Ataxia? Something else?

[HollyWoozle]

This morning my horse Belle has presented like this: https://streamable.com/8x1dnw

She seems in pain, lethargic and basically very slow to move as you see. Vet has been and doesn’t think it’s an infection or neurological. She has taken blood tests and we hope to hear something this afternoon.

Heart rate, respiration and gut sounds all good. No notable pulses or response to hoof testers. Very slight temp but not enough to consider it a fever. She can balance herself and resists if you walk her and pull tail and she looks oddly OK turning on a circle. She is eating and drinking, bit tentative on the eating front. She has had injection of painkillers maybe an hour ago and no huge difference.

She did show some discomfort in her neck when pressed but she is 22 next week and generally a bit stiff, wasn’t anything too notable.

My first thought was ataxia. Hope the bloods will show something but if anyone has seen similar and has any ideas please do let me know. Terrible timing as I’m getting married tomorrow and off on honeymoon on Sunday.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Oh no, can see why you’re worried. Does look like ataxia. I was going to say definitely take bloods and check liver. Hopefully you get some answers soon. Do any trees overhang her paddock?

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks @Hormonal Filly lots of trees and various plants in the field but she has been in same field for 15 years. We have had some ragwort popping up and we do get occasional sycamores but they have been pulled as they come really. We did have a new hay delivery on Wednesday and is hay from different fields but same hay others are also eating. Bloods came back showing nothing and the vets are clueless at this point. They suggest keeping her quiet and separate over the weekend, with pain relief, and just seeing what happens.

She is eating, drinking and her vitals fairly normal so have just had to leave her to it now and will keep watch on her I guess.

 

[Michen]

I don't actually think she looks ataxic as such, certainly not what mine looked like when he had an acute neuro episode. Really hope she perks up for you and congrats on the wedding.

 

[Poingsettia]

Ear ache or toothache? Could she be dizzy? Not sure how that presents in horses but I feel like her when I have labyrinthitis!

 

[ycbm]

That looks like it might be a deep seated strain, possibly chest or deep in the vertebrae of the spine if there's nothing to feel anywhere. I hope she's better after a bit of rest and bute.

Congratulations on the wedding.
.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks all. As time goes by I am more inclined to think she strained something as @ycbm suggests. My Mum reports that there was a big bonfire in the village last night which resulted in a loud bang, perhaps the horses were charging about and Belle has been known to fall over when hooning before. I would have thought pain relief would've helped in that case but who knows. Let's see what happens and I'll stop panicking for time being!

 

[HollyWoozle]

I stayed with her and worked from the paddock for a while but wasn't that convenient with her breathing down my neck and steaming up my glasses! I could do with PA but I'm not sure she's the one.

 

[Equi]

Vets been and hasn’t found anything major. I’d try and follow their advise of wait and see and try to enjoy your wedding. If it’s a strain you’ll see a big difference in a few days

 

[DabDab]

That looks like it might be a deep seated strain, possibly chest or deep in the vertebrae of the spine if there's nothing to feel anywhere. I hope she's better after a bit of rest and bute.

Congratulations on the wedding.
.

Probably this.

But outside possibility of Lymes maybe?

 

[nutjob]

Looks a bit like mine which had a SI injury after a fall. Can she turn her neck properly and reach down to the ground?

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks for the replies. She can reach down to graze fine but she has been a little odd with her neck and turning it from side to side sometimes, almost as if uncomfortable. She does show slight discomfort when it is palpated at certain points but she is generally a little stiff anyhow and vet didn't think the response was overly telling.

I definitely wouldn't put it past her to have taken a tumble, she is a bit mad when she gets going. Having said that, I guess I just thought pain relief would have made a more noticeable difference if it was a strain or other but let's see. I was panicking a little extra earlier as my parents are a bit nervous of her sometimes and will be her primary carerso in my absence... but I have confident horse friends lined up to help if she needs more care when I'm away.

