....brought him in, he looked more happy then I have seen him in a while.
Stuck him on the lunge line....held my breath...no stiffness..Someone who was watching said to me: "You know, unless you were really looking for it, he looks pretty damn good." He IS still short in front and not quite stepping up under himself like I know he can - but, that can be understandable given his situation.
Someone else made the suggestion: I think you should ride him, get him stretching and supple. There is a LOT you can accomplish just walking for 35-40 minutes.
Hummmm, they have a point.
Tomorrow - I will see how he is and make a game time decision...and more importantly then anything else, listen to my gut!!
(Which at the moment is growling at me, but SO went out to grab Chinese while we watch the Oscar's...Anne Hathaway is super cute.)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Riddle Me This...
Before starting in on my rant - because it will be a rant - I want to take a second to say thank you to everyone who comments and sends me emails. Honestly - it is great to know that there are 'inquiring minds who want to know' what is going on with Chester. It means a lot to me. Thank you.
So what do I do:
1 - when DVME says for sure it is an abscess.
2 - when Farrier Extraordinaire says for sure it is NOT an abscess.
The farrier busted out the hoof testers yesterday afternoon - and HAULED on them.
Chester, did. Not. Flinch. Once.
He poked, prodded and came up blank. "And his x-rays were clean?", he asked me. I nodded with a look of dismay on my face - "There is no way this horse has an abscess." Think about it. His foot - after a month of wrapping - is soft. You would think that an abscess would be easy for a farrier - who is very very very good at his job - to find. He came up blank. "I think it is higher up, in his shoulder maybe - but there is definitely not anything wrong in his hoof. I would get him outside and moving around because he has been in his stall for the past month and that is not doing him any good."
Great - I have one person who I trust telling me one thing that is the complete polar opposite of what the other person I trust telling me. Awe. Some.
So - now what? Mystery lameness it is?! Who knows anymore...because this morning - he was not lame. He was stiff...but not head bobbing dead lame and there was no heat anywhere. (I have left this poultice off - because really, what's the point now?!). We lunged him, and after about 5 minutes, he was looking more like himself...even stretching down a little and snorting. Hummmm. I am completely dumbfounded. That is a complete understatement - I am going out of my friggin mind trying to figure this out.
There are a couple of theories now:
1 - Remember how a couple weeks ago - I really thought the abscess had burst, his shoe went on, he pulled it off in the field and he came up dead lame?! Well, if it WAS an abscess, then maybe it actually did burst and he was simply foot sore....?
2 - Because he has been in his stall for so long, and not moving, he has lostthe majority of the muscle we had built up over the past 6 months, a lot of muscle through his butt, over his back and neck. Also he has been standing, not moving, he has limited circulation and we know that this horse does better with mobility (ie because of his stifles) so he could be super sore because of the lack of mobility.
3 - There is soft tissue damage higher up in his leg. Which would be absolutely AWFUL...which is somewhat causing me to second guess everything now because originally when this happened ON DECEMBER 30 - FML - , I thought it was something higher up in his leg. Remember - we were going to the left, he spooked - at NOTHING, 30 minutes into our school - jumped to the left 10 feet, then came up dead lame. But - Dr. Cove (chiro) cleared his shoulder...AND on that note he has full mobility in his shoulder because I have been keeping my eye on that AND farrier and I yesterday checked it out. No resistance.
4 - It is a complete mystery lameness that will haunt me for the rest of my existence....
Yesterday - I was thinking it would be a good idea to have DVME come out to block his foot and work up from there if need be. But this morning, I am thinking differently, simply because he was NOT lame. (Remember that I am now an honorary member of eventer79's poverty induced veterinary bill club, so, I think we might hold off. If I had an unlimited source of money - hahahaha - I'd more then likely block ASAP.) Stiff YES. Lame, NO. I don't think blocking will tell me anything. He is stiff, what does that tell me...? He needs to move, increase his circulation, and build up some muscles again. (Right?!)
What will happen now.
