Xray question

[Marsha Cassada]

Dapper Dan has been favoring a hind leg for a couple of weeks. I've noticed he occasionally does this. Farrier has not noticed any particular problems. I've got an appt for xray tomorrow. Can anyone suggest something I should ask the vet?

Dapper Dan saw the chiropractor in the spring and was fine then. She suggested joint supplement; he's been on that for over a year. I did take him off supplements about a month in October, as an experiment, but he's been back on them for a couple of weeks now.

Dapper Dan is 15 this spring--hard to believe!

Thanks.

 

[valshingle]

Most vets do a lameness exam and then recommend which X-ray views they'd like. It is possible that it is a soft tissue injury/problem and then X-rays aren't indicated. So if you have a good vet, then I'd leave the decision up to him. Do tell him of any history the horse has - was he kicked, turned out in mud, ran through a pricker bush, does he kick, etc. I have one horse that occasionally mule kicks his stall and then might get a little sore for a day after that. That can help the vet narrow down the possibilities. You can ask the vet if they have a 'deal' on a certain number of x-rays. Some x-rays can't be done in the field and you would need to take the horse in for them.

Good luck!

 

[Riverrose28]

I had a mare come up lame this spring, and I thought it might be in the shoulder area, but the vet discovered it was three inches above the elbow and humerous was broken, mare has recovered. My recommendation would be to let the vet decide what the problem is, they have the education, just disclose all symptoms and signs that you have noticed. sometimes nothing is swollen or visiable but your vet should be able to diagnose the problem. Good luck, and sending well wishes your way.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Just got back from the vet. The xrays showed no little broken bone particles or torn ligaments. All the bones looked nice and clean. Yay! There was fluid on the stifle, so the vet removed some and started him on a series of shots. It is fixable!

We were there 2 hours and Dapper Dan behaved so well! We were inside the small animal clinic. He got weighed while he was there--256, which the vet considered a good weight for him.

 

[valshingle]

Glad you got an answer. And that it's treatable. Good for you!