This is where I've been with Echo for the last too-many-weeks. A lurking bruise in a front foot that just won't commit to action. At least I hope it's a bruise, because a worse alternative is...much worse.
He bruised something inside that foot in November, taking a bad step in a field (I saw it, fortunately, he was essentially standing still, so not a ton of force, he just vastly over-reacted to moving out of Solo's way). Vet checked it out with a basic exam, wasn't overly concerned, we rested.
It lingered. In early December, Echo was still sore at times & I had worked myself up into an over-anxious state by drawing many parallels with Solo's DDFT injury. So we went back to vet & he said still just a bruise & after watching the exam, I returned to normal baseline paranoia.
It still lingers, as bruises can sometimes do as they shift around & laugh at me, which Encore expertly taught me. I am getting twitchy again, because my brain loves to gnaw on things & also does not know how to process time, so I often struggle with temporal perspective. We have spring shots scheduled in 10 days, so if it's not better by then, we'll shoot a radiograph to see if there's anything bizarre we missed (surely not in a horse that I own *sarcasm*).
Like all things horse, it's complicated. We did put some super-cool fancy pads on his front feet, which will get their own post, as I thought that would help him bridge the last gap of healing (he's been barefoot for over a year). Unfortunately, it appeared that one nail, while not a "hot" nail, did put pressure next to the bruise, so we had to pull the shoes after a week & will try some glue-on boots instead.
He was much better within an hour of pulling the shoes, but is still a bit sore a week later, so that nail may have aggravated it a little. Not horrible, just enough that I can see it on harder ground, definitely in his foot, around the medial side of his toe. Not sore enough that he won't frolic around in his paddock, so I did sit on him today (almost all walking & it just rained so the ground is soft). I didn't give him any bute beforehand because I wanted an honest feel & while I could still feel the lingerer, I think he did seem a bit better?
Sigh, these subtle things are so confusing & frustrating. Especially when you don't own imaging devices. I'm trying to shame Echo by reminding him that his almost-24-yr-old "brother" with arthritis is currently sounder than him. I'm fairly certain, though, that Echo was standing behind the door when they handed out guilt.
He bruised something inside that foot in November, taking a bad step in a field (I saw it, fortunately, he was essentially standing still, so not a ton of force, he just vastly over-reacted to moving out of Solo's way). Vet checked it out with a basic exam, wasn't overly concerned, we rested.
It lingered. In early December, Echo was still sore at times & I had worked myself up into an over-anxious state by drawing many parallels with Solo's DDFT injury. So we went back to vet & he said still just a bruise & after watching the exam, I returned to normal baseline paranoia.
It still lingers, as bruises can sometimes do as they shift around & laugh at me, which Encore expertly taught me. I am getting twitchy again, because my brain loves to gnaw on things & also does not know how to process time, so I often struggle with temporal perspective. We have spring shots scheduled in 10 days, so if it's not better by then, we'll shoot a radiograph to see if there's anything bizarre we missed (surely not in a horse that I own *sarcasm*).
Like all things horse, it's complicated. We did put some super-cool fancy pads on his front feet, which will get their own post, as I thought that would help him bridge the last gap of healing (he's been barefoot for over a year). Unfortunately, it appeared that one nail, while not a "hot" nail, did put pressure next to the bruise, so we had to pull the shoes after a week & will try some glue-on boots instead.
Thank goodness for Gorilla Tape, my booties now last 3 days |
Sigh, these subtle things are so confusing & frustrating. Especially when you don't own imaging devices. I'm trying to shame Echo by reminding him that his almost-24-yr-old "brother" with arthritis is currently sounder than him. I'm fairly certain, though, that Echo was standing behind the door when they handed out guilt.
Shame not installed |