~ EVERYONE has said - get the horse outside he needs to move: He will go outside in the morning, and I will bring him in around 2. That will give him 6 hours/day outside for the moment.
~ When he comes in - I will lunge him for 5 or 10 minutes to see how he moves.
~ This will happen until Thursday and which point he will be looked over by a masseuse (we have one - LUCKY) who boards at the barn.
The consensus - for the moment - is he is muscle sore. Let's hope hope hope HOPE that is the case.
It is sooo hard. 5 people will give you 5 different answers when you ask them the same question. In this case - a LOT of people who are very knowledgeable are all saying the same thing. Muscle soreness, stiffness, get him outside, increase his circulation, give him a couple days and see what happens. That is what we are going to do for the moment. I will monitor him for the next 3.5 days - his movement, heat/swelling in his legs, heat in his feet, etc and see where we are.
March 20 - we are supposed to be doing a jumping clinic - but at this point, it might be safer to put off until April... WHEN I start to ride again, we will be doing nothing but walking for at least 10 days - 2 weeks. I will NOT risk my horse at re-aggravating something because I am asking too much of him too soon.
I HOPE this is the right thing to be doing. For the next 3.5 days, I'll eat my lucky charms and rub the Buddha's belly for luck:
In a nutshell, here is the summary:
December 30 - Spooks, comes up dead lame
On and off lameness for 2 weeks - becomes REALLY bad the 3rd week of January
DVME thinks Abscess - we poultice - beginning of February
Middle of Feb - we think the abscess blows, he gets his shoe put on - stick him outside - he PULLS the shoe half off and comes in dead lame...again
Last Wednesday - Feb 17 - x-rays - Clean - poultice with Bran, Epsom Salt, Listerine and DMSO for 10 days
He has been in his stall since the beginning of February
Yesterday - Farrier can't find ANYTHING in his foot - says he needs to get moving and put him outside. I did not wrap his foot.
This morning - no heat in his feet - they all felt the same - no swelling, no heat - lunged and he was stiff, not lame. Put him outside and crossed my fingers.
If anyone has thoughts based on the facts, I would LOVE to know.
C'Mon CHESTER....
So what do I do:
1 - when DVME says for sure it is an abscess.
2 - when Farrier Extraordinaire says for sure it is NOT an abscess.
The farrier busted out the hoof testers yesterday afternoon - and HAULED on them.
Chester, did. Not. Flinch. Once.
He poked, prodded and came up blank. "And his x-rays were clean?", he asked me. I nodded with a look of dismay on my face - "There is no way this horse has an abscess." Think about it. His foot - after a month of wrapping - is soft. You would think that an abscess would be easy for a farrier - who is very very very good at his job - to find. He came up blank. "I think it is higher up, in his shoulder maybe - but there is definitely not anything wrong in his hoof. I would get him outside and moving around because he has been in his stall for the past month and that is not doing him any good."
Great - I have one person who I trust telling me one thing that is the complete polar opposite of what the other person I trust telling me. Awe. Some.
So - now what? Mystery lameness it is?! Who knows anymore...because this morning - he was not lame. He was stiff...but not head bobbing dead lame and there was no heat anywhere. (I have left this poultice off - because really, what's the point now?!). We lunged him, and after about 5 minutes, he was looking more like himself...even stretching down a little and snorting. Hummmm. I am completely dumbfounded. That is a complete understatement - I am going out of my friggin mind trying to figure this out.
There are a couple of theories now:
1 - Remember how a couple weeks ago - I really thought the abscess had burst, his shoe went on, he pulled it off in the field and he came up dead lame?! Well, if it WAS an abscess, then maybe it actually did burst and he was simply foot sore....?
2 - Because he has been in his stall for so long, and not moving, he has lost
3 - There is soft tissue damage higher up in his leg. Which would be absolutely AWFUL...which is somewhat causing me to second guess everything now because originally when this happened ON DECEMBER 30 - FML - , I thought it was something higher up in his leg. Remember - we were going to the left, he spooked - at NOTHING, 30 minutes into our school - jumped to the left 10 feet, then came up dead lame. But - Dr. Cove (chiro) cleared his shoulder...AND on that note he has full mobility in his shoulder because I have been keeping my eye on that AND farrier and I yesterday checked it out. No resistance.
