Posted by Patty Stiller on September 05, 2003 at 19:52:22:
In Reply to: HELP FOR MONTANA ! posted by JULIE KOGA on September 05, 2003 at 12:01:06:
: MY HORSE FOUNDERED LAST YEAR, AND WAS TREATED BY UNTRAINED FARRIERS. WE HAD X-RAYS DONE AND THE ROTATION IS OVER 18* DEGREES AND THE TIP OF THE COFFIN BONE IS COMPLETELY GONE. HE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HE IS IN ANY PAIN AT ALL. HE IS STILL WALKING RELATIVELY NORMAL. CAN ANYONE RECOMMEND ANYTHING "BESIDES" PUTTING HIM DOWN?
First please don't type in all CAPS , it is considered 'shouting' on the internet and is harder to read.
That said, if the horse is not in pain, still walking relatively normally why on earth would you even consider puitting him down?It always disturbs me when someone recommends killing a horse that is living comfortably. Many horses can do some level of work comfortably with far "less than perfect" bones if the feet are maintained,shod and supported correctly. The rotation you are reporting may not even really be rotation,
or may be far less severe than 18 degrees. If the vet is measuring the angle between the hofwall and the front of the bone, the 18 degree angle could be just a stretched forward, distorted hoofwall tha needs proper trimming. I recommend you get another opinion on his prognosis. Patty