For those of you with horses in your life, you’ll be able to commiserate. If a deep connection with horses is still on your bucket list, be forewarned. Lameness is lame and sadly a part of life now and then when you have an equine significant other.
The way Knight looks is how I feel.
Monday I was supposed to have a riding lesson. Instead, as I began to trot Knight, my trainer noticed he wasn’t moving correctly. I’ll be honest, I couldn’t feel anything. If she hadn’t been there, I might have continued to ride for a while until I noticed something. It was so slight.
My trainer had me trot to the right and to the left so she could document his movement by videoing it. I would never have thought of that.
Tuesday I did not go to the barn as I had things to do and places to go and people to see in Los Angeles after work. My trainer sent a video of Knight on the lunge line trotting in both directions. It was a little painful to watch. Not only was he bobbing his head very noticeably, but his stride was short and irregular.
And by the way, “He also has small hives,” she said via text.
I phoned her to grant permission to call the vet.
Plan in place.
What does this mean for the dressage schooling show in two weeks? Not sure. Is it possible he’s having a weird reaction to his de-worming and vaccinations from the weekend? But would the weird reaction be delayed a day or two?
As much as I know they say the flu vaccine does not cause you to get the flu, the worst case of the flu I ever had was right after I went to the free school-district sponsored flu clinic a few years back. Never again. (Who is/are they anyway?)
“Must Google ‘lameness with hives in horses.'”
That wasn’t super helpful. Although there is tons of information about horse lameness in cyberworld. I didn’t go too far into the search as I’ve made the mistake of looking up symptoms for myself on WebMD before and have convinced myself I’m having an aneurysm.
Tuesday night I literally prayed Knight has an abscess. (Is it weird to pray to have an infection? Pray for a horse?)
Wednesday morning I received another video in which Knight is looking remarkably better. Not 100%, but not painful to watch. In the cell phone quality video he might even pass as sound. It’s not HD.
The hives have spread, but apparently are quite small and are just a few here and a few there.
I’m still hoping for an abscess, but I doubt that’s the situation since he seemed so much better in today’s video.
Thursday at 3 is when our vet will come. Thursday is also the day Knight was going to have his first chiropractic adjustment. At this point the vet visit is taking priority over the chiropractor. I wish we could do both. I know I walk straighter and probably have a better stride after a chiropractic adjustment. Maybe Knight would too?
And that is the official horse update. I will hold off on being alarmed until I have more details.
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I'm Susan and this is my horse Knight. We have been a blogging team since 2015 and we're glad you're here. Tally ho!
Oh no He needs chirop too I went to dr Jason today he asked about you Then he said tell her to come here and he will treat you Of course I agreed
Advice #1 – don’t google. Easier said than done! Advice #2 – don’t worry until there’s a reason to… aka your vet says ‘your horse has X and it’s not good.’ Chances are, they won’t even say that. I wouldn’t think too much about the hives honestly. So many things can cause them, and my trainer suggests treating with organic Apple Cider Vinegar (it works!).
I agree with Lauren. Try to stay as calm as possible, this will keep Knight calm too. The best way to tackle it whatever is going on is with the full picture.
You should be proud of yourself for doing right by him, he’s a lucky boy!
Keep us updated, I will be thinking of you all.
UGH I have a horse with hives right now too — all localized, and not near any piece of tack or blanket that maybe was washed in something allergen-causing. My best guess is something environmental from pasture, but I can seriously feel your pain on that one. On lameness, it could even be something as little as a stone bruise! If you bruise your foot it can hurt and make you very not quite right for just a day or so, and is definitely not worth fretting about. 🙂
Regarding the flu: “They” are the doctors and researchers that develop flu vaccines and understand the immune response to them. When you get a vaccine it causes a strong immune response, which encourages your immune system to recognize the virus if you do get it and attack it quickly. So while you’re having this strong immune response if you get exposed to any other kind of virus — say a cold that a schoolkid at a school-sponsored vaccine clinic is secretly harboring — your body goes bonanza on it and makes your response even stronger than it would be normally, thus making you think you have the flu.
Feel better, Knight!!
To make matters even more interesting. I went down to see him tonight and turned him out in the arena. He was happily sniffing poop piles here and there and then something made him jerk his head up and come to life. He then took several animated trot strides on the short end of the arena followed by a canter and then a baby rear. I guess he’s feeling okay.
Interesting flu info. Yes, those school kids are germy.
Yahoo pony feeling sassy and good! 😀
Every winter I chase the undergrads away from me with a cross. They are seriously so germy and I refuse to share that with them!!
It’s so hard not to worry. Our horses had hives in the fall. We’re still not sure what caused it. At our vet’s suggestion we gave them benedryl. As for the lameness, it doesn’t sound like an abscess since that generally gets really bad, really quickly. However, sometimes the pocket of infection can move around the foot and the lameness can get better and then worse again. Hopefully it will all clear up in plenty of time for you to get ready for the show!
Thanks for the support. The hives he has look to me like when I occasionally get a bit of a welt-ish mosquito bite.
Oh. No. I’m SO sorry. Hoping it’s shortlived!!!
good luck!! my barn mate just went thru a dramatic NQR-ness period (lameness, hot feet, etc) that ended abruptly and with no answers – probably was a bruise we now think. hopefully this situation turns out to be equally uneventful!!
Thank you! I hope so too.
Praying for that handsome boy!
Thanks, Patrice! That is so kind of you. 🙂
I’m about to post something saying something similar ….. so sorry you’re dealing with it. Hopefully it’s nothing serious
Oooh, can’t wait to read your account.
Ah, shame! Lameness really does suck. Sometimes, though, it’s just a random little misstep they had in the pasture which evaporates after a couple days. Thoroughbreds can occasionally be real drama queens – mine thinks he’s dying if he so much as bumps his foot. Try not to worry too much. I’m sure the vet will be able to figure it out, and it’s positive that he’s already better. 🙂 Holding thumbs! (And if it’s weird to pray for a horse, let’s just say that I am possibly the weirdest person in the universe. God doesn’t seem to mind.)
I know it’s hard not to let your mind go straight to worst case senario. When Cosmo was sick and lame a couple weeks ago, I thought i had broken him for sure. Turns out both the sickness and lameness are/were treatable and just takes some time. Like Lauren said, don’t freak out until you have to.
I hope Knight’s issue is an easy one to fix!
Thanks, Carey! Would you believe when I turned him out last night he decided to trot around in that animated “I’m free!” way, then canter a few strides and then do a mini-rear? He can’t be in that much pain.
I second the information above on trying not to freak out. But I do have a second piece of advice. Try to make his appointments at a time you can make it…something about knowing my vets and talking to them face to face makes me feel a lot better for future issues. Maybe it will help you too! Hope Knight is feeling better ASAP.
Good point! I actually am going to try to get out of work about an hour early today so I can be there when the vet shows up.
I have heard of horses who have been lame after vaccines! Weird but possible!
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It’s SO HARD not to worry yourself sick, but try to stay calm until you know more from the vet. Sending good vibes your way!
Hope Knight feels better soon!