xray comparison and hoof pictures

Ok, so here's the update and comparison.

I'm happy to report there was some good news and things to continue to work towards BUT..overall I'm so happy!

So, I asked my Vet and he approved that it was OK to take pictures of my xrays.  

Xrays were from Feb 2010 and from now, June 2011.
Very cool...now I can stare at them and learn more instead of trying to memorize every detail in a few minutes.

My vet and I actually had a great meeting for about an hour. He was very patient and answered all of my questions and even had some questions for me.  He is interested in joining Cliff and I when we meet with Dr. Bowker to learn anything new. Cool with me.

So, let's getting started with the black and whites;

Our two recent shots front front of hoof and with hoof on toe tip

both are of Right Rear where he had most damage

 Xrays below show, from left to right:

Two images on far left were taken in Feb 2010...these were the last images I had seen before finding Cliff.

As you can see the rotation is pretty severe.

Coffin bone pointing down toward sole

Middle image shows the bilateral rotation, not only did he sink down, but he rotated inwards as shown by the two dots and how they are off plane from each other.

The far right image is from Monday (June 2011)-Much improvement.

Heels taken down and toe cut back.
Less of an angle of rotation ...still rotated but it's getting better

 Below:

Up close of Feb 2010 bi lateral rotation

 Below:

Up close of June 2011 bi lateral roation and HOW MUCH improved it is!!

Yeah, go Cliff :)

To the right is the June 2011 image of hoof on toe tip to capture the bone density of coffin bone

 This is an upclose of above image as well.

The dark lines show active blood vessels which as we know in healing, is a good thing. 

It seems that keeping Laz moving 24/7 has proved to be a good thing.

There is also some definite damage but Vet said nothing overly concerned and no bone disease/infection which was something I was getting worried about.

The dark section in middle is where the damage is, almost looking like a deer toe if you will but not to that extreme.

 Up close of June 2011 xray showing less rotation. It's hard to tell on this image but you can see at the coffine bone tip, a tiny slipper flare.  That is feeding towards his seedy toe which may be where we see some gas bubbles, where possible abscess could be.  The xrays did not give us a definite YES on abscess but we think it's most likely one. Vet also thought about 3/16" from bottom, in his sole, there may be some gas bubbles too.  He assured me too, as Cliff does, that coffin bone will not be rotating out of his sole (phew!).  With the hobbling that Laz was doing, I was beginning to worry he rotated further but it seems he hasn't. With these xrays, it's a shot in time.  So what I don't know, was if he was better last month and coffin bone has moved since then? But...I can't worry about that too much.  I may opt to take another round of xrays in a few months to compare to see progress (hopeful). 

Now for some Hoof pictures.

Right Front, nice chip in it...grrr, his club foot.

 Left Front-my favorite foot ;)

 Right Front

 Fronts

 Fronts

 Right Front...concerned about the constant white line seperation but I may start treating that with either Clean Trax or White Lightning.

 Right Front

 Right Front

 Rear hooves

 Right Rear, the celebrity in the xrays

 Behind the rear hooves

Hi Mason!

 Rear, taken from Left side

 Right Rear

 You can really see lack of hoof wall (just crumbles, Cliff doesn't trim off hoof wall or false sole until Laz is ready to release it-which he's not right now)

 Right rear on toe tip, cocked forward.

**Last trim was June 10th, next is July 7th

My fashionable boot, made out of Ichthammol drawing salve, saran wrap, vet wrap and duct tape.

Stock in duct tape, I think yes!

And so we still wait and I hope that he starts feeling better soon.

If within a couple of weeks, he doesn't improve-I'll have to cross that bridge with options then.