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  Discussion on Could lameness be result of club foot
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Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2000 - 12:36 pm:

My 6 yr old QH has a very minor club foot that has been there since birth. He was sound until this past Feb. when he developed a fairly pronounced lameness (at the trot) of his left front leg (the club foot). The vet nerve blocked to test for lameness and detected it to be in the fetlock area. After one week we radiographed and found nothing. He was then stall rested for 2 weeks. The lameness became less severe. It is 3+ months later and I have stuck to very light exercise. Primarily walking with no more than 10 min. total trotting. Yet he still has a very minor lameness at the trot (seems to be a general shortness of stride on that side). My vet was out a few weeks ago and felt that my farrier is keeping his toes too long. He told me to have the farrier do more of a 4 pt trim bringing the shoe back and rockering the toes. I had changed farriers the previous summer and the vet did not like what he was seeing. The farrier did as asked and the vet saw him again a week later. He liked the shoeing job and said I could beging working my horse again lightly and to hose or ice the leg after working him.
Do you think this type of lameness described could be the result of the farrier not correctly shoeing my horse? Does my vet's suggestions make sense? How long would you guess it will take for the horse to be sound? Also, do you think lateral movement at the walk (side pass, shoulder in, turns on forehand) cause too much stress?

I'm at my wits end. It's show season and I can't do much of anything. Any other suggestions?

Posted on Monday, May 29, 2000 - 7:14 pm:

Hello Dana,
Without examining the horse we cannot answer any of your questions: they are all possible but need to be proved and even with an exam some will be subjective.

But we do know what you need to do: get a better diagnosis than a lameness referable to the ankle area. I would like to see the nerve blocks repeated, you would not be the first to have a lameness change. Instead of doing the 4 pt low volar, first do a intrarticular fetlock to see if your problem is in or out of the joint. If the problem is in the joint, if it is you have new avenues of treatment open to you. Radiographs may be worth retaking to see if there have been any changes.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 28, 2001 - 8:35 pm:

I wanted to let everyone know that my horse did become completely sound. I still don't know for sure if the shoeing is the reason, but it certainly has not hurt. I am back to heavy work, including lateral and even have begun jumping small fences again. I pulled the shoes for the winter months and continue the four point trim and he still seems fine. Tends to trip less without shoes too. Good news is great to share!
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