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Discussion on Knee Lameness Strategy
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Member:
njen
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 21, 2010 - 11:50 am:
I have a 7 yr old draft cross that I bought in April. He vetted fine and I rode him for the next few months (no jumping). Beginning in July he was off at the trot on the left front every now and then, and in late July he was head bobbing lame with no rider at the trot. With no improvement, I had my vet out who confirmed a left front leg lameness. He blocked the foot and he was still lame so the vet determined it was a knee issue. We put him on Cosequin and the month of August we did a round of Adequan. He was rested most of that time. I've been lightly riding him (walking and trotting a bit) and he's been fine except for a bout of lameness here and there. I don't know what to think. The recent lameness is not as bad as it was, but it is noticeable. I don't know what the initial cause of the problem was other than our suspicion that he moved the salt block a few feet from its normal position (it is in a plastic holder that could possibly be moved by a foot). I don't know what the next step to take is. Maybe an ultrasound? Xray? If he did pull something in his knee does it take a really long time to heal even with the Adequan? The other odd thing is that the lameness only appears when he's trotted to the right and it's his left front that's hurt. Does that indicate anything as well? Any ideas or suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 21, 2010 - 6:42 pm:
Hello Jennifer,
It is not clear to me how you got from the foot not being the problem, a pronouncement that would be strongly supported by a negative abaxial sesamoid nerve block, to a lame knee? Radiographs and ultrasounds are not that useful until the lameness is accurately localized.
The article HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Localizing Lameness in the Horse describes in detail the procedures you should follow to get a good diagnosis of the lameness. Only then will you know what your the proper treatment is.
DrO
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