Ataxia - Short Term

[Dot1]

My horse had an Ataxia episode 5 years ago, we were unsure of the reason but it was possibly due to scar tissue on the neck due to an injury compressing on the spinal cord. After a couple of months rest, she was almost 90% 'normal' and ever since then we have been riding as normal. She had been going the best she has ever been ridden in the five years until recently.

Until 6/8 weeks ago, she was treated by an Equine Massage Therapist, and after 2 days off after the massage, didn't feel right and refused to go forward. The movement in her back legs was stiff and pensive, we assumed it was due to soreness however she never really improved. During the massage 95% of the work done, was on her neck and withers. My horse showed signs of finding some of it very uncomfortable during palpatations etc. She had a second massage and again she was very very tense to ride afterwards, wouldn't come 'through' and refused to trot or move at all if possible.

This caused concern, as she didn't seem to improve and we then had the vet to diagnosed Atazia, we are on a course of bute and awaiting the specialist to come out next week. As she had a short term eposide before, I am hoping with everything that the massage may have caused some swelling around the spinal cord with has increased compression on the spine and that we are not talking about a long term/degenerative issue.

Does anyone have any experience of short term Atazia, wobblers or anything similar when their horse has had a massage. Or indeed any other cause of Atazia. As far as we know she has not fallen in the field on her neck etc...

Obviously I am extremely worried, so any advice would be appreciated. Success with diets etc..

Thanks

 

[pedilia]

My Connie also presented with ataxia, there was a small abnormality found after neck xrays, as with yours no obvious cause though.

The vets were a bit stumped, he was given a course of steroids, don't know if that may be an option for yours. It didn't work for my boy but I know it had in some cases.

 

[Samantha008]

Ataxia has to be one of the worst things that can happen to your horse If i were you, i would be checking the certificates of the EBW'er cos a massage surely shouldnt cause your horse to be ataxic unless they were doing something really wrong? I most certainly would NEVER have my horse massaged again in that area!

Ataxia can be caused by so many different things, there is a chance that the EBW has upset an old injury and horses always show different reactions to pain, some buck, some go ataxic!! Dont worry about wobblers or anything yet though because that really will get you no where other than panic stricken!!!

There are a few little checks you can do on your horse yourself to check her cranial nerves to make sure her brain is ok and then other things, like running a pen down her neck and back and if theres a place that she doesnt react then you can assume that there might be a problem with the spinal cord in that area. Is your horse always exactly the same? Wobblers can be worse one day than the next and usually affects the HQ more than any other part pf the horse. is her tail floppy and does it move alot when she moves? Does she stand "normally"?

My lovely horse is currently recovering from a sacroiliac injury, her first symptoms were ataxia and not being able to keep a trot, especially on corners. But after a cortisone injection shes looking much better and hasnt shown an ataxic sign for a few weeks! I speant hours googling wobblers and emailing experts in america and stuff and what i learnt is that the best thing to do is get out as many experts as you can, get the vet out and do not let them go home until you have a diagnosis and you know what you are dealing with. Thats the worst part, when youre in the "what if" stages and dont know where youre going to go.

I think in your case, as your mare got better again, she might well get better again now Good luck! I know how painful all this is

 

[Dot1]

I know the massage therapist is qualified and I think she has upset an old injury which she has on her neck and this with the muscle manipulation has caused some compression... I will never ever have my horse treated by someone who has not done years of training etc. But everything is easy to say in hindsight.

Samantha, that is really interesting, my horse also has a sacroilic joint injury, which is making treatment/diagnosis of the Ataxia difficult. Last night she appeared to be looking a little better and standing 'normally'. Her tail is 'set' to one side and is not floppy, I don't know if that is a good or bad thing?

Yes, it is possibly one of the worst things! Counting down the days to the specialist coming out! Thank you for your replies!