4 - It is a complete mystery lameness that will haunt me for the rest of my existence....
Yesterday - I was thinking it would be a good idea to have DVME come out to block his foot and work up from there if need be. But this morning, I am thinking differently, simply because he was NOT lame. (Remember that I am now an honorary member of eventer79's poverty induced veterinary bill club, so, I think we might hold off. If I had an unlimited source of money - hahahaha - I'd more then likely block ASAP.) Stiff YES. Lame, NO. I don't think blocking will tell me anything. He is stiff, what does that tell me...? He needs to move, increase his circulation, and build up some muscles again. (Right?!)
What will happen now.
~ EVERYONE has said - get the horse outside he needs to move: He will go outside in the morning, and I will bring him in around 2. That will give him 6 hours/day outside for the moment.
~ When he comes in - I will lunge him for 5 or 10 minutes to see how he moves.
~ This will happen until Thursday and which point he will be looked over by a masseuse (we have one - LUCKY) who boards at the barn.
The consensus - for the moment - is he is muscle sore. Let's hope hope hope HOPE that is the case.
It is sooo hard. 5 people will give you 5 different answers when you ask them the same question. In this case - a LOT of people who are very knowledgeable are all saying the same thing. Muscle soreness, stiffness, get him outside, increase his circulation, give him a couple days and see what happens. That is what we are going to do for the moment. I will monitor him for the next 3.5 days - his movement, heat/swelling in his legs, heat in his feet, etc and see where we are.
March 20 - we are supposed to be doing a jumping clinic - but at this point, it might be safer to put off until April... WHEN I start to ride again, we will be doing nothing but walking for at least 10 days - 2 weeks. I will NOT risk my horse at re-aggravating something because I am asking too much of him too soon.
I HOPE this is the right thing to be doing. For the next 3.5 days, I'll eat my lucky charms and rub the Buddha's belly for luck:
December 30 - Spooks, comes up dead lame
On and off lameness for 2 weeks - becomes REALLY bad the 3rd week of January
DVME thinks Abscess - we poultice - beginning of February
Middle of Feb - we think the abscess blows, he gets his shoe put on - stick him outside - he PULLS the shoe half off and comes in dead lame...again
Last Wednesday - Feb 17 - x-rays - Clean - poultice with Bran, Epsom Salt, Listerine and DMSO for 10 days
He has been in his stall since the beginning of February
Yesterday - Farrier can't find ANYTHING in his foot - says he needs to get moving and put him outside. I did not wrap his foot.
This morning - no heat in his feet - they all felt the same - no swelling, no heat - lunged and he was stiff, not lame. Put him outside and crossed my fingers.
If anyone has thoughts based on the facts, I would LOVE to know.
C'Mon CHESTER....
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Plan...Part 1...
Part 1 - simply because we can't have a Part 2 until Part 1 has been completed.
Oh - the summer scheduled has been decided and is up!!! The Events have been chosen and OMG - the First one, is May 21. Grandview - which I have NEVER shown at and whcih I hear is simply awesome... So excited! Also - if all works out according to plan - hahahaha - we will make the move to Training on August 14 at Lane's End...as you recall, Lane's End was Chester's first EVER event last summer and I couldn't think of a better place for him to make the bump up. Their courses are beautiful, the volunteers are incredible and it is a very very VERY well run Event...one of my favourites. I relayed this information on to Chester and promptly told him to get it together...again.
Fingers Crossed, Fingers Crossed, Fingers Crossed....
