Any ideas/experience ..please!....

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Evie91

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Sorry it's long.
Old retired tb 23 (24 in May).
Late December went out one morning to feed to find horse walking round and round box, sweated up, agitated, not eaten overnight. Vet came, thought colic, tubed horse. Horse takes week to recover, lots of staring into space, picking at food, suddenly perks up all back to normal.

Three weeks ago - horse off breakfast, pacing in box, agitated, turn out instead of calling vet. Bought in with a very odd gait, back legs off, not eating. Vet came out - did internal, temp,,heart,all ok, poss teeth, gave painkiller left us to it - no idea what it was. Four days later still picking at food, staring into space. Vet back, did teeth, took bloods,painkillers, next day horse picks up. Bloods come back all normal - heart, kidney, lung function normal, blood ok, no sign of infection, poison etc. Horse back to normal.

vet checked week later - all ok, thought she was weezy so advised more ventilation needed (took windows out of my stables).Stated horse breathing was bit laboured ( I couldn't see it personally) but otherwise ok.
Weds - box walking, agitated, wouldn't eat breakfast, turnout, staring into space, not eating.
Vet came today, prior to visit horse lay down in garden, never, ever does this, got her up- States laminitis, gave sedation for odd behaviour ( but not had that since tues), box rest and review. Gutted as had taken horse in garden for couple of hours to try and cheer her up, didn't use turnout boots (as I do everyday!!!) vet exclaims she is footsore on hard ground and trotted her on stones (explained she can't walk on hard ground with out boots, I know this, felt like vet was doubting I use boots), pulses up so lammi. Took more bloods - I'd ask for cushings test but apparently last lot of bloods taken wasn't tested for it. Eye sight tested fine, hearing too, heart, lungs (clear today, no wheeze), liver, kidney, blood fine.

I asked dentist to check vet dental work and she felt it had been unnessacery.

So four vet visits in four weeks - same symptoms with varying diagnosis. Horse been given painkillers, ulcer meds, sedation, sedatives to give twice a day. Bill totalling £££££'s which I'm sure insurance won't cover (due to exclusions). Not sure where to go with next - vet wants to come back out but I have no confidence in them currently (although they are a highly respected practice). Not convinced their intervention has made a difference.

Anyone have ideas of what it may be?

Dentist advised I get her back checked, perhaps trapped nerve, vets do not think its this, but I guess it's worth a go!
 
I wish I could suggest something for you both, sadly I can't. I just hope all goes well.
Personally, I would leave her out if you can, see if that makes a difference.
Poor mite, I've got my fingers crossed she might just spring back to life. You're in my thoughts. Xxx
 
I was only thinking of your mare the other day and wondered how she was. Sorry to hear that she's not improving. Has her behaviour changed at all too?

Could you ask for a second opinion? What do the vets want to do if they come back out?
 
Charge me more money would be my guess!!
Been advised to box rest for a week - poor girl is arthritic and likes going out, so not really keen on that. Will keep her in tomorrow but if it's nice at the weekend will probably give limited turnout.
Three different vets been out, all with different ideas. At least one admitted he had no clue!
I too am hoping she springs back to life - love this horse!!!
 
I'd be getting a different practice to have a look at her. Other than that I am afraid that I have no suggestions. I hope that you get to the bottom of this sooner rather than later.
 
Thinking outside the box could it be something in her box or nearby that is upsetting her, she doesn't have any obvious symptoms, the laminitis, if she has it, can be stress induced and she certainly sounds as if she has been stressed by something, rats could possibly be bothering her at night, any other wildlife that may be around could have really upset her the first night and not be about all the time, probably totally on the wrong track but worth thinking about as the vet is obviously baffled.
I would get a therapist in, they are often more intuitive than vets and if she has pulled a muscle somewhere it could twinge at times, although I do think her behaviour sounds rather more extreme than I would expect without it being fairly obvious to you or the vets.
 
be positive said:
Thinking outside the box could it be something in her box or nearby that is upsetting her, she doesn't have any obvious symptoms, the laminitis, if she has it, can be stress induced and she certainly sounds as if she has been stressed by something, rats could possibly be bothering her at night, any other wildlife that may be around could have really upset her the first night and not be about all the time, probably totally on the wrong track but worth thinking about as the vet is obviously baffled.
I would get a therapist in, they are often more intuitive than vets and if she has pulled a muscle somewhere it could twinge at times, although I do think her behaviour sounds rather more extreme than I would expect without it being fairly obvious to you or the vets.
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I agree with you, that's why I (im not a vet and you do what you do chik) would suggest turnout. Whatever is bothering her in there, well she might be getting no sleep, be exhausted and just needed a lay down for her tired mind and tired bones... Bless her, I think she needs cheering up with a big hug and some really indulgent dinner.
Give her a pat from me.xxx
 
