Can anyone recommend a neurological specialist?

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ForeverBroke_

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Long story so wont even begin to bore you all with the details..

But in very brief terms, following a very disappointing re-exam at my local vets today I am looking to have my horse referred to clear up the case once and for all.

They have been pushing the fact that he is ataxic, though following bone scans, x-rays and biopsys they are yet to find anything wrong. In spite of this, they are telling me he is dangerous and that I should be considering LOU.

I personally think that since I have upped his workload and he is using himself a lot more properly now that his weakness behind is much better, and they themselves said that he is better but they still aren't convinced/happy :confused:

Anywho, any neurological/muscle specialist vet/clinic that anyone can recommend within a 2 hours drive of Kent/Medway would be much appreciated.. I want to clear this up once and for all!

Thanks.
 
Professor knotterbolt at Liverpool, he's very very good! And will talk for hours on the phone if your wanting advice on what's best for your horse.
 
Name noted, all the same :) Thankyou.

I'm quite close to newmarket, RVC and liphook so may give them all a buzz tomorrow and see what happens!
 
Are they using the term ataxic as a general get out clause or do thery mean that the co-ordination of movement is neurologically impaired (i.e true ataxia)
this is an example of true ataxia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l90K9NoZ6s

I have known vets use it as a general get outclause when they can't think of anything else. I would look at getting a decent equine bodyworker or instructor to look at your horses movement, these are people who can be better at seeing the horses movement than some vets.
 
Yes sorry I meant knottenbolt, he helped me with my horse with serious neurological issues so thought I'd mention, not sure of his speciality or anything :)
 
To be honest, I've no idea.

They've said that he has 'no idea where his back legs are,' although hes never tripped, wobbled, stumbled or alike with me. Farrier and reputable instructor are both baffled that they are even considering him as a neuro case..

They keep throwing tests at the poor boy, all of which are coming back as negative or 'normal,' and yet they are still standing around scratching their heads as to whats wrong.

He was on 128 daily steroid tablets for 6 weeks and STILL they are saying 'give it another 6 weeks, see what happens..'

Sadly video wouldn't load - will try to track it down.
 
martlin said:
Oakham Equine Hospital in... Oakham :D near Melton Mowbray.

Oakham Veterinary Hospital, Ashwell Road, Oakham, Rutland. Actually, it's closer to Stamford, Lincs, than Melton. They are my vets, have been for years. I had a young wobbler, and with their care and support, he's rising 3 years old now. I have no hesitation in recommending them to you.
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RutlandH2O said:
martlin said:
Oakham Equine Hospital in... Oakham :D near Melton Mowbray.

Oakham Veterinary Hospital, Ashwell Road, Oakham, Rutland. Actually, it's closer to Stamford, Lincs, than Melton. They are my vets, have been for years. I had a young wobbler, and with their care and support, he's rising 3 years old now. I have no hesitation in recommending them to you.
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Just to be pedantic they are about equidistant between Melton and Stamford.:)

FWIW I don't think any of them specialise in neurological issues - AI and soft tissue yes.
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Slinkyunicorn said:
RutlandH2O said:
Just to be pedantic they are about equidistant between Melton and Stamford.:)

FWIW I don't think any of them specialise in neurological issues - AI and soft tissue yes.
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Come to think of it, you are probably right, equidistant.

I think the combined forces of several vets there, and their colleagues within the veterinary profession, satisfied my need for a specialist.
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Fleabite said:
To be honest, I've no idea.

They've said that he has 'no idea where his back legs are,' although hes never tripped, wobbled, stumbled or alike with me. Farrier and reputable instructor are both baffled that they are even considering him as a neuro case..

They keep throwing tests at the poor boy, all of which are coming back as negative or 'normal,' and yet they are still standing around scratching their heads as to whats wrong.

He was on 128 daily steroid tablets for 6 weeks and STILL they are saying 'give it another 6 weeks, see what happens..'

Sadly video wouldn't load - will try to track it down.
Click to expand...

My horse was given a complete neuro workup and that's when we found she didn't really know where her left legs were, but it never made the slightest bit of difference riding her and so on.

Prof Knottenbelt has a number of specialist fields, most notably sarcoids, but he certainly deals with neuro cases - he is my mare's specialist and she has epilepsy. There is also Joe Mayhew but I have a feeling he may have gone abroad.
 
What is actually wrong with your horse to prompt the veterinary exams?

Don't mean that to sound aggressive or anything. Just that you said you're horse isn't really showing any signs of being a wobbler or something. Wondered if maybe you just need to seek a second opinion, not necessarily from a neuro specialist
 
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Hello,

Thanks for all of your replies! I have noted down all of the names and with my day off tomorrow will have a good root through and see what I can do!

Elbie - he was initially referred to naturally (i.e when in the field/on the lunge) he will canter disunited behind (not when on passoa/ridden) and can get quite 'humpy,' in his back when he is tense/doesnt want to move forward. I initially thought kissing spines.. but following the bone scan etc this is not the case.

They initially did say Wobblers, but they can't find any evidence now to prove it.

All very baffling!
 
Have you had an osteo or physio have a look? Sometimes they are good at picking up things the vet has missed!

Hopefully someone will find where the problem is. Does sound very strange.
 
My horse was diagnosed Ataxic (Wobblers grade 2-3 and then progressed to Grade3 within a few weeks of initial diagnosis). This was confirmed then off radiographs at c3/c4 vertebrate. He didn't want to go forward, very tight in his back, started to go disunited on lunge, wore his hind toes out, toe tapping behind in trot and not tracking up, Painful neck etc etc.

Are there other symptoms such as screwing foot and hock when walking, still neck. Toeing out hinds. Vet thought there were other OCD type things that could be causing it. You may only find by doing a Myelogram that there maybe spinal compression somewhere, has your vet recommended this or no?

A high does of Vit E may help in the interim as is useful of Neuro type disorders.

Pls PM me for a kent vet but other than that I would go for referral to RVC or Liphook.
 
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