Lame still

[loopylou]

Jasper has now been lame for over 2 1/2 weeks, bruised sole near the frog, he has currently got his shoe off, but i am still not a 100% sure this is really what is wrong with him. We have poulticed it and now he has a dry dressing on.

On the other hand i have seen the farrier do a pressure test on two occasions and both times he flinched in the same place on the sole near the frog. He has no heat in his hoof or leg, so to be honest it is all a mystery.

It all started when i was hacking out and on the way home he just went lame in trot, i gave him a day off. Two days later he went out sound, trotted sound and then again on the way home he went lame in trot, after that it has become more noticeable as soon as you walk him out off the field or even watch him move freely in the field.

Feeling a bit annoyed by it all now, we have a local show this weekend, which is just 1/2 mile down the road and i can't even take him along now . He is getting very fat and i am not sure how to keep the weight from gaining anymore. He isn't great at being in the stable by himself, he is fenced off in the field, but we can't move the fence in anymore, due to the rain and making a mess.

My poor boy, he is feeling very sorry for himself and just seems down in his face at the moment.

[lizzylove]

Awww poor Jasper...am i totally wrong or is he a highland?? My highland is lame as well at the mo . Had a STUIPID farrier, that trimmed his feet way too short and was lame for about 1 - 2 weeks and very footsore. SO changed farriers and although the new one was very good and really took as little off as possible he is lame again - as i expected really, but he is getting better. We have a show in a week (the only one i can get to this year with him ) and i am sooo hoping he'll be ok for it as we have to hack through Hillsborough - (very busy traffic, tramsetc!!!).

Hope Jasper improves - it just makes them so miserable and unhappy doesn't it? It's not very nice to see...

[tinkerdorisalison]

I'm not sure how long a bruised sole should take to mend? Do you think he may have the start of an abcess? A slow brewing one?
Hope he is better soon

[loopylou]

Yes Lizzy, Jasper is an other cuddly Hippo like Merlin ;D
He is sore more on the sole towards the frog, i don't think it is due to the farrier, i have had him for years and years, so i have a lot of faith in him. Poor Merlin as well, sounds like he is in the wars, i hope he is all better and ready for your show in a weeks time.

Thanks Alison, i am not a 100% sure how long a bruised sole takes to mend either, the first time i spoke to the farrier he said give him a good weeks rest, he has been back since and is coming this morning as well to see how he is getting on.

[julie]

Are you on the highland board too? Bruised soles don't often take long. Could be a slow abcess, I would be tempted to call in the vet about now as you can get a touch of laminitis in one hoof. Be very careful about letting him put weight on too.

[katiejane]

nancy's awful absess started just how you describe. i would get the vet to have another look