Cassey NOT ok!

[cassey1988]

Today after riding my new riding horsey Sil, I got Cassey out off the paddock for a good old shower because it was so very hot. She scared the crap out of me.... When I last saw her up close, which was friday, she was doing so well! Was gone for the weekend and yesterday (monday) I went to ride Sil but Cassey was all the way back so I didn't go to her and she couldn't be bothered to come and say hi because like a true Dales she was very busy eating.

Anyway, I got her out of the paddock today and already noticed that she wasn't walking properly, besides her usual little handicap. I hosed her off and took her back. I looked closer and was relieved to see that she was moving her bad leg in a straight line instead of swinging it sideways, so that was ok. However, her good front leg, which is the right one, was doing something very strange: Instead of moving it straight she moved it to the left a little so to place it more in front of her center instead of her right side.
I don't know if I'm being clear in my description?

She had sad eyes as well, I could see she was in pain. I'm so worried now, if she remains like this I'm going to have to put her down. I do hope she will be back to her usual self again soon, don't want to lose her just yet.

Any advice?

[c2b]

No advice just letting you know we are keeping our hooves and fingers x'd here for Cassey xx

[harveydales]

Aww poor Cassey and poor you. I haven't got any advice either but I do know how hard this is for you - I go into panic mode whenever any of my oldies have a problem.

Have you had similar weather over in the Netherlands to us where it's suddenly turned very hot and the ground has turned to concrete? Harvey was looking rather sad and lethargic so I had him clipped and he perked up immediately. Is Cassey very wooly?

As to her strange leg action, it sounds like a twinge of arthritis and she is altering her action to relieve the pain. These things can settle down again. What does your vet say? Maybe a short course of bute or similar would help.

Try not to get despondent yet.

[valerie n scout]

ohh no ! poor lass X hope you get her sorted with pain relief soon X

[cassey1988]

@ Pam: She's not wooly, she got a nice summer coat. The ground is ok, it never turn to concrete because we've got water all around and in the soil. The area we live in is even called Waterland...
I know she has artrose (is that same as arthritis) in her bad leg, but she's had that for years now. It got worse when she got injured a year ago, but she's been quite stable ever since. During her recovery she would occasionally relieve pain by swinging her bad leg sideways. She has never altered the movement of her good leg, so that's new!

I will see if it gets better within a few days and if not I will have the vet out. I'm now realizing: I was in so much shock yesterday that I forgotten to check her hooves. Maybe she's got a little rock in it. I'll go check today and keep y'all posted.

[Miz.Dales]

Aww poor Cassey, fingers crossed that you get her all sorted soon

[charliefar]

Fingers crossed its nothing too serious!
Fatty went lame in similar circs a few weeks ago, it turns out it was a deep seated absess in his foot, aparently a lot are getting them because of the changeable weather.
I hope Cassies is similar!

[cassey1988]

Went to see Cassey in the afternoon. Was glad to see that some of the twinkles had come back in het eyes. She was reluctant to go off the field, but I needed her at the grooming area to cool her leg with running water. She was walking terribly on the concrete. This concerns me, because usually on hard even surfaces her walking improves!
There is a narrow patch of grass next to the concrete, and she decided she'd walk there, smart horsey. That went better. Directly after cooling her walking improved, then went worse again. Cleaned her hooves, went well. Then took her back, she was struggling again on the concrete and found her patch of grass. Back in the field her walking was a lot better, still not good enough though.
Big boy Jack chased her from the drinking bowl and I gave him hell. Never seen him running away that quickly.... jackass....

I fetched a crate to sit on by the field, the herd had moved back. I was relieved that Cassey was apparently good enough to walk that distance. Another horse owner found me crying and tried to comfort me, and then another one appeared and gave me two apples. So I walked all the way to the back of the field and Cas was very pleased with the treat. Stayed a while to cuddle, she had ganged up with golden oldie Zita (now 32) and they were calmly grazing together. She's eating all the time, and walking around whilst doing so, so that's ok.
Going there tomorrow with my icepack, and I realized I still have cooling gel at the stables. Hope that will bring some relief.

Will update tomorrow!

[cutemangurdi1]

So sorry to hear Caey is struggling. It may be the arthritis in her bad leg has caused her good leg to take extra strain and that is why she has gone lame.

I hope it settles soon.

[cassey1988]

This afternoon Cas was a little better. Her walking was quite ok on the grass, though she was still struggling on the concrete.
I do think I figured out what must have happened: Friday I got her out of the field for the farrier. I had to go, so put her in the stable, payed up front and had Bettie (another horse owner) take her back to the field after the farrier was done. Today I spoke to Bettie and she said that when the farrier had finished Cassey was already walking pretty bad. I've seen this with another horse who had arthritis, this particular horse would always be very lame a couple days after farrier. Cassey would simply refuse to lift her leg properly, because she knew it would hurt. Our farrier has done her hooves since I bought her 12 years ago and knows her very well, and he respects the fact she won't really bend her knee (he just bends over forward more than usual so he can see and do the bottom of her hooves properly).
I suppose this time she accidentally lifted her feet higher than she was supposed to. Has to be, because usually after farrier her walking gets a lot better!

I did hear people saw her running, so that's good. I've noticed she walks along with the herd and can keep up really well, even when they go all the way across the field.

Cooling down her leg today made it slightly worse, as far as I can tell. So it must be the arthritis, instead off the scar tissue she has in the same knee (always have to guess which problem is bugging her).

Prayers, spells and healing vibes always welcome!

[jay]

Glad to hear she's feeling a bit better today.

[harveydales]

Yes, that does make sense re the farrier. Glad to hear it is all settling down again. What scares these oldies give us.

[c2b]

I so feel for Cassey. Tell her my arthritis is really bad at the moment too A kindred spirit haha.

[Debbie]

It does make sense that the farrier visit set off her problems. I noticed with Galahad, after getting his feet trimmed all at once, he would be stiff and off for days afterwards.

I'm so glad Cassie seems to be feeling better! It's heartwrenching when our oldies feel off, or go lame like that... downright scary

[Fi]

so glad she's feeling a bit better. These oldies don't bounce back like the youngsters.