Tomorrow, my wonderful farrier is coming to trim up Chester and dig for the mystery lameness/ damn abscess...and when I say 'dig' I think he literally means dig. He told me that when Chester reacts in the slightest way to the hoof testers that he will break out the instrument of torture known as an abscess probe (I think) and attempt to dig the blasted thing out.
 |
| I THINK this is what it looks like. |
Part 2 is yet to be determined based on what happens with Part 1 tomorrow...annnnd as we all know when it comes to horses, it is always best to have Part 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, etc...
In an ideal World, this is what I would like to have happen:
Part 1 - YAY - The Damn Abscess has been found and YAY - my wonderful farrier has popped it!
Part 2 - Back to work for Chester. Walking only for a week 2x/day
Part 3 - Trotting a week from tomorrow...sooo March 7?
Part 4 - Be prepared for the jumping clinic that I STILL remained signed up for....fingers crossed, fingers crossed, fingers crossed.
Oh - the summer scheduled has been decided and is up!!! The Events have been chosen and OMG - the First one, is May 21. Grandview - which I have NEVER shown at and whcih I hear is simply awesome... So excited! Also - if all works out according to plan - hahahaha - we will make the move to Training on August 14 at Lane's End...as you recall, Lane's End was Chester's first EVER event last summer and I couldn't think of a better place for him to make the bump up. Their courses are beautiful, the volunteers are incredible and it is a very very VERY well run Event...one of my favourites. I relayed this information on to Chester and promptly told him to get it together...again.
Fingers Crossed, Fingers Crossed, Fingers Crossed....
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
My Horse, Can Trot a 10...
I don't know how to feel right now...excited? Over-hopeful? Optimistic?
This morning, there was no heat in any of Chester's legs or feet. OMG OM OMG OMG!! Going back this afternoon, I held my breath as I took off his poultice boot and anxiously felt his leg and foot...hummm, a little heat, but that could have been from the wrap itself. I see nothing suspicious and don't smell anything other then 2 days old bran and Listerine...you should take a whiff of that. It's gross. But, it makes the entire barn smell minty when I first mix it up. Mint and poop don't really mix...kinda like those Febreeze air-freshners you leave in the bathroom...Ain't a good mix of smells.
He prances out of the barn and over into the *NEW* massive indoor...I throw him on the lunge line...to the left and he moves...near, but not, perfectly. To the point where there is tension in the line and he is trotting, stretching through his neck and putting his nose 6 inches above the ground. OMG OMG OMG!! So, we switch direction and get the same result!!!
Logic here - "Now now Carrie, do NOT get ahead of yourself." Then again, DVME says that bute pretty much stops having its effect after 12 hours of absorption and is basically out of their system after 24 hours. And once again I find myself needing to be reminded that patience is a virtue, which I clearly do NOT posses and I am at the mercy of my horse and his damn thick soled feet.
I let him off the lunge and he turns on his haunches and buck-farts away from me to the other end of the arena....and I sit and watch and let him be a horse. Then I get more and more mad and used this exact phrase in a bbm message to my DVME: 'I am sitting here watching Chester scoring 10s for his passage.' I followed that up promptly with: 'Ass'.
Little does poor Pickle know, that I haveunfortunately for him seen him be able to trot like that. And he best be getting to trotting like that on a regular basis once we are schooling again. You know the trot I am talking about - the 'Look at me I am a stallion with a HUGE neck, my ass is on fire, don't want my tail to touch it, trotting on bedsprings' trot. I wanted to kill him. Then he proceeded to *run* from one length of the arena to the other, snorting, farting, bucking and carrying on like he is a 2 year old who doesn't know any better. It took me 5 minutes to get near him. Oh - today when I was there, it was a solid 48 hours since he has any bute in his system. A step in the right direction?!
So - I stick him in his stall, mix up his poultice, then drag him into the xties...annnnnd he comes out stiff. Uh. Oh. Me thinks my horse should not be allowed to run around like that until he is done with the damnmystery lameness/abscess. So - I walked him for about 15 minutes and he seemed much happier. Then again, DVME said, let the horse be a horse.
