De nerving the hoof fetloclk

bliss87

bliss87

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My horse is at the point where steriods and arthimed no longer offer any relief to his issues in his hoof He only ever came out of his mri with a guarded prognosis because we could never determine the damage to the ligaments in the hoof.

My vets just mentioned de nerving the hoof and possibly the fetlock. In my head de nerving a hoof or even fetlock is a no as this would pose more of a danger to ride? Or is this out dated thinking?

He's currently not even field sound having just had his feet and fetlock re medicated. He's already had two GA surgeries in the past 2 years
 
I would not personally consent to the denerving of any part of a horse's leg. It doesn't stop the degeneration it just stops the pain by stopping all sensation from the area.

I've not heard of denerving suggested for foot lameness for a long, long time. It's that thinking that's outdated, not yours.

I'm sorry you are in this situation but my own choice would be to give him a dignified end.
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bliss87 said:
Thank you for your replies. This is generally how I also feel that it's really an option.

When he went lame again I said that this was probably going to be the end no matter how heartbroken I am about it
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I've come to the conclusion that sadly it doesn't matter what procedures our horses may have (that is surgical procedures) they ultimately never come right. It's wonderful that science has enabled some amazing options, but we're a long, long way away from most of them working.

Caveat - I know that de-nerving is not new science.
 
mine has done his ddft in his hoof after a kick in the field / from
Looking at his mri he should never have come as sound as he has but it’s been a rollercoaster / there was also
Discussion of de nerving him but personally I wouldn’t be going down this route he’s only 8 but I dodnt feel it’s the right thing to do should he not stay paddock sound and enjoy a life x
 
I wouldn't consent to that procedure for any horse. It sounds horribly dangerous and I can't imagine that it would make the horse rideable. I know a person who effectively had a similar operation.. She now gets her foot caught on chair and table legs and doesn't realise it until it impedes her progress. I understand why she was offered the op in her situation but I really wouldn't wish that on a horse.
 
we had an MRI done 2 years ago which found a bone cist on the pedle bone, the MRI couldn't determine the level of damage only that it's there. So came away from with a guarded prognosis and as the vet said with medication is kicking the can further down the line.

I've requested a nerve as I think its the only way to determine that it's the degradation of this condition that's causing the current lameness which is the lamest he has ever been. We where sound in February.
 
I knew a mare that had that procedure. She had a few years of ridden work and then the owner put her in foal. Tragically she got an abscess in the denerved hoof and because she didn't feel pain it wasn't spotted early like they normally are. I don't think the de-nerving had anything to do with the infection tracking up her leg but it definitely was responsible for late treatment by a very caring owner. Sadly the bone got infected, she got sepsis and neither her nor the foal could be saved.

I'm not sure how much de-nerving still goes on quietly. The ethics worry me - the problem hasn't gone away the horse just can't feel it.
 
SEL said:
I knew a mare that had that procedure. She had a few years of ridden work and then the owner put her in foal. Tragically she got an abscess in the denerved hoof and because she didn't feel pain it wasn't spotted early like they normally are. I don't think the de-nerving had anything to do with the infection tracking up her leg but it definitely was responsible for late treatment by a very caring owner. Sadly the bone got infected, she got sepsis and neither her nor the foal could be saved.

I'm not sure how much de-nerving still goes on quietly. The ethics worry me - the problem hasn't gone away the horse just can't feel it.
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That's the rub really isn't it, pain is a warning sign and an indicator something is wrong. Remove the ability to feel the pain and you lose that warning system.

Here's an interesting article about people with CIP (Congenital Insensitivity to Pain): https://dailycampus.com/2020/11/20/...owing-reality-of-not-being-able-to-feel-pain/

And they are at least able to comprehend their situation and take steps to try to mitigate/prevent severe injury.
 
ycbm said:
I would not personally consent to the denerving of any part of a horse's leg. It doesn't stop the degeneration it just stops the pain by stopping all sensation from the area.

I've not heard of denerving suggested for foot lameness for a long, long time. It's that thinking that's outdated, not yours.

I'm sorry you are in this situation but my own choice would be to give him a dignified end.
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This, totally this, it sounds like its time, I am so very sorry
 
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