About this Blog

Meet my very 1st horse, Lazarus.
I couldn't wait for Santa anymore or ask one more time for a pony for my bday (after age 30 it got embarrassing). I took matters in my own hands and I finally decided to pick a pony that needed a new home. Laz found me as I contemplated with this idea. He was sweet yet very sassy, fresh off the track, Thoroughbred (OTTB).
Join us for our re-training, rehabbing from laminitis and testing all parts of mixed up horsemanship and partnership, and luck...

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

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.


14 comments:

  1. WOW! What a great report you did, with x-rays and all! You are such a great mom and I am glad you got great answers for now. Yeah, fingers and toes still crossed for you both!!! XOXXO

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  2. Thats a good report. I hope it's an abcess.

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  3. It's great that you finally got some good news about Laz. Cool that you saw gas bubbles in the x-rays - I didn't realize you could see those. I'm sure he'll be fine soon...hang in there!

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  4. I'm so happy for this update! I feel like this is exactly what you needed! A little (ok, BIG) boost of confidence that your HARD WORK is paying off!!!

    woohoo!!! :)

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  5. Loved being able to see the series of x-rays! thanks for sharing!! pretty cool to see the improvement in rotation too...

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  6. AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! That is some MAJOR progress on that right hind -- hooray for Cliff!!

    I do have to say that I do see some under-running of the heels, especially left front. He has some toe flare on the right front, and overall the hooves look long. Personally, I would shorten the time between trims. I'm not trying to be a Negative Nancy or "throw salt all up in your game" (lol!), just saying what I see.

    For the abscesse(s?), maybe try the Thermacare pad over whatever poultice, etc. that you're using. Just pack hoof, wrap with some Vetrap, apply Thermacare pad, and duct tape and voila! a little hoof spa! The heat should help draw out anything lurking in that hoof.

    And, yeah, White Lightning on all 4 certainly wouldn't hurt. I'm doing treatments on my boy right now, too. That stuff is amaaaaaazing!

    Ok, I will stop rambling now. :-) I'm thrilled to pieces that Laz's hoofies are so healthy and he's going to be just fine. Yayayayayayaya!! Now, go pour yourself a nice big glass of wine and let out that breath you've been holding in for the last few weeks!

    <3

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  7. What a great post! The images and the news. Laz's Right rear looks amazing considering where it has come from...I echo the others...Yeah Cliff and Yeah Kristen...Super Horse Mom!

    Love the Mason patiently watching photo...that was cool.

    Keep at it, you are getting there and I'm sure helping others as you document and share what you've done/gone through.

    Happy Trails!

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  8. Hooray! Glad things are continuing to improve, despite the scare he gave you (us).

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  9. Instead of White Lightning take a look at Oxine, same stuff-cheaper price tag.

    Is he on any hoof supplements to get him some extra copper and zinc? They might help with the weak wall issue.

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  10. (this is in2paints) I'm so glad to hear about all the good news! The pictures are awesome, and they are invaluable when you're looking at the progress and changes over time. You're doing such a good job caring for Laz! He's a lucky boy!

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  11. So happy!!! I knew you would have good news. I like the idea of the 24/7 movement encouraging blood vessel development and growth. That makes so much sense to me.

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  12. That is incredible! Seeing the xrays together for comparison is so cool. He's come so far! You've done such a great job with him. :)

    I agree with Frizzle about the trims. Getting rid of flare can help with the white line separation too I think. Still learning all of this hoof stuff. :D

    Also after you treat with the white lightning, using salt water is great for maintenance and prevention of thrust, etc. And cheap too. :)

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  13. Thos post is endlessly interesting to me because I have such trouble with my mare's feet. or I should say both she and I have issues with them. those xray pics are incredibly cool. I LOVE them. I see the difference and it is so encouraging, almost brings a little tear to my eye actually. I must go read and look at this post again. It is too informative to let slip by!

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  14. I agree with smazourek, you should probably have him on some good hoof supplements. They should really help him out. I had a similar problem with one of my horses and that seemed to help. Interesting case, thanks for posting.

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