Lameness Videos

Taken 9.20.09 to document is on going lameness. It appears the lameness could be in the front and back. To date, he's had four Adequan injections.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcw-cyED10w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQqR3hvEIyI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9pWco5OnQ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENoQ1D9S8Yk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZocUal3FZs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdLyGVztAj0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LJzdCNAZ3Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unoC1cMZ9Io

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okw-kJm-_mA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDq3IyUnEdU

Almost Four Months

I just looked back at the date that Muddy first showed being lame. It was May 31st. That means at the end of this month he will have been lame for four months! I find this alarming. He got his fourth Adequan injection on Thursday. I had him trot for a few strides to see if he was still lame and he is. He doesn't seem in pain or unhappy. He still gets around very well. At the walk, he's sound. I guess I need to start thinking up some things to test or do to figure out why he's still lame.

Adequan

When I took Muddy to the vet last week, he was lame on his front left leg. Dr Simpkins tested the hoof and did some flexions on him. We could not determine where exactly he was hurting. We took new xrays on his broken leg with the digital xray machine. The leg is healing up very well. The concerning part is how little cartilage he has in his stifle joints. We've made the decision to put him on Adequan. Eventually, down the line he will need stifle injections. I've been hearing some good stuff about Adequan. I'm excited to see how it works in Muddy. James and I have decided to put our older dog Midnight on it as well. Dr Simpkins wants another month of rest for Muddy.

10 Weeks

It has been approx 10 weeks since Muddy went for xrays. Doc Simpkins said to give him 6 weeks of pasture rest. I had him trot a few strides in the round pen and he is still completely lame. I've made an appt for Thursday to have him xrayed again.

Pictures of Getting Xrays

Broken Fibula

June 18th - My sister and I took Muddy to Dr. Simpkins office for xrays. After two weeks, Muddy had not gotten any better. We took several xrays of his left stifle area. He was such a good boy about it. He was a bit nervous, but stood there like a champ. Xrays show that his fibula is clean broke off his patella. Dr. Simpkins believes this is the main reason we are seeing the limping. Muddy has to be on pasture rest for at least 6 weeks to allow the bone to heal. We have no idea how he managed to break it. The xrays also showed a serious lack of cartilage in his stifle joints. The bones of the joint look good meaning no burrs or sharp points. It is unclear if this is causing any of the limping. I'm going to look into Adequan injections and later on down the line stifle injections. Hopefully, the break is the cause of the limping and after it heals he'll be good as new.

Trail Ride 03/08/09

Stifle Problem

May 31st I took Muddy out to ride. It was the first time in a month that he was ridden. At the walk, he felt fine. I instantly knew that something was wrong at the trot. He was a bit off. I hoped off and lunged him so I could see what was going on. He bobbled just a tad on his left back leg. There was no obvious injury. Who knows how long he's been off since all I've been doing is going down to his pasture to groom and feed him. Crap! Dr Simpkins came out June 4th. He was to do the usually spring stuff and I had him take a look at Muddy's leg. We trotted him in the round pen. He was so lame! Much worse than Sunday. Dr Simpkins examined him and determined that it is his stifle. Now before we came back to Green Star, Muddy's left stifle was starting to click with every stride. However, it stopped after he was turned out 24/7. We don't know if it's an injury or if it's the onset of arthritis. I hope it's just a mild injury. I'm not sure I can handle stifle arthritis again. It's really bad. So for the rest of this week and next, Muddy will be kept in a stall/paddock combo. He's to have bute for a few days. Next Friday I will try to trot him again. If he's still off, then he's going in for xrays.

Looking Good

I was a bit worried how Muddy would fair with James & I being gone for a week in Vegas. No worries though. He did great other than a bit dirty. The grass must be coming in better. He's starting to fatten up. I might even have to cut back a bit on his food. He's been cantering quite a bit in his pasture. I can't wait to try cantering again this weekend.

Cantered on Muddy!

Yesterday, I cantered on Muddy for the first time since the hock issues began. We did just one or two strides, but that was enough. He was such a good boy!

Green Star Farm

We've moved Star and Muddy back to Green Star Farm. Actually, the name has been changed to The Stables LLC. While I liked it at Gene's, the horses were not getting the turn out like they needed. Turn out > Indoor Arena. Not to mention, Muddy really needs the turn out. His left stifle is starting to click loudly and consistently. They have now been back at Green Star for a week. Both are on pasture board, but I go out each evening and feed them. Luckily, both horses come when called. It's pretty neat to watch them gallop to the gate. I'm hoping by feeding Muddy each evening it will be enough to keep his weight on him. I rode him yesterday. Just wanted to polish him up a bit for James. Worked on getting his trot slower and had much success.

Trail Riding 02/01/09

James & I went up to Clark's Creek today. It was James's first trail ride. He did excellent! Muddy was a champ. I hope James enjoyed himself enough to do it again. :)

Trail Ride

Trail Ride

James Rode Muddy

James rode Muddy today. He did excellent! James remembered how to do turn on the forehand, half circle reverse, reverse half circle, and the different changes of direction. He even rode Muddy around the outside of the barn after we were done working in the arena. James commented that Muddy seemed very responsive much more so than the last time he rode him (approx 6 mths or so ago). I wonder if it's b/c I had been working with him. My sister will be coming into town in two weeks. If the weather holds up, we plan to go trail riding with Star and Muddy.