Star is lame

GrannyCarol · #1 12/07/09, 02:35 PM

Well... Star came up lame recently again when the weather turned cold and wet. I thought her thrush came back and treated that for a few days until I realized she was getting worse, although her feet weren't so bad. I got my farrier out to look at her this morning. Turns out she's got a stress founder - probably from being lame last summer on her other front foot (not from feed) and an abscess in the hoof. No wonder she's so sore.

So, now it's going to be Epsom Salts soaks (and its COLD right now!), bute for the acute portion of her treatment, her Easyboots Rx for comfort, long walks and lots of visits from Angie and maybe her friend Molly (who is a very experienced horsewoman).

I was relieved, she's been very sore and the cold and wind hasn't been helping, but I'm glad to have a clear diagnosis and a course of treatment.

**Tiempo** · #2 12/07/09, 06:12 PM

Carol, if it was mechanical founder from opposite foot laminitis last summer, it wouldn't have taken until now to become apparent.

LisaInN.Idaho · #3 12/07/09, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiempo

Carol, if it was mechanical founder from opposite foot laminitis last summer, it wouldn't have taken until now to become apparent.

I would agree with Tiempo. Might want to have a vet check it out.

GrannyCarol · #4 12/08/09, 03:46 PM

I'm curious as to what might cause a founder other than feed issues. I really don't think its feed - neither Angie or Molly did either. She's not overweight, she's eaten the same hay from the same farm since I got her, she's on and acre dry lot (no grass really at all, much less anything lush) and she gets only a little bran to go with her hay, which my vet recommended to be sure her stools are soft because of the sarcoid on her bottom.

Would there be some tie in with an abscess? What causes those? Would the sarcoid be an indication of a compromised immune system (or cause one)? My vet thought that it would be very unlikely to spread and that it would be locally malignant (which it actually got a lot smaller). He really didn't have any help for me with that, he considered it inoperable (which makes sense, given where it is). She was given 2 to 5 of years due to that when I got her - it was mostly under the skin between the anus and the vulva and was expected to interfere with her elimination. Now its an external lump, much smaller, but still causes her to itch, rub her bottom and bleed, it doesn't seem really sore though. I've had her 2.5 years now and it doesn't look like the sarcoid will be an immediate problem.

BTW, after having her trim on the bad hoof yesterday, she's walking more freely today. Looks like we will be doing a lot of walking and foot soaking and hoof trimming.

I'm very comfortable with what my farrier said about her having a mild founder and an abscess, it fits what I see and what I have read. I do believe that the course she has in mind for care also makes very good sense to me. I will keep myself open to using the vet if I believe it would be in Star's interests.