I stuck the poultice on him and then back into his stall he went. Before tucking him in for the night, I checked all 4 of his legs and the 3 feet that were all exposed. The legs were clean, no heat and all his feet felt the same. There are 3 more days of the bran poultice: tomorrow, Friday and Saturday...which will mark the 10th day. I will reassess on Saturday when the poultice boot comes off, try to have the farrier out early next week to square his toes and see where we end up.
I for one am ready for this to be over. As someone recently told Chester: "Although you are keeping me amused with your antics and your mother frustrated, spring is here and there are jumps that need to be jumped. Get it together!"
So yes Chester - for the love of God: GET IT TOGETHER!!!
This morning, there was no heat in any of Chester's legs or feet. OMG OM OMG OMG!! Going back this afternoon, I held my breath as I took off his poultice boot and anxiously felt his leg and foot...hummm, a little heat, but that could have been from the wrap itself. I see nothing suspicious and don't smell anything other then 2 days old bran and Listerine...you should take a whiff of that. It's gross. But, it makes the entire barn smell minty when I first mix it up. Mint and poop don't really mix...kinda like those Febreeze air-freshners you leave in the bathroom...Ain't a good mix of smells.
He prances out of the barn and over into the *NEW* massive indoor...I throw him on the lunge line...to the left and he moves...near, but not, perfectly. To the point where there is tension in the line and he is trotting, stretching through his neck and putting his nose 6 inches above the ground. OMG OMG OMG!! So, we switch direction and get the same result!!!
Logic here - "Now now Carrie, do NOT get ahead of yourself." Then again, DVME says that bute pretty much stops having its effect after 12 hours of absorption and is basically out of their system after 24 hours. And once again I find myself needing to be reminded that patience is a virtue, which I clearly do NOT posses and I am at the mercy of my horse and his damn thick soled feet.
 |
| See this shirt? - It is going to end up in my tack box any second now... |
Little does poor Pickle know, that I have
So - I stick him in his stall, mix up his poultice, then drag him into the xties...annnnnd he comes out stiff. Uh. Oh. Me thinks my horse should not be allowed to run around like that until he is done with the damn
I stuck the poultice on him and then back into his stall he went. Before tucking him in for the night, I checked all 4 of his legs and the 3 feet that were all exposed. The legs were clean, no heat and all his feet felt the same. There are 3 more days of the bran poultice: tomorrow, Friday and Saturday...which will mark the 10th day. I will reassess on Saturday when the poultice boot comes off, try to have the farrier out early next week to square his toes and see where we end up.
I for one am ready for this to be over. As someone recently told Chester: "Although you are keeping me amused with your antics and your mother frustrated, spring is here and there are jumps that need to be jumped. Get it together!"
So yes Chester - for the love of God: GET IT TOGETHER!!!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Ahhh Bute...
I have a love hate relationship with Bute.
Yesterday, I had a clean legged, no heat anywhere, dressage-trot/prance-to-die-for-while-free-lunging, super spunky, not taking a wrong step anywhere and 'up' horse....annnnnd yesterday was also his last day on Bute. Now. Before I go getting all excited, I really had to count to 10 - again - and assess my situation. (Sidebar - how come, when horses act like lunatics, you can see that Dressage-trot-to-die-for, but then you sit on them and it is impossible to achieve...?! I mean really Chester, I know you can trot a 10, why the hell won't you do it for ME?!...anyways...) Chester, had been on Bute for the past 5 days...in my mind I was super excited. The logical part of me went: 'Now Carrie, he has been on Bute which is more then likely the reason you have no heat, swelling and he is acting like a maniac.' Yes, logic, I know you are probably right, but geeze - let me have my 5 seconds!!!
DVME said that now we will see what happens as the Bute comes out of his system. If he continues to act in the same 'look at me I'm a dressage horse that can passage on my own' manner, then we will know we are headed in the right direction. If the ever dreaded heat, swelling, stiffness, ouchiness returns, then we will know something is still wrong. Let's not hope it is the latter eh?
