Arthritis or something like it

[Nito]

Alright,

My mare Andromeda has a hard time walking with her front legs ( not founder) cant explain it. but it causes pressure at that joint above the hoof. I dont know my horses body parts so well as you can tell.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/furtheraway971/andromeda009.jpg

Notice how her pastern is nearly parallel to the floor. well not on this picture but its close to how she always is. just dont have a picture at the moment...

When we get the farrier to trim her it makes her a lot better for the 1st week or so untill the hoof grows again.

but the question is..

If I buy boots for her do you think it will help? If you think so which boot will be appropriate to help relief some pain?

I usually put mineral ice over that and wrap it and it helps cause she starts walking something close to normal..

Please help?

[GeorgeGuns]

I'm going on guesses here:

When she walks, does she sort of toe jab and then look like her fetlock is jerking?
I'd start by getting her fetlocks sonogrammed to check for suspensory injury, and if negaitve, I'd alter her hoofcare. She looks way too long to me, esp in the heels. This causes heel pain, a horse will land toe first, and if they are real flexy it can get real painful real fast. In this case, barefoot really is best as this heel stuff (commonly called navicular) responds much faster and better to no shoes and backing up the heels and breakover.

If she does end up having some suspensory damage on sono, put her on MSM, and don't make drastic changes to her hooves except to really roll the toe - shod or unshod, backing up the breakover will give her immense relief.

You need to find out the source of her pain before trying to fix it with anything. Boots are primarily for hoof/sole protection, not actually fixing anything.

Also consider shoulder pain, arthritis in other joints higher up, and get this - have her teeth checked by a good dentist with power tools!

BTW that is a very prety mare!

[Nito]

Thanks Coreen,

Her next cut is tomorrow and the vet is soppose to drop by the farm on Friday so I'll make sure to tell him to check her out.

She is super special to us and to the Paso Fino breed. One of the last Resorte IV mares and top ten dam :smile: Shes my little old lady!

[cowboy ed]

nito, just going by what i see in the picture, it looks like the suspensory ligaments in front are the cause of the problem, not the effect. i think the degeneration of the suspensories is causing the low heel/long toe growth. for comparison, look at the rear feet.

[Terry Wallace]

She needs to be ultrasounded for the possibility of DSLD. Her puffy fetlocks, and angle of pastern bones is very suspect of suspensory ligament damage... now to find out "why".

How long has this been developing? Please PM me her bloodlines...and I need to talk to you about some video..so please PM me....Thanks

[Heidi]

She needs to be ultrasounded for the possibility of DSLD. Her puffy fetlocks, and angle of pastern bones is very suspect of suspensory ligament damage... now to find out "why".
I have to agree, and I also feel the need to caution you about breeding her further. I feel that if she is having serious problems with her suspensories, it would be unfair to make her carry the extra weight of a foal.
Heidi
This is Poquita, (Peruvian) she had DSLD in both hind suspensories.
You can clearly see that her pasterns are level, her fetlocks enlarged and she rocks herself forward to carry her weight over her forelegs. Her left hind was her worst one, which is why she is resting it. It is also the one that blew-out when rising from the ground May/2004 and she had to be euthanized.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/78SilvAnniv/dh.jpg