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Stone bruise or more.. Very worried

10K views 24 replies 9 participants last post by  sherie 
#1 ·
Went riding on Saturday and my friends daughter (11 yrs) rode my 17 yr old QH Jack. He has pretty flat feet and always has shoes on the front. Actually took me about 5 years to get them off his back. Anyway he has not been out in a while and we road some roads with quite a bit of gravel and rock. Then we stopped at a field so she could practice flying lead changes. We were surprised that he did not want to pick up left lead. Then we noticed that he was limping on the left. Actually when standing would hold the foot up. No choice but to ride home but stopped and stood him in the creek for abut 30 minutes before we went on.
Got home and soaked with ep salts then put on drawing salve and wrapped him. Next am (Sun) no better so gave bute and soaked. Cant keep the wrap on.. Had friend come over to double check and make sure he had no heat or swelling anywhere on his leg and she also checked the shoulder. Soaked again last night but no bute so I could see how he was this am. Not much better. Seems to be putting more weight on it but when stands to eat will sometimes stand on his toe. Soaked and gave more bute this am. He is acting like an abscess ( had a horse that would get them quite often) but how could it come on so soon. Considering getting Vet out but already have farm call scheduled for next Monday for shots and teeth floating. Don't want to call if stone bruise and nothing else can be done.

Why do you guys think. Any suggestions?
 
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#3 ·
Stone Bruise or more..

Sounds like a stone bruise to come on so quickly. My daughters horse had a similar problem recently after a trail ride. He did not want to bear weight on the effected hoof. I had the vet and farrier look at it and they both felt that it was a stone bruise. We used a hot poultice for two days then a cold poultice for three days. The farrier was able to find it and cut a hole for it to drain after a week. We then filled the hole with wax to stop bacteria/infection.

Make sure that it does not turn into an abscess.
 
#5 ·
I think it also sounds like a stone bruise. It's going to be a bit of a waiting game game though. Wwhen the vet comes out he might be able to get out his hoof testers to tell you more and pinpoint the affected area of that is what it is.

Hopefully he start to feel better soon!!
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#6 ·
Is he still non-weight bearing on that leg? With his thin soles, did the vet talk about the possibility of a P3 fracture?

I would not be too worried about an abscess - not all bruises will turn into abscesses, and if it does, an abscess is part of the healing process after hoof trauma. One of my instructors at school likened them to blisters - once they pop or blow out, the the skin underneath hardens (or in this case sole) and helps to protect the injured area from further damage. I would not recommend packing an abscess track with anything though - you don't want to trap any bacteria inside that could escalate the problem. A clean, dry environment where air can get to it is best.

On horses with flat/thin soles, I recommend soaking feet as little as needed to get the job done - just until the abscess blows. By soaking hooves, it makes these guys more susceptible to future bruises by softening the foot and making it more permeable for a bacteria tract to start. It usually isn't a good idea to dig out an abscess on a thin-soled horse without x-rays to look at, not only because they need the extra protection, but also because the sole corium and coffin bone are nearer to the ground than a horse with concave feet.

It is my understanding that bute is an anti-inflammatory, meaning that it reduces inflammation. This can, however, keep an abscess from draining by making it smaller, which makes it take longer before it can blow out. Unless the pain seems severe and the vet prescribes it, I don't usually recommend bute to my clients for abscessing because of this. How I look at it is a few days of pain then instant relief without bute, or up to a week or more of discomfort before finding relief with the bute. Neither way is fun and games, but one path gets the horse feeling better and on the track for healing faster.

Keep us posted!
 
#7 · (Edited)
Rialto, So glad you responded I was questioning the bute also in case of abscess. I always heard it slowed the process down However the Vet told me this am to double the dose and then give the 1 twice a day until Wed.She think it is a bruise and says since the hoof cant swell it would be best to try keeping the inflammation down. She also wants me to continue soaking and put him on stall rest. To late for the stall rest today as I had already let them down to the pasture this am. No rocks at all in pasture.
I did keep him in last night as the paddock is rocky and I didn't want them all running and playing.

she did not mention any type fracture but of course she is only going by what I told her. Guess I better look that up
 
#8 ·
I received a notice on my email that Holster88 had replied but I can not locate the reply. Jack does not seem much better so I would appreciate any responses or suggestions. Hate now I listened to the Vet and put him on Bute as afraid it may be an abscess
 
#10 ·
I am just sick about this.... Hate I put him on the bute since it has not resolved and even on the bute he is still a little lame when walking and this am still holding his foot up on the toe. I was instructed to give him the last bute tonight and call her in the am. Well now I am pretty sure it is an abscess so I wish I would have not given the bute. Vet already scheduled to come out this coming Monday for shots and floating but now looks like I will have to have a sooner farm call or just treat as abscess with soaking, wraping, stall rest but no bute
Just hate he has been in pain this long and now it will be even longer.
Plus now we have had more rain so he has been standing in the mud all day... Just great for bacteria
 
#11 ·
My thought is, because of thin soles, rather than soak with water apply ice to the area instead -- the ice should help quiet the area without excess moisture; I'm thinking a little tub with a bunch of ice in it and keep his foot in it for 10 minutes. I wouldn't do longer than 10 minutes. If that works, you should see some relief fairly quickly and you can lay off the bute; and if it doesn't it's back to the drawing board.

Best of luck to you.
 
