pedal bone rotation

[leanneandposh]

i havent posted anything about posh on the page for a while. some of you may know whats been happening, others dont.

well posh went really badly lame and took stress laminitis on one of her feet, looking at the xrays that were taken her pedal bone has rotated.

Now my vet is talking about putting her to sleep. now im willing to make this really hard decision if all tests have been done and it shows that shes not going to be comfortable and be in pain but i dont want to give up if she will have a good quality of life.

im just wondering if any1 has had any experience with pedal bone rotation and what the outcomes were?

[Eleanor]

I have a shetland mare here who had bad lammi before we got her home. We have never had her x-rayed but you can see her sole has dropped and when the vet checked her over he said he would be very surprised if there wasn't significant rotation. This pony is a field companion and if she ever takes in foal again then fine and well but if she doesn't she doesn't. Not quite the same I know as she will never be ridden again purely because I have no one to ride her but it's not the end of the world. I was advised to shoe the mare and do this that and everything but I have just left her barefoot with a fantastic faffier and after 2 years she has never taken another lame step or had a relapse.

It depends on the degree of rotation and what you want to do with her in the future as to what the ultimate decision will be.

[leanneandposh]

thanks eleanor. i would be happy for her to do nothing for the rest of her life apart from be company and a big pet as iv been through soo much with her. but feel that the vet saying to put her to sleep after 1 lot of xrays is like giving up on her to easily. i will try to get pictures of the xray put up but id say the rotation isnt severe. my farrier said the other week that her feet were improving and he thought she would be able to be a hack eventually. and now my vet is sayin pts! im a little confused to say the least.

[ldf]

Hi Leanne

my old mare got lammi some 8 years before her final demise, she had pedal bone rotation on xray ( about 12 degrees) with supportive shoeing and care she came sound - had 7 good years got competing long hacks jumping etc before she got cushings at the age of 28 and the lammi returned - this time it was just too severe and we had no choice as the bone came through the sole. Please feel free to pm me if you feel I may be able to help with any advice.

Only you can make the desicion and you will know if its the right time.

Lxxx

[hamish]

I have a welsh sec B and she has stress related laminitis in one hind foot and her pedal bone has rotated. That was back in spring and with a good farrier ,vet (my boss!) and a heartbar shoe she is now sound and due to get the shoe off at her next shoeing.

Where abouts are you based? If you have any questions, just ask.

[leanneandposh]

thank you very much for all ur kind words and advice, im based in ayrshire. i have a different vet coming out today (for something different) so i may ask his advice and ask him to explain the xrays to me as i havent had them explained to me.

she has heart bars on on both front feet and the look of her feet r much better thn they were.

[gemmat]

Firstly-listen to the farrier over the vet! They are the feet experts.

We had a pony with really bad lami at our yard, they went through various shoeing methods but what really helped her was imprint shoes. Speak to your farrier about them, they are great.

Are you insured? If you are then I would go with the second opinion, speak to the farrier and see about imprints. If the degree of rotation is not too severe then correct shoeing and box resting with pain relief can work wonders for her.

Best of luck.

[leanneandposh]

thank u. i had vet bak out today as she has an infection in her back legs and when i questioned her she actually explained herself and changed what she was sayin since she hasnt seen her in 10 weeks!! she sed tht were going to do more xrays etc and if im not bothered about her getting ridden etc then she wont need to be pts unless she is in a lot of pain and not getting a quality of life! jst so glad shes finally agreeing with me. i will speak to farrier about imprint shoes! thanks loads

[chestnuttymare]

I think rather than just take the views of one of them, i would ask the vet and farrier to speak. The vet has seen the xrays whereas the farrier hasn't so can't see what the pedal bone is doing.
There was a horse at my yard a few years ago and the pedal bone was coming thro the sole and i have never seen an animal in such pain. It wasn't someone that i was particularly close to but i had to, eventually, beg her to please listen to the vet. However, i have known a few that had rotation and with careful management they have come good and I know 1 at least is still ridden. I think you are right, as long as she is comfortable and not in any discomfort then being a field ornament is fine. As much as i love riding brooke, I enjoy the looking after part just as much. Hope you get it sorted soon. take care

[leanneandposh]

thanks the farrier has seen the xrays. i have copies of them so tht he can shoe according to them. hes quite hopeful so im tryin to stay hopefull aswell. shes going to go into the vets in a couple of weeks and get more xrays dun etc so fingers xd we see sum improvement. thanks for every1s kind words. x

[Alliecat]

Stay hopeful, listen to your farrier & most imortantly; listen to your horse - she will let you know when it's time to go.

I've already bored everyone with my tale of Tammy pony, but she is still with me 5 years after I was very bluntly told it was time to PTS> A very good farrier, a new interest in life (AKA Dougie Donk) & treatment for Cushing's & she is still very sprightly & happily alive.

Too long a story to post again, but PM me if you want more

[leanneandposh]

thanks loads. iv pm you alliecat. xx

[tpo]

Have a google of Pete Ramey. There are before and after x-rays of horses with pedal bone rotations that are back in full work.

Also have a google of Rockley Farm Blog

There are numerous books out there also but those two websites would be good starting points. If you email Nic at Rockley (and are able to send x-rays) she'll be well placed to share her opinion and every chance she'll have rehabbed similar.

Good luck, I know how stressful it can be. It's programmed into us to listen to vets/farrier/"experts" but sometimes they can't see the wood for the trees.

[leanneandposh]

thank you very much. i will definitely have a look into that. i have to say my mare is doin very well, still not allowed out in the field but she is getting ridden and lunged and is off her danilon. she has her good and bad days but mostly good. were allowed to do walk with a little trott.(although posh thinks that she can canter and rear and buck and gallop around the skool some days!) haha thanks for all ur help x