Bone Scan - Experiences

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Ceriann

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My mare is off for a bone scan at the end of this week. A random (seemingly untriggered) bolt (she is typically a very starightforward ride and not at all spooky) which resulted in me bailing and her crossing a road and going through a thick hedge the other side (over a post and rail ditch which makes me feel queasy to look at), followed by a lot of hard thinking about her reactions to things (tacking, girthing, mounting etc), followed by a vet work up identifying a right hind weakness has resulted in me taking what otherise seems to be healthy (if not fit) 5 year old for a hind leg, back and pelvis scan.

I have read up a lot about the scans and most seem to be very positive about the defintive diagnosis of issues (even if this doenst necessarily explain what caused the issue). Whar are people's experiences - good and bad? Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks
 
My horse had a bone scan following investigation for ataxia/neuro issues.

It came up with a very clear image of some uptake in his SI but it didnt 'apparently' end up being related to his condition - but then we've never got to the bottom of anyway!! :eek:

I think they're a good diagnostic tool tbh, I think it gives a pretty good image of what is/isnt going on.
 
My understanding is they are a good diagnostic tool for skeletal issues. Used on my mare to identify kissing spine, and to show what was 'active'. So yes def helpful as part of the overall check.

I had similar, couldn't quite put my finger on things but something not right and not improving, so she went for a battery of tests (thank you NFU :) ) and that's what they found. Not great news but manageable and huge improvement since then after having steroids. Best of luck.
 
Yes - a fact I only appreciated when I was contacted by the vets doing the procedure (different to my usual vets) and was told she will be in for 3 days as she cant be released post the procedure due to radioactivity?

Any first hand experience would be very useful as im very new territory here (ny oldre mare had an MRI last year but this is a totally different thing).
 
My understanding is they are a good diagnostic tool for skeletal issues. Used on my mare to identify kissing spine, and to show what was 'active'. So yes def helpful as part of the overall check.

I had similar, couldn't quite put my finger on things but something not right and not improving, so she went for a battery of tests (thank you NFU ) and that's what they found. Not great news but manageable and huge improvement since then after having steroids. Best of luck.
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Thanks - she's been in work circa 12 months (I've had her for 6 and now ramping up) so my worry is that an issue is only coming to light now she is being worked more. She's a very sensible 5 year old (not 100% bomproof but pretty level headed) so the bolt was the real driver but its made me look at other things such as how forward she is (not very - even out on hacks etc), how balanced (better on the lunge but she gets very tight in the back when asked to canter in the school under saddle) how she is to be groomed and tacked (on their own not an issue but she's fidgety and seems uncomfortable). On their own could easily be out down to her age etc but the bolt has really made me look at all of this in the round.

If it helps identify anything at least i can move on and treat/manage it. I assume you didnt consider the KS op?
 
My WB had a full body scan. He showed only a very mild hot spot in one hock. He went on to be diagnosed with chronic sacro illiac dysfunction and as it was chronic there were no immediate hot spots to show this. He was diagnosed via nerve blocks ridden.
 
My pony had a bone scan last week and was in isolation for 48hrs due to being radioactive. It showed up two hot spots, one in his hind right hip and one in his front left foot but clear for kissing spine etc. It gave the vet an idea of where to look first, the bone scan was a good tool as we were unable to pinpoint where the lameness was coming from as he was lame on 3 legs. It has since been discovered that he has suspensory ligament damage and navicular.
 
Ceriann said:
Thanks - she's been in work circa 12 months (I've had her for 6 and now ramping up) so my worry is that an issue is only coming to light now she is being worked more. She's a very sensible 5 year old (not 100% bomproof but pretty level headed) so the bolt was the real driver but its made me look at other things such as how forward she is (not very - even out on hacks etc), how balanced (better on the lunge but she gets very tight in the back when asked to canter in the school under saddle) how she is to be groomed and tacked (on their own not an issue but she's fidgety and seems uncomfortable). On their own could easily be out down to her age etc but the bolt has really made me look at all of this in the round.

If it helps identify anything at least i can move on and treat/manage it. I assume you didnt consider the KS op?
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I sympathise, I was in a kind of could be nothing/could be something situation and, although I got bad news, at least I knew what it was and could then deal with it. Not serious enough to warrant surgery according to my vet although we're keeping that as an option depending upon how we go. She was in for 2 days cos of the radio thingy too. Good for showing hot spots as someone else has said, which are then combined with other results like bloods, xrays, in her case internal scans and ultrasound. Amazing how I've forgotten just how many tests they did, but she came home looking like a pin cushion on her neck :( But they needed doing and she wasn't happy, and now she is :)
 
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