This morning - he was exactly the same as he was last night. No heat anywhere, his feet were cold, no strong digital pulse, standing on all 4 legs with even weight, he looked happier and still was moving out fine.
There has been no bute in his system since 6pm last night.
Fingers Crossed.
Tonight we will see if there is any change.
In the Meantime, Chester says: "Hi Everyone!!"
Yesterday, I had a clean legged, no heat anywhere, dressage-trot/prance-to-die-for-while-free-lunging, super spunky, not taking a wrong step anywhere and 'up' horse....annnnnd yesterday was also his last day on Bute. Now. Before I go getting all excited, I really had to count to 10 - again - and assess my situation. (Sidebar - how come, when horses act like lunatics, you can see that Dressage-trot-to-die-for, but then you sit on them and it is impossible to achieve...?! I mean really Chester, I know you can trot a 10, why the hell won't you do it for ME?!...anyways...) Chester, had been on Bute for the past 5 days...in my mind I was super excited. The logical part of me went: 'Now Carrie, he has been on Bute which is more then likely the reason you have no heat, swelling and he is acting like a maniac.' Yes, logic, I know you are probably right, but geeze - let me have my 5 seconds!!!
DVME said that now we will see what happens as the Bute comes out of his system. If he continues to act in the same 'look at me I'm a dressage horse that can passage on my own' manner, then we will know we are headed in the right direction. If the ever dreaded heat, swelling, stiffness, ouchiness returns, then we will know something is still wrong. Let's not hope it is the latter eh?
This morning - he was exactly the same as he was last night. No heat anywhere, his feet were cold, no strong digital pulse, standing on all 4 legs with even weight, he looked happier and still was moving out fine.
There has been no bute in his system since 6pm last night.
Fingers Crossed.
Tonight we will see if there is any change.
In the Meantime, Chester says: "Hi Everyone!!"
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| He looks like a baby doesn't he...? Don't let him fool you though... |
Friday, February 18, 2011
8...
8: The number of days left for Chester to blow the abscess using our new poultice mix of: bran, Epsom Salt, DMSO and Listerine and until we upgrade to the ever dreaded 'Mystery Lameness'.
7: The number of times I ask myself a day what really is wrong with Chester.
6: The number of x-rays taken that showed he didn't necessarily have an abscess, but didn't confirm he did..
5: The number of people who ask me a day how Chester is doing.
4: The number of Industrial sized Duct-Tape rolls I have purchased in the past 3 weeks
3: Hundred dollars and change spent on: duct tape, Animal Intex Pads, vet wrap, bran, Epsom Salt, DMSO, Listerine and Bute (No joke.)
2: Hundred and 65 dollars spent on x-rays and a call fee
1: Very frustrated/stressed out owner.
7: The number of times I ask myself a day what really is wrong with Chester.
6: The number of x-rays taken that showed he didn't necessarily have an abscess, but didn't confirm he did..
5: The number of people who ask me a day how Chester is doing.
4: The number of Industrial sized Duct-Tape rolls I have purchased in the past 3 weeks
3: Hundred dollars and change spent on: duct tape, Animal Intex Pads, vet wrap, bran, Epsom Salt, DMSO, Listerine and Bute (No joke.)
2: Hundred and 65 dollars spent on x-rays and a call fee
1: Very frustrated/stressed out owner.
The GOOD news, is that he was feeling pretty good this morning, no heat in any of his feet, but better yet... by some small miracle, the poultice boot is still very much on, intact and actually keeping it all together! In the meantime, I am going to try NOT to think about it until NEXT Saturday...however, we can still use all the extra good Karma that people have lying around.
Enjoy the warm weather everyone!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Rads -> Abscess -> Laminitis - > Founder...
Right now, I am slitting my wrists battling somewhere between the second and third words you see above. Ugh, ugh ugh. One of the boarders txt'd be this morning and asked: 'Did DVME say anything about Laminitis? I had a TB that I had to battle laminitis in for 2 years.' Awesome.
My response to her was: there is a risk of him foundering, yes.
She then responded back: Are Laminits and Founder the same thing? I didn't think they were.
