** UPDATE** NOT A Broken Coffin Bone In The Hoof

[redboy]

Originally Posted by tuffsmom

I'm sorry this happened to Red. I would have the Xrays taken and go from there.

Thank you Tuffsmom.

In response to the 'gravel/abcess' question,..,
We haven't completely ruled that out, though,
over the years I've dealt with many an abcess with Red.
My farrier is coming in the morning to test him a 2nd time (vet tested him first) with the hoof testers.

The reason my vet believes this is a break in the bone is because it happened while we were out riding, and
we'd been out for an hour or so, perfectly sound, and at the walk.
We crossed a small dip/ditch along the roadside, and Red instantly pulled up lame.
It was immediate.
I got off and checked the foot, couldn't find anything, but he acted like it was in the hip/stifle,..., totally 3 legged LAME.
I led him home, he was so sore, and I turned him out to observe him,.., but he got much worse that night, so I started him on Bute around 10 pm.
We did a 3-4 day course (the weekend) of Bute, 2x a day, with not a lot of relief, and I focused on the stifle area because that seemed like that was the problem area, in that he couldn't bear weight on that leg/foot.
It didn't occur to me that it was in the foot.
When my vet came out we 'flex' tested the hip/stifle area and he was able to rule that out, and determined that it was in the foot.
The foot definitely has heat now, but didn't initially, and no swelling anywhere either.
It was a 'mystery' lameness that took a few days to manifest into any area of heat, partly I think,
because he was on the Bute.
Once my farrier has ruled out abcess (which I really do not believe it is, not this kind of lameness, or the way that it occurred), we will xray.
I wish he had just xrayed yesterday, but,.., he didn't.
So we are eliminating abcess first.
I'll know more in the AM myself.

[tuffsmom]

If the Xrays show nothing, have your vet nerve block him to find out where the area is. It is a really cool process to watch.

[candy4legs]

Just caught this thread, RB...hoping a clear diagnosis is made quickly so that proper treatment can start...waiting to hear what the x-rays say...

[redboy]

Well, you can 'KNOCK ME OVER WITH A FEATHER'!!
Apparently Red had an abcess in the toe of the right hind leg.
I would NEVER have believed that was the 'issue' in a MILLION years!!
Given the 'way' that it happened, in an instant ,
after we had been riding an hour or so, with no detectable head bob, or 'give', and to pull up 'dead lame' like that...,
As well, I've 'doctored' many, MANY abcesses with him.

And I've even seen this horse with 3 abcesses,
at the SAME TIME,
in 3 different feet,
and he was NOT this lame.
(And by the way, that's was the 'moment' I started to feed the biotin hoof supplement, which has totally helped in the abcess deptmt. because they were becoming chronic).
Sheeesh!!
The poor horse has been DEAD LAME for 7 days, hobbling around on 3 legs, Bute 2x a day, and lo and behold, ABCESS!
Don't get me wrong, I'm TOTALLY RELIEVED, just shocked.
What a 'FAKER" he is!!
Well, HAPPY UPDATE!! YEAH!
But, I'm STILL 'new horse' shopping!!

Thanks ALL, for your concern, your help, and your good advice.

[prancingpony]

YAY!!!!!!!!

[dunamovin]

Yeah for you and Red. That's wonderful news. Nothing you can't handle and you get to go horse shopping too!

[ruffian]

Just goes to show you then can still surprise you
My gelding was completely sound until the day before he popped a massive absess at the coronet band (jumping and galloping sound)
Another gelding I had never did go lame, but one day when being trimmed the farrier cut out a huge junk of colored wood from his sole (from a jump he destroyed at a show several months previous)
Glad it was happy news

[Valerie62]

Whew! I'll bet that is a huge load off your mind.

Sending healing prayers for a speedy recovery for Red.

[mingiz]

Just saw this post. So sorry your boy is down. But very happy that it wasn't anything to serious... But that horse shopping sounds like a good thing too....

[Amjzimm19]

What an AMAZING result. I am SO GLAD to hear that it wasn't a broken coffin bone!

[snwflk]

Maybe he "knew" you were "considering" LOOKING at other horses and wanted some sympathy lovies..heehee..

Thank goodness it wasnt anything major and he will be fine..

[BklynCwgrl]

Oh that's great news indeed!!!

[crittermom]

Redboy, I just saw this post. I read all the way through and am glad Redboy is doing better. Had me scared the whole time I was reading.......glad for the better end result.

[redboy]

Originally Posted by crittermom

Redboy, I just saw this post. I read all the way through and am glad Redboy is doing better. Had me scared the whole time I was reading.......glad for the better end result.

Thank you Crittermom.
He had me sooo worried.
It's probably been (almost) 3 weeks at this point, and he finally seems healed.
It sure did take awhile,..., my farrier described it as a BIG abccess, and he had to come out 2x to 'open it up' to help it drain.
I'm hoping to ride this weekend, hopefully the weather will cooperate().

[horselady]

Apparently he stepped just the right spot on his hoof to cause it to have pain and heat, thankfully that is all it is and not a coffin bone break.
What a relief,