ETA: this is her about three weeks ago so it’s a stark difference: https://streamable.com/8dw5bf

 

[DabDab]

She's a really gorgeous horse.

There are some deep muscle aches that pain relief seems to barely touch, so hopefully it is just that and she's much improved when you come back from honeymoon. Glad you've sorted plenty of backup so that you can enjoy your wedding and holiday without too much worry. All the best for your wedding

 

[Zoeypxo]

Thanks for the replies. She can reach down to graze fine but she has been a little odd with her neck and turning it from side to side sometimes, almost as if uncomfortable. She does show slight discomfort when it is palpated at certain points but she is generally a little stiff anyhow and vet didn't think the response was overly telling.

I definitely wouldn't put it past her to have taken a tumble, she is a bit mad when she gets going. Having said that, I guess I just thought pain relief would have made a more noticeable difference if it was a strain or other but let's see. I was panicking a little extra earlier as my parents are a bit nervous of her sometimes and will be her primary carerso in my absence... but I have confident horse friends lined up to help if she needs more care when I'm away.

ETA: this is her about three weeks ago so it’s a stark difference: https://streamable.com/8dw5bf

Lovely horse shes moving really well there, fingers crossed shes feeling better soon and you get to enjoy your honeymoon!

 

[paddy555]

she looks to be in pain but far from distressed especially on the computer pic. An older horse is going to be a lot more sore from a fall.
I would just give her rest for a couple of weeks. From her charging around on the "normal" video it is not hard to see what fun a bonfire etc would cause.

She does have every good timing. Does she not approve of the honeymoon perhaps???

such a pretty little girl, I hope she goes on OK

Congrats for the wedding and enjoy the honeymoon.

 

[shortstuff99]

Does she have cushings?

 

[scats]

A fall and a strain perhaps?

Shes absolutely beautiful. Congratulations on the wedding, too!

 

[HollyWoozle]

Does she have cushings?

She did have a positive test for cushings years ago but only borderline and vets decided not to treat. Has had no issues since then really.

 

[HollyWoozle]

she looks to be in pain but far from distressed especially on the computer pic. An older horse is going to be a lot more sore from a fall.
I would just give her rest for a couple of weeks. From her charging around on the "normal" video it is not hard to see what fun a bonfire etc would cause.

She does have every good timing. Does she not approve of the honeymoon perhaps???

such a pretty little girl, I hope she goes on OK

Congrats for the wedding and enjoy the honeymoon.

She hasn’t done any work in at least 10 years so can rest for forever thank you. X

 

[shortstuff99]

She did have a positive test for cushings years ago but only borderline and vets decided not to treat. Has had no issues since then really.

Might be worth a check of levels as mine had issues walking etc developed from the cushings.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thank you

 

[shortstuff99]

Thank you

Congratulations for your wedding and I hope you have fun on your honeymoon!

 

[Fjord]

Congratulations on your wedding! Hope you get to enjoy your day and have a lovely honeymoon. Fingers crossed your beautiful girl has just had a tweak and is back to her happy self soon x

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Could she have done what my vet refers to as a “Bambi”? Front legs splayed apart, and strain or tear to the muscles between the front legs and across the chest?

Mim did it once when she was being an absolute twit in the field. Rest and then physio worked well but it took her about 6 weeks to look normal again.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Happy Wedding Day!!

I think a strain/ pull type injury too. Mine got booted in the face once (i was there watching) and it kind of flung his head sideways quite violently and he walked a bit like that, very slow and gingerly for a good few days afterwards. I spoke to the vet and he was buted for a bit before returning to normal.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Happy to report that Belle is walking relatively normally again!

Thank you all for the support. Hopefully she had just twinged something and will manage to stay in one piece whilst I’m away

 

[ycbm]

Good news I hope the wedding went well Mrs HollyWoozle

 

[Fjord]

Great news! Now you can relax.