claret09
Well-Known Member
can i ask where abouts in the country you are?
Any advice or end of the road?
- Thread starter Cbro23
- Start date
Cbro23
Member
Thanks for your reply, people have different experiences and sometimes there are things, like the PSSM test, that are good and easy suggestions. Many people have far more experience than me.
For me personally, this is a difficult and upsetting situation to be in. I am not a breeder or a top competition rider, this is my only horse and means a lot to me so this is a heavy decision to make. I’d like to do as much as I can. I have also mentioned that he could be in pain in his day to day life, so turning away is one option, but who knows if that is the right option. what I was looking for was support I suppose, which sadly your post doesn’t provide.
Cbro23
Member
Thank you ?
Cbro23
Member
Hi- I’m in Berkshire
Sossigpoker
Well-Known Member
If finances allow , I'd go for a bone scan. This will show if any areas are "active ". It costs around £1200. I'd certainly try and get that done before I'd PTS. a rectal ultrasound of the SI might be also worth doing as well as x-raying the neck.
lynz88
Well-Known Member
Ugh. Horses. Tbh it has taken years and years to figure out all of my guy's issues. And along the way we have found all sorts of other weird and wonderful things.
My first thought was KS or SI or hocks. If this were back home I would wonder something like EPM but that's not possible over here (my horse is EPM and that was one scary roller coaster). I would echo others and consider turning away and see what happens. I would also say that there are plenty of times where your own research and/or forum people tend to pinpoint issues that vets miss....the vet missed EPM and had I let the vet continue to scratch their head, I would have a dead horse. I also caught SI when we were about to give up as mine wasn't showing "typical" signs. Started poking around and voila. I wish you luck. They are so frustrating!!
My first thought was KS or SI or hocks. If this were back home I would wonder something like EPM but that's not possible over here (my horse is EPM and that was one scary roller coaster). I would echo others and consider turning away and see what happens. I would also say that there are plenty of times where your own research and/or forum people tend to pinpoint issues that vets miss....the vet missed EPM and had I let the vet continue to scratch their head, I would have a dead horse. I also caught SI when we were about to give up as mine wasn't showing "typical" signs. Started poking around and voila. I wish you luck. They are so frustrating!!
Cbro23
Member
We did briefly discuss a bone scan, think the concern was that given his racing career it could flag up lots of “hotspots” and not give any conclusions necessarily, but appreciate that would be the logical next step. Wasn
Thank you- bone scan was spoken about at the beginning of the investigations, think the concern was given his recognition career it could come up with all sorts that is totally unrelated… the irony is that we don’t know what it would be unrelated to because it’s undiagnosed.
thanks for the SI suggestion, given we’ve had them medicated could be quite telling
Cbro23
Member
Thank you, really appreciate that. Kissing spine has definitely been ruled out, hocks were unresponsive to nerve blocks but who knows. That was a very kind reply thank you ?
BBP
Well-Known Member
I think it’s good to keep an open mind. My vets thought sacroiliac injury but it was me and my research that pushed to scope and biopsy, and lo and behold he had ulcers and RER. They also had no idea why he was having a hard time getting up from lying down but before we PTS it was me and my research that pushed for blood testing a supplementing with high levels of vitamin E, and lo and behold he went from chronic deficiency to being able to get up like a normal horse. My vets trust how well I know my horses. I sympathise with your position as my horse has been a life long puzzle.
Dexter
Well-Known Member
Don't waste your money. Type 1 has only ever been found on one TB, ever. And the type 2 test is expensive and not accurate, and he doesn't sound like he has many symptoms
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
Can you tell me what you think the harm would be in a £30 hair root test and a set of neck x rays while the horse is prepared for turning away?
Are you aware of another thread running where a horse in terrible pain with vets that had not found the issue was helped by keyboard warriors on this forum who suggested neck x rays? The horse was PTS yesterday.
.
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
I knew one like this, was not quite right for years, just working slow hacking as schooling was uncomfortable to watch. Although he wasn't out and out lame, he continually swapped behind at canter and was generally stiff and sort of resentful. He was swapped to a treeless saddle (it was an Ansur) and the fitter said the canter would change. It didn't immediately, it took about 6 weeks, but suddenly the horse did manage to gain his canter. He was never supple and flexible under saddle, but then he was an ex hireling so had years of hard work behind him. What I can say is that he transformed into a pleasant ride who seemed much happier.
We'd had three qualified saddle fitters and a couple of saddles prior to this.
I can only presume that he had some deep-seated bruising or something? Or the Ansur allowed his back more movement?
We'd had three qualified saddle fitters and a couple of saddles prior to this.
I can only presume that he had some deep-seated bruising or something? Or the Ansur allowed his back more movement?
Cbro23
Member
Oh really, thank you. I had no knowledge of these tests so at least I’ve learned something from this thread even if it doesn’t help my situation right now
Cbro23
Member
Yeah I am always open to advice, whilst I have had horses a long time they are a hobby to me and I love to learn from people who simply know more than I do.
this is really hard, because it’s a no win situation. The vets options were either turn him out and he could be in pain, we can’t be sure, or PTS. Sounds like you’ve done a great job with yours, so glad you trusted your gut instincts and it worked for you.
lynz88
Well-Known Member
You didn't x-ray?
SantaVera
Well-Known Member
This could be ulcers , personally I would find soewhere to turn away for up to 2 years, no shoes, just a big field burt importantly with a set of companions or oat least one who stays there all the time. totally stress free environment. whatever it is that gives him a good chance of healing.