Discussed with a friend this afternoon whether something may have spooked her - thing is she has been on a busy yard and quieter, had lots of moves before I had her, so experienced loads of changes.
We do have muntjac around here and they make an odd noise, but she's usually quiet chilled and this seems a bit of an over reaction.
I've contacted an animal communicator too, just waiting to hear back, willing to try anything at this point!
 
If your horse was a person, I would be thinking transient ischemic attack/episode, a sort of mini- stroke, might be worth discussing with a vet you trust.
 
I will be watching this thread, please let us know. Big Hug to you too, if I were a horse, I'd want to be yours. It comes across as crystal you are doing your best, who can ask for more.xxx
 
YorksG said:
If your horse was a person, I would be thinking transient ischemic attack/episode, a sort of mini- stroke, might be worth discussing with a vet you trust.
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Now that's got me thinking (dangerous for me!). I had a elderly NF on loan and he had "fainting fits" which meant the end of me riding him. He used to glaze over and then collapse. Within a few minutes he was back up again, albeit wobbly. He had an ECG as vet suspected it could be a heart problem. ECG showed nothing but it was done after the event. His owner retired him to the field and the cause wasn't ever established.
 
I hope you get to the bottom of it soon, and (((vibes))) for your horse! Did all of these episodes appear to start while the horse was stabled?
 
I'd considered stroke but when she's ok, she's ok - no lasting effect.
I've noticed her behaviour more I think in the stable - she's a horse that loves to eat, so not eating hard feed it very unusual for her.
She's always been a bit of a diva - I couldn't leave her out overnight she would hate it. She doesn't like the rain, or wind, or flies/midges in the summer. She 'has' to go out and then 'has' to come back in.
I know she's been sleeping in the stable as most mornings she has shavings stuck to her face and rug. She brings herself in and is always happy to come in, never avoids it and always appears settled. Is settled at late night check, often resting.
The 'episodes' appear to have started early morning - the box walking, agitation, looking for 'something' ( on high alert, ears pricked, eyes on stalks), think they last for about two hours - I'm guessing they start about half an hour before I feed, judging by stable and then I've begun walking her round outside to encourage her to settled and eat but it takes a good hour to hour and a half,afterwards she starts eating grass but will take the occasional bite before looking around. Then looks really tired and spends the day staring about and barely eating.
It's horrible, really feel I'm failing her, just wish she could tell me what's wrong. When she's like this she'll sometimes stop and whicker to me - it makes me cry, she wants me to help and I don't know what to do!
Thanks for advice and good wishes.
 
If the episodes are starting half an hour before you feed then can you get there an hour early and see if anything obvious is happening. If there's nithing obvious does getting her out an hour earlier prevent it?
 
jemima*askin said:
If the episodes are starting half an hour before you feed then can you get there an hour early and see if anything obvious is happening. If there's nithing obvious does getting her out an hour earlier prevent it?
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I would also get a camera rigged up, no idea how easy it would be for you to do but it would allow you to observe what happens leading up to her starting it, there may be something going on that only she can hear or smell.
 
I would be another that is thinking stroke of some kind or at the least, some pressure on the brain/spine; it's too similar to a mare I had here who was found to have a brain tumour at her PM. Sorry but each time she has an episode it will build up and get worse for the next one if that's the case.
 
Jemima askin - such a simple suggestion, yet something I'd not thought of. I can go earlier too - stables next to the house.
No improvement today - none of the wildness ( but she is sedated), still barely eating. Looks tired :(
 
Yes, i was thinking the same. I had a retired mare here for a while that used to have mild fits, if you hadn't seen the actual fit you wouldn't have known she'd had one but afterwards for a while her behaviour was quite odd, then she'd be fine for weeks. I think she had a tumour of sort on her brain.
Maesfen said:
I would be another that is thinking stroke of some kind or at the least, some pressure on the brain/spine; it's too similar to a mare I had here who was found to have a brain tumour at her PM. Sorry but each time she has an episode it will build up and get worse for the next one if that's the case.
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