Took this horse to the Vet today for Xrays. 27 yr old TB/QH cross former mounted police horse. Swelling in RF above the fetlock and down. Heat, elevated pulse. Resistant to shoe being pulled on RF. Reluctant to stand solely on the RF for any small amount of time. Stands normally bearing weight on the LF, slight reaction to hoof testers on the LF. No swelling in the limb of the LF, some heat, slightly elevated pulse. Disclaimer* Foot was not all the way on the board so M/L is not accurate.
Standard disclaimers apply..... Please thank the vet for using radio-opaque markers as a part of his/her radiography protocol. Not much sole depth, some remodeling at the tip of p3, the solar margin of p3 is irregular and in spots, diffuse, minor rotation of p3 and hoof capsule away from parallel orientation of wall and dorsal surface of p3. Perhaps some exotosis at the PIPJ. My SWAG is sole bruising, early stage pedal osteitis and low grade laminitis. If you're using shoe pullers, don't. You're exacerbating the problem. Use crease nail pullers to remove the nails one by one. You are cutting the clinches before you attempt to remove the shoe aren't you?
Does this horse present visible separation of the sole/wall junction from the lateral side to the medial toe quarter? Perhaps inflammation/heat/bounding digital pulse due compromised vascular bed at solar corium as bony column descends. Whiteline disease? As Rick noted, radiographic markers would help with emphasis on CE measurement. Cheers, Mark
Yeah they were backed up so I didn't press for a better setup. omg, cutting the clinches would have made it easier. I still love you Rick...... most times. I was using my pullers so I definately won't next time. Horse is 27 yrs old, notice anything interesting in the rads in regards to his age?
No visible separation, the vet checked the foot throughly as he was surprised by this. They had an emergency that put them back over an hour, so they were quite rushed.
Kim Kim Kim - Don't you think it's a serious problem when you can't tell when a horses foot is that short and that you shouldn't be using pull offs?
Eric, You really feel that I'm that bad of a farrier? or Are you messing with me? It was a joke on not cutting the clenches. For a Police Horse with a long career and his age........ I was surprised at the lack of ringbone, sidebone, etc. What I thought was usual age related problems
I have no problem saying you shouldn't be shoeing horses on your own. In a real apprenticeship you most likely wouldn't be allowed to clinch right now.
I know I have a lot to learn, but I just don't feel like I'm doing as bad as, "not allowed to even clinch". I know I don't want to feel excluded on here.
i remove the nails one at a time with nail pullers with a horse i think might have issues , the first sign of discomfort removing the shoe would suggest that would be the way to go sorry Rick just realised you already pointed it out Kim without wishing to be rude , why are doing this horse and evaluating x-rays with your experience? chris
I posted them for this forum. The Vet has already given the diagnosis. I was giving time for others to weigh in. Thought others enjoyed the previous Xray threads and was continuing in same fashion.
For those actually interested......... Mild Laminitis, Abscess in RF medial side, WLD is the shadow, chip on P3 on lateral side, demineralization on P3 medial side RF. Both Fronts have slight rotation. Prescription from Vet. (I was there) Wants 1 degree wedge, caudal support (IM), take off more toe, breakover at tip of P3. Said no frog support, didn't elaborate. There was only one thing I noticed after looking these over more, that the Vet didn't mention. What is this on the distal medial end of P2?
Kim, you are not excluded on here. Nobody's going to be babied either. I'm not kidding when I say you probably wouldn't be able to clinch yet under a real apprenticeship. Certainly not all day under every horse yet. Sore feet and stocked up above the foot is common. You don't take a horse to a vet with a very obvious lameness because they can only diagnose the obvious. Pulling nails out one by one is SOP when the sole is sore. Pulse, heat, stocking up, all suggest hoof testing the foot. Money would not have been spent on a vet if an experienced Farrier was on hand. It may be harsh but it's a fact. How you handle this criticism is on you.
This above would be called constructive criticism vs. this down below which I would call demeaning. I have no issue with constructive criticism. In fact I welcome such.
The money spent on the Vet was by ME. I have been shoeing this horse at no charge since I started. He is another retired City horse, and though I don't own him, I still care for him. I wanted the Xrays so I could learn. This is the first incident I've had with this horse and turns out he has Laminitis and an Abscess. I think I've done ok so far, and My mentor said he will help if things go south. So professionally I'm on a good footing with this.
by the time you have brought the toe back and fitted the shoe with the breakover as prescribed and plenty of lenght would a 1deg wedge make a difference ? chris
I don't think so, but Mentor said make the Vet happy. Lower the heels a touch, use the wedge. So I'll do that and see how it goes.
