started riding in my gp saddle again as I'm convinced my dressage one is too narrow - so I'm hoping that helps but also thinking those hocks must be feeling better. Got the vet tomorrow!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Posted May 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 Just been nosy and had a look at the BD forum. Interesting what they say about foot balence, do you remember a few years ago when I moved Loki and started using a different farrier I had lameness problems, each time the vet came out he was lame on a different or more legs! We did all the nerve blocks and xrays and nothing conclusive was found. It was only when I begged (and added a fair few tears too!) my old farrier to come out and assess him that he tore apart the way his feet were, there was a huge improvement after one shoeing and he was completely sound after the second visit. Shoeing / foot balence was never mentioned by my vet. Might be worth getting a reputable remedial farrier out to give you an opinion on the way his feet are balenced when he comes home 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooster Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 He can come home :partytime: Spoke to Peter Milner today who is the big Ortho specialist at Leahurst. Basically they have seen inflammation of some ligaments behind his fetlock, but don't think it is severe enough to cause the level of lameness he has. As that is all we have to go on though, he is being sent home with anti inflammatories and box rest. We have one month of total rest, then a month of walking in hand, then month 3 he can go out in a small paddock. Will need to ring them tomorrow and remind them he won't eat bute. Will have a look at his feet when he gets home, he had only just had this set done, so will take some pics of his feet for you to see when he's home. Have ridden my yard owner's youngster today. He's rising 6 and 17hh! He was really good, only walked him around, but he is such a laid back horse. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grace Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 Im so glad he can come home....I know just how you feel though I eventually had to retire my mare after going through the box rest, in hand and small padock thing 3 times.....I gave in and retired her to pasture (she was 14) .... part of me still regrets it but i couldnt put her through anymore.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Posted May 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 So pleased he can come home Wow three months is a long time on box rest if they don't know for sure thats the problem, hope it goes quickly for you both. Hope all goes well with the vet today CP I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much but Loki does seem to be getting brighter. It didn't exactly show in a good way last night as for the first time ever I couldn't catch the monster! He was charging around bucking, leaping and snaking his head around winding all the others up, even when I managed to get all the others standing with me and my packet of polos he carried on on his own. It did backfire on him as was almost wimping out of riding as weather so horrid but by the time I got him I was soaked through so thought I would repay the favour and get him wet too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabbagepatch88 Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 Good news, he's finally made an improvement! He was sound in walk and trot on the yard and sound in walk and trot in the school on the lunge BUT flexion tests were a bit iffy, he put him down as moderately positive in both hinds but did say he was quick to recover. Next step is to drop him down to 1 bute per day and continue my normal routine, next check in 3 months. Vet agreed moving him so he can live out was a good plan, I hope it just makes the extra improvement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grace Posted May 17, 2012 Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 I hope things are looking up for all those with leg/feet issues....and you get a summer of soundness at least the ground isnt too firm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BilRed Posted May 17, 2012 Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 What sorts of things are different for a horse living out 24/7? I mean what kind of difference might it make to them health-wise ... or otherwise too I guess. Just curious. Sorry about your Dad Clare. Sending get well soon thoughts to all the poorly neds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabbagepatch88 Posted May 17, 2012 Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 It is seen to be better for them because its much more natural and obviously beneficial for their joints etc to live out because they can keep moving. Horses who are stabled spend a long time stood still which is no good especially for horses with arthritis. The bad things are that if you have a dainty type they may loose condition, or on the flip side if you have a good-doer on good grazing they will get too fat. In the winter there is more risk of mud fever etc but that could happen with any horse that is turned out! In my opinion its better for them mentally and physically to be out, as long as they are correctly rugged and fed, have access to shelter and water then they should be as happy as Larry! Of course you'll always get the horses who stand by the gate waiting to come in to their nice cosy stables Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooster Posted May 17, 2012 Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 Blue is home He really didn't want to get into the trailer today, but we got there in the end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabbagepatch88 Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 Glad Blue is home, I bet hes being spoilt rotten Had a bit of a panic last night, when I went to get Milo in from the field I knew something was wrong because normally he sees me coming and desperately tries to scoff his last few mouthfulls of grass, and yesterday he was just standing there staring into the distance. As I got nearer I could see blood pouring down his leg and as i lifted up his rug I could see he had a nice big wound on the inside of his front leg. I got him back to the yard and washed it off and it was really quite deep. It was definately a kick but it was like a slice. It had gone all the way down to the dark muscle so after getting the entire yards opinion I called the vet because I thought it would need to be stitched. Fortunately for me my vet was literally at the yard opposite so he popped in. After much poking and prodding he decided not to stitch it but as the wound is quite deep he's given me a 5 day course of penicillin, I have to inject it into his neck. Im really quite squeamish but I actually managed to do it last night and this morning so pretty chuffed with myself Milo none the wiser, cant understand what all the fuss was about. With all the bute he has in his system I doubt he felt a thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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