I have a horse that came up lame in the shoulder after running barrels. The vet looked and the farrier looked and the chiropractor. We tried bute but it didn't change. He was by his self so he wasn't kicked. I have not had him x-rayed yet but we are puzzled by this and wondering if it will run its course with a rest over the winter. Any suggestions.
Posted 2008-08-25 7:38 AM (#90308 - in reply to #90301) Subject: RE: shoulder lameness
Expert
Posts: 2615
We had a young horse that developed shoulder lameness.The vet Xrayed him,and figured that it must have been from a pasture injury,maybe slipping.It had to run its course,which was quiet a while because we had not been riding him much anyway.He recommended Vitamin E powder in his food because the injury was determined to be nerve damage,however.
Posted 2008-08-25 11:36 AM (#90321 - in reply to #90301) Subject: RE: shoulder lameness
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: missouri
Sometimes a horse can develop lameness at the shoulder because of nerve damage... the mylin sheath travels over the shoulder blade at a notch in the blade... like when horse that pull carts or carraiges get a shoulder sweeney...? If x-rays don't show anything, it could be this or another soft tissue injury. good luck.
Posted 2008-08-25 3:41 PM (#90344 - in reply to #90301) Subject: RE: shoulder lameness
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Posts: 1723
Location: michigan
shoulder soreness might actually be a injury or soreness somewhere else such as in the foot itself. Sometimes it can be a another leg/foot all together. Without a complete lameness exam and some xrays, its hard to say what is going on ( not to mention we are online and have no way to see the horse)
I'd be asking for more information from your vet rather than here.
Posted 2008-08-26 7:17 AM (#90385 - in reply to #90378) Subject: RE: shoulder lameness
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Posts: 2615
Read my thread about the lame filly.It was only after an X ray that 2 vets could determine what was really wrong.
Our gelding that I mentioned earlier in this thread wasn't all that valuable a horse,either,in dollars and cents.However,being unridable rendered him WORTHLESS.We couldn't treat him in order to get him well and sell him without knowing what to do.Maybe rest is all your horse needs,but,time will tell if what you are doing is going to help.Good luck.
Posted 2008-08-26 5:42 PM (#90451 - in reply to #90301) Subject: RE: shoulder lameness
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Posts: 153
Location: Iowa
Thanks, I will probably get him x-rayed this next month. It's true,I can't get him sold this way. If I can get him sound then at least he can be a trail/family horse for someone.
Posted 2008-08-28 12:05 PM (#90600 - in reply to #90577) Subject: RE: shoulder lameness
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Posts: 2615
Well,we had not been riding him,and didn't resume riding him,so,it's hard to tell exactly when it had healed.The injury occurred in May,and,it was the following YEAR before we saw real improvement and he became ridable again.We sold him for the cheapest price we've ever sold a horse,to our farrier.I wish we had him back,he was a full brother to my black/white foxtrotter mare,and he was a strawberry sabino.Really flashy horse.Back to your question,the following year after the injury,we had to take him to an equine chiropractor twice because he had some back misalignment,he'd been compensating in his spine and other side because of the injury.
I know lots of folks would say that talk is a bunch of "doodley squat" but,we saw with our own eyes the improvement in his posture and gait after the chiropractor worked on him.We sold him shortly afterwards.
Nerves heal very slowly,something like .5 cm a month I think I remember (the vet) telling us that.
Posted 2008-08-28 7:36 PM (#90634 - in reply to #90301) Subject: RE: shoulder lameness
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Posts: 153
Location: Iowa
we use chiropractic regularly. He has had one treatment but I am going to get him another one. He was really out of place in his ribs and hind end. I can let him sit till next year because we bale our own hay and have plenty so that is not a problem. I will still get x-rays this fall when things slow down. Thanks
Posted 2008-08-28 10:57 PM (#90658 - in reply to #90634) Subject: RE: shoulder lameness
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Posts: 2615
You might try a good linament on a regular basis,a local vet here recommended DMSO mixed in Nitrofurazone ointment which I did use,but,I don't like it because of the warnings on the Nitrofurazone label.Maybe a joint supplement since he is compensating on the "good" side with more weight.
Good luck.If there isn't any improvement in a few weeks,I'd spring for some XRays just to be sure you aren't letting something go too long.