Which got me to thinking...okay, are they the same thing actually, because I know for a fact that they are used interchangeably. However, founder usually refers to a chronic (long-term) condition associated with rotation of the coffin bone. Whereas, laminitis refers to symptoms associated with a sudden initial attack, including pain and inflammation of the laminae. Sobecause I know absolutely nothing when it comes to managing my event horse, I decided to look into it a little more.
Laminitis - is actually more common then a lot of people think - and by a lot of people, I basically mean me. Laminitis results from the disruption (constant, intermittent, or short-term) of blood flow to the sensitive and insensitive laminae. These laminae structures within the foot secure the coffin bone (the wedge-shaped bone within the foot) to the hoof wall. Inflammation often permanently weakens the laminae and interferes with the wall/bone bond. In severe cases, the bone and the hoof wall can separate. In these situations, the coffin bone may rotate within the foot, be displaced downward ("sink") and eventually penetrate the sole. Laminitis can affect one or all feet, but is most often seen in the front feet concurrently. (Thank you Equine Natural Therapy.)
There are a whole WACK of causes that can lead to acute laminitis, in Chester's case - remembering that he is only at risk at this point - it will be one of two things:
a - Excessive weight bearing on one leg due to injury of another leg or any other alteration of the normal gait
b - Abscess or deep bruise
We are treating the abscess, and he is on soft cushy ground, barefoot and if the damn thing doesn't burst within 10 days (9 now) we will start to administer some antibiotics to fight infection; antiendotoxins to reduce bacterial toxicity; anticoagulants and vasodilators to reduce blood pressure while improving blood flow to the feet. Knowing my financial situation at the moment DVME said this is completely acceptable and not a necessity - yet...especially because I just dropped 2 bills on x-rays.
Me: Why are we speaking about laminitis in the first place....?
DVME: Well, because he has a somewhat raised digital pulse in his FR...
Me: I stare blankly at DVME
Apparently checking your Partner In Crime's digital pulse is Horse Management 101. Clearly, I failed this course. It can help you to identify pain or inflammation in horse hooves or determine if there are possibly larger issues affecting the horse. When taking pulses, you are feeling the blood flowing through the artery going into the hooves. If there is inflammation in the hoof, then the blood flow is restricted and backs up in the artery. The more inflammation there is in the hoof; the stronger the pulse. Faint digital pulses are normal and indicate there are no major issues in the hoof. An easily felt equine digital pulse is commonly called a bounding digital pulse. The sensation is like a throbbing headache or an injured finger. It is not an increase in speed, but instead an increase in strength. A bounding digital pulse is telling you that your horse may have a health issue. Stronger pulses indicate inflammation and/or pain. If there are bounding pulses going to just one hoof, then it is safe to suspect a localized issue, possibly an abscess or a bruise. More than likely this is a pain response to an injury. Where am I going with all this....? DVME felt a somewhat stronger digital pulse in his right leg yesterday...I tried to feel for them this morning and failed horribly...I will try again this afternoon.
Apparently - as I have yet to find the damn thing - there are 4 different areas which you should be able to feel your pony's digital pulse:
1. Right above the collateral sesamoidean ligament.
2. Over the ligament. Have to be careful not to put too much pressure here and crimp the artery.
3. Right below the ligament.
4. Midway down the pastern.
Here are a few Rads from yesterday:
My response to her was: there is a risk of him foundering, yes.
She then responded back: Are Laminits and Founder the same thing? I didn't think they were.
Which got me to thinking...okay, are they the same thing actually, because I know for a fact that they are used interchangeably. However, founder usually refers to a chronic (long-term) condition associated with rotation of the coffin bone. Whereas, laminitis refers to symptoms associated with a sudden initial attack, including pain and inflammation of the laminae. So
Laminitis - is actually more common then a lot of people think - and by a lot of people, I basically mean me. Laminitis results from the disruption (constant, intermittent, or short-term) of blood flow to the sensitive and insensitive laminae. These laminae structures within the foot secure the coffin bone (the wedge-shaped bone within the foot) to the hoof wall. Inflammation often permanently weakens the laminae and interferes with the wall/bone bond. In severe cases, the bone and the hoof wall can separate. In these situations, the coffin bone may rotate within the foot, be displaced downward ("sink") and eventually penetrate the sole. Laminitis can affect one or all feet, but is most often seen in the front feet concurrently. (Thank you Equine Natural Therapy.)