#14 ·
First,I would suggest you start a new thread in the hoof care section, with link to this one and definitely pictures. From the side, taken on ground level, and the sole. That should help the hoof people on here.
Then, if it is only an abscess, you need to soak constantly, to help soften the horn and make it easier to open up, most likely at the coronary band, and drain. I use sheet cotton it a diaper, then wrap with vetrap, then with duct tape, soak with a weak iodine solution or Epsom salts, keep pouring it in morning and evening. Horse goes out to move around, which helps ripening and draining. Once it's open,I dry wrap for a few days. Most importantly, tetanus shot has to be up to date.
I'm also surprised that your farrier hasn't taken care of the contracted heels in all these years.
 
#15 ·
Deserthorsewoman, Thank you for your suggestion. I don't know how I can get pictures. I have a camera on my phone but only computer at work and do not know how to put pictures up. Before the Vet was out on Monday I was soaking twice daily with Epsom salts, using drawing salve and wrapping. After visit was told soak once daily and no boot or wrap.. Guess because treating of stone bruise. Tetanus and everything up to date. Farrier did not seem to feel he had contracted heels. Have been using him for 8 years. 3 short term farriers before him and they never mentioned contracted heels either. He is kind of flat footed and took 3 years to get shoes off the back. Farrier said Monday that his heels are like they have always been. Has thin soles and tender footed. However they had a heck of a time paring the sole as sole was hard
 
#17 ·
stone bruise? after Vet update

Initial thread in horse health but I don't know how to link it
Lameness started two weeks ago Sat during ride on gravel road




Now I am really worried PLEASE HELP . Vet and FArrier out on this past Monday. Jack was still lame. Farrier did not find reaction with hoof tester but Vet said she did back towards heal. They pared down the sole in that area some but did not find bruise or abscess line. Vet did block on foot. She noted on p/w " Gr 2/5 off Left, 3/5 tight turns. Contracted/pinched heels, hooftesters + across heels/nav. Bursa/DDFT PDN = 80-90% improved heel pain+- sole. Farrier set shoe back, opened branches. Rest in small paddock, bute as needed. Pasture turn out when sound for 2-3 days without bute. Farrier said his heels have always been this way and Vet said to treat as stone bruise. Rest and soak once daily until sound 24 hours without bute. *Well that has been a week as of today. Only gave him bute last Mon pm and Tuesday. Stopped bute soaked once daily and poultice. Keep on rest and he was better but still gimpy. Let him go down to the pasture for a couple of hours yesterday with boot/poltice on. Took boot off and brought him up. He was worse. Limping and standing on toe. Started back bute yesterday pm and this am. Called Vet.. She wants me to haul him in for xrays. Now I am just sick with worry and also how to take more time off work. Not to mention the cost. Anyone have any experience with xrays. She said she could do it at the house but better to bring him in. Does sanyone think it could still be a stone bruise that just needs more time. Any suggestions.. recommendations while I figure out how to get the xrays. Would giving it more time in case a stone bruise hurt him. Also how reliable are the xrays? Would navicular come on so suddenly...He has always been tender and had to keep shoes on front but farrier does not think the "contracted heels are a problem" He has worked on Jack for 8 years. Will have to figure out to get more time off work since I live so far away from job and also from the Vet.



 
#20 ·
I would definitely do the xrays. Even if they don't turn up anything obvious it will provide you with a reference for any future problems. Of course, if they do show something you can treat it immediately. I went through this with one of my mares late last summer. We could not find any cause for her RF lameness after x-rays, shoeing changes, the whole nine yards. I turned her out with no work for 6-7 months and the situation has resolved. We are assuming she had a soft tissue injury even without heat, swelling (which don't show up on xrays) that resolved with the time off.
 
#21 ·
Talked with my Farrier last night. His does not think abscess but feels more likely bad stone bruise or fracture...So.. Taking Jack this pm and drop off at Vets so they can do xrays in the am. Because of the weather they would not be able to do a farm call until next week. Now I am just sick with worry

Anyone have any experience with fractures in the foot?
 
#22 ·
I'm sorry, Sherie. I would be sick with worry too. At least he'll be in good hands, right?

I was reading a farrier hoof problem book last night (in bed, LOL) and just happened to read about fractures. They get a special shoe to stabilize the hoof so the fracture can heal. The author's last name is Van Nassau.

I hope you can copies of the xrays tomorrow and share them.
 
#23 · (Edited)
If there is a fracture, your vet and farrier can work together to determine the best plan of action. Generally speaking, you need to provide shoeing package that will block the load up through the foot to keep it from flexing (similar to a cast) so that it can heal. 3/4" plywood glue on shoes with a smaller plywood or DNP insert to allow for an easier breakover is a good way. With this type of system, you support 100% of the foot and don't have to nail into the hoof, which would be painful if there is a fracture.

Keep us posted!
 
#25 ·
Well xrays showed that he has arthritis (navicular bones) in both feet. Worse in left. Vet started him on Isoxsuprine and continued Bute for 7 more days. At Vet recommendation Farrier coming out today to re-shoe with pads. He has a f/u in a month.
Very thankful it was not a fracture but so sad we are going down this road. Praying he will respond to the meds. Just can believe he has arthritis at 18 when never a bit of trouble with my 33 year old Appy. Jack was a jumper before I got him and guess he was also predisposed because he is a "bulldog" type foundation QH with the small feet. I am just sick. Praying I can keep him comfortable. Didn't ask the Vet about future riding, just hoping for pasture sound.
Anyone have any experience with this disease process?
 
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