Cbro23
Member
Hi thanks for your reply- he hasn’t had a rider on for months and months so as much as I’d love to think a miracle could happen and it would be as easy as changing saddle unfortunately I think it’s gone
yes we xrayed back and stifles
Trouper
Well-Known Member
Seriously - get hold of Tom Beech. He looks at things that other vets just don't touch and I only wish I had known about him when I had my ex-racer. In the scale of your current expenditure his fee is small!!
Errin Paddywack
Well-Known Member
I think the neck x-ray is the thing I would be checking before anything else. Very surprised given he is an ex-racer that the vet had not already suggested it.
Lamehorses
Well-Known Member
Wow, can't believe that attitude. Op has sought professional advise & is just asking for ideas.
Medical professionals get it wrong sometimes & can miss things. Op is not using Dr Google instead of a vet, just tapping into a potentially huge group of people who have seen all sorts of medical issues.
If I'd listened totally to my vet my current horse probably wouldn't be here.
Lamehorses
Well-Known Member
Op, what are his feet like. Have to hooves been xrayed. My horse had a whole host of issues stemming from npa in the front hooves.
Cbro23
Member
Hi no they haven’t look at hooves at all. generally fairly good feet- but obviously have no idea if something could be going on inside. The trouble is there are so many things we could scan and try but funds just don’t allow- I’ve always been responsible with him and had a buffer but we’ve now exhausted that with all the treatment so far. I wish I could do all the things people have suggested
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
Why would you not investigate a neck x ray and other possibilities first? Weird thing to say!
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
Thank you to all keyboard warriors everywhere who helped save my horses from vet suggestions to PTS. They still live and enjoy ridden life, a much healthier one, many years later.
Sometimes the only proven background you need is a lived experience.
Last edited:
Regandal
Well-Known Member
Has he been scoped for ulcers? Don’t listen to anyone who says ‘he looks too well to have ulcers’, you simply can’t tell just by looking at them.
clairebearfur1
Well-Known Member
AGREE!! my horse was in the best shape of his life and had GRADE 4 bleeding ulcers!! We treated with Ponease ulc fix and within a few days his eyes already looked happier
Highmileagecob
Well-Known Member
Whilst you are weighing up the options, get a good farrier to take a look at the hooves. Check for thrush, check for sheared heel, check if his heels are developed and doing their job, and check for sole thickness, signs of bruising or signs of an abscess. A lot of lameness issues initially stem from the hoof, and can progress into something more serious. In the absence of an old injury being evident, it would be my first place to look.
Ask your dental technician to have a good look around too, check for hooks, loose or broken teeth, or evidence that the bit is causing an issue. Both fairly basic, low cost options that are often overlooked by a vet who is looking for a medical reason for lameness. Here's hoping you can come up with something to help sort him out.
Ask your dental technician to have a good look around too, check for hooks, loose or broken teeth, or evidence that the bit is causing an issue. Both fairly basic, low cost options that are often overlooked by a vet who is looking for a medical reason for lameness. Here's hoping you can come up with something to help sort him out.
soloequestrian
Well-Known Member
I've maybe missed this information but is the problem evident on the lunge or when the horse is turned out? Someone else has mentioned saddles - might be worth exploring. I used Balance saddles for years with good results including rehabbing a lovely horse I bought for £20 because he was 'unrideable' - he gave me 12 years of enjoyable hacking and dressage. I now have Heather Moffett saddles but use the Balance fitting principles. It can be a bit overwhelming when you start to look at all the different saddle options but well worth doing - perhaps see who the 'alternative' people are in your area.
Hormonal Filly
Well-Known Member
Bit late to this post, so sorry you're going through this.. but second everyone else that said neck!! If you can afford the x-rays it would be well worth a look.
(My experience incase its of interest) My 9yo I'd owned 5 years. Gradually he basically had no impulsion from behind and just didn't feel right to me, although he didn't do anything 'wrong'. Vet came out and found no lameness/soreness so decided to give a full winter off. He wasn't insured at the time so decided against a bone scan.
Bought him back into work in the Spring, exact the same. Had another vet out, flexions, work up.. again, nothing found. In fact that vet said just get on with it, nothing is wrong with him!! I just couldn't put my finger on it. 3rd vet, similar tests.. nothing found. He actually left quite baffled. I then had a different physio visit, who noticed he was stiff in his neck. 3rd vet re visited after sending physio report on, x-rayed neck and there is was. Chronic arthritis of C6-C7 (specialist thought due to a fall or a birth abnormality) in his neck which later found was impacting the spinal cord.
(My experience incase its of interest) My 9yo I'd owned 5 years. Gradually he basically had no impulsion from behind and just didn't feel right to me, although he didn't do anything 'wrong'. Vet came out and found no lameness/soreness so decided to give a full winter off. He wasn't insured at the time so decided against a bone scan.
Bought him back into work in the Spring, exact the same. Had another vet out, flexions, work up.. again, nothing found. In fact that vet said just get on with it, nothing is wrong with him!! I just couldn't put my finger on it. 3rd vet, similar tests.. nothing found. He actually left quite baffled. I then had a different physio visit, who noticed he was stiff in his neck. 3rd vet re visited after sending physio report on, x-rayed neck and there is was. Chronic arthritis of C6-C7 (specialist thought due to a fall or a birth abnormality) in his neck which later found was impacting the spinal cord.
Getbackboys
Well-Known Member
good feet from the outside but could have corns, is he shod, could have fracture in pedal bone or some other but xraying little parts of the body adds up financially and would end up costing the same as a full body scan, as previously said about £1200, that will tell you everything in one go, good luck