There are a whole WACK of causes that can lead to acute laminitis, in Chester's case - remembering that he is only at risk at this point - it will be one of two things:
a - Excessive weight bearing on one leg due to injury of another leg or any other alteration of the normal gait
b - Abscess or deep bruise
We are treating the abscess, and he is on soft cushy ground, barefoot and if the damn thing doesn't burst within 10 days (9 now) we will start to administer some antibiotics to fight infection; antiendotoxins to reduce bacterial toxicity; anticoagulants and vasodilators to reduce blood pressure while improving blood flow to the feet. Knowing my financial situation at the moment DVME said this is completely acceptable and not a necessity - yet...especially because I just dropped 2 bills on x-rays.
Me: Why are we speaking about laminitis in the first place....?
DVME: Well, because he has a somewhat raised digital pulse in his FR...
Me: I stare blankly at DVME
Apparently checking your Partner In Crime's digital pulse is Horse Management 101. Clearly, I failed this course. It can help you to identify pain or inflammation in horse hooves or determine if there are possibly larger issues affecting the horse. When taking pulses, you are feeling the blood flowing through the artery going into the hooves. If there is inflammation in the hoof, then the blood flow is restricted and backs up in the artery. The more inflammation there is in the hoof; the stronger the pulse. Faint digital pulses are normal and indicate there are no major issues in the hoof. An easily felt equine digital pulse is commonly called a bounding digital pulse. The sensation is like a throbbing headache or an injured finger. It is not an increase in speed, but instead an increase in strength. A bounding digital pulse is telling you that your horse may have a health issue. Stronger pulses indicate inflammation and/or pain. If there are bounding pulses going to just one hoof, then it is safe to suspect a localized issue, possibly an abscess or a bruise. More than likely this is a pain response to an injury. Where am I going with all this....? DVME felt a somewhat stronger digital pulse in his right leg yesterday...I tried to feel for them this morning and failed horribly...I will try again this afternoon.
Apparently - as I have yet to find the damn thing - there are 4 different areas which you should be able to feel your pony's digital pulse:
1. Right above the collateral sesamoidean ligament.
2. Over the ligament. Have to be careful not to put too much pressure here and crimp the artery.
3. Right below the ligament.
4. Midway down the pastern.
(Thank you IronFreeHoof)
He was much much happier this morning, I turned him out into the arena and he was walking out much better and there was no hesitation in his step. He trotted and bucked even...speaking of which. There is absolutely no possible way that I will be able to keep a poultice on him for 48 hours. He had already torn the toe of his duct-tape boot off when I showed up at 8:30. So, I had to reapply a new poultice. He has a all-phase bag, vet wrap, duct-tap and now a poultice boot on...which I borrowed from BO....which I apologized in advance for Chester ruining...her response: It was $12 for the pair, I'll get over it.Here are a few Rads from yesterday:
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| This was the first view she took - and when I saw all the shadowing - I freaked - For no good reason. |
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| He has perfectly symmetrical joints, bones and a very thick sole. |
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| He didn't flinch the entire time his foot was positioned like this. |
So - I am headed back to the barn shortly to see if he has torn apart the poultice boot, walk him in the indoor and find that damn digital pulse...you can run pulse, but you can't hide!...Actually, maybe I won't be able to find it and that will be a good thing. I'm still somewhat frustrated because, the only thing the Rads showed were well, NOTHING, meaning that we aren't even sure if his lameness is being caused by a damn abscess in the first place!!!
In the meantime, send us all the Good Karma you can spare!
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