Any help/ideas please......vets stumped

[Cheiro1]

Also in NL as not really sure where this will get the most views.

I am posting on behalf of a friend who is really worried about her horse and could do with some ideas.

Last Tuesday he was brought in and was happily grazing when caught, he was taken into his stable and lightly massaged over his back for 15-20mins which is done daily anyway and was falling asleep all droopy and happy. Went to the front of his stable to get a carrot to do carrot stretches which are again done daily (didn’t leave the stable) and he'd raised his head and jerked upwards slightly as if flies were bothering him.
He then was reluctant to stretch left but did it comfortably and then could not turn right or put his head down. Vet was called as seemed to be in quite a bit of pain from his body language, vet was totally stumped couldn’t find anything obvious and gave anti inflammatories. In the morning he was fine and normal. The following night (Wednesday and friend didn’t massage or do stretches as wanted to see if this had exacerbated it ) she just popped him in after getting him in from the field where he was again grazing and he again did the same. Left him overnight and didn’t call the vet and he was fine in the morning with no drugs given.
Thursday feed and hay was on the floor ready when he went in and he was totally fine, Friday she did the same and again he was fine. Saturday she went to bring him in to have his back done (McTimoney, but new practitioner to her) and he was standing in the field like it and the treatment didn’t help but after being turned back out for 10mins he was again normal so around 1hr in total. Sunday night he did the same thing when his feed was not ready and waiting and she run the vet again and vet prescribed 10days of a Danilon trial to see if it helps solve the problem and she picked that up today. When she brought him in tonight he again did the same, she stood holding his feed up for him to eat to ensure he got the drugs.

Every morning he is fine even if he has gone to bed doing this ‘thing’ it is totally random with no clear pattern other than it seems to be when he’s brought in and left to stand for a little bit but then it happened in the field during the day the other day too.
He can’t fully turn to the right and can’t lower his head. He stands with it raised and jerks it upwards on occasion. He shudders at the withers when he jerks up and can become reluctant to move and when she walks him out of his stable to make him move (rightly or wrongly please don’t criticise her) he walks backing right off the head collar, first thought of hers is possible trapped nerves but is in two minds as it is so random and inconsistent. The only thing she can think of that might’ve triggered it is a visit from the dentist the day before this behaviour was first displayed as he’s a bit of a shite for the dentist. So EDTs.....any ideas on that front?

Any help or ideas is greatly appreciated.

Sorry its long.

 

[Izzwizz]

It does sound like a trapped nerve or muscle as you mention. Seems very conincidental with the visit from the Dentist. I know when Ive had my mouth open for a while at the Dentist when having treatment, it aches for a day or so after. Could be related with your friends horse. Maybe your friend needs to speak to a vet who specialises in neurology? Hope she gets to the bottom of this and ought to speak to the Dentist too for any ideas.

 

[Cheiro1]

Thank you so much for your reply.

Do you think the 10 days of Danillon should help if it is that? Or should she take other action?

She will be calling the dentist first thing tomorrow

 

[Baymillie]

What position was his head in when he fought the dentist? My guess is that he could have done something to his neck whilst fighting the dentist? I always have mine sedated for the dentist as they can do such damage putting up a fight with their mouths held open.
It sounds like she is doing really well with all the carrot stretches etc and I would keep these up whether he has one of his turns or not as it helps to keep things moving.
This could be either a muscle spasm or a trapped nerve, either way she sounds like she is on the ball with it and let's hope her horse gets better soon as it's a bit of a mystery. xxx

 

[Cheiro1]

so far as position goes he just thrashes usually with his head up as hes a tall lad thats his natural point of evasion.

He had sedalin which is usually fine but he obviously took greater exception than normal.

She was wondering that and so is going to ring the EDT it just seems odd its SO random and seems to be more common when hes stood for a short while