Ear trouble - any ideas?

Love

Love

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Hi all,

I'm posting this on behalf of a friend as she isn't a member on here.

She owns a 6yo Welsh cob mare and has owned her for a year. When she first bought her and for the majority of that time, pony was absolutely fine to have her ears touched/stroked/bridle on and off/headcollars on and off etc. She then started to get very reluctant to have one of her ears touched when doing any of the above things. It is just the one ear, she is still perfectly fine with the other one.

Owner had a vet out who suggested it could be her poll and to get chiro/physio out. Chiro said atlas bone was out, straightened it and said that should sort it. Still no change so had physio out who said I don't believe it's her poll I believe it's her ear causing her pain (towards the base). Owner then got a second vet out who said horses can't get problems with their ears and left it at that.

Next step is to get another opinion from a different vet just to be sure but in the meantime, has anyone had any experiences like this and have any suggestions as to what it could be? We genuinely don't believe this is behavioral and think it is pain related. Teeth have been done, bridles and headcollars have been changed etc all to no avail so don't believe it is any of those.

Thanks in advance :)
 
Did the vet have a really good look both inside and outside the ear? Possibly a tick or grass seed in the ear canal...no aural plaques?

I don't think ear infections are common in horses but I wouldn't think it's impossible...or perhaps referred pain from a tooth root?
 
Probably not the same problem at all but worth relaying

Last year I noticed one of mine moved back when someone went to stroke him over the stable door which was totally out of character for him. I went into the stable to put his head collar on and again he was shying away from any contact, it took a bit of persuasion to get near his ear and head. I felt inside the ear and it was hard in places, I had a vet visit as I had never experienced the problem before. It was an ear infection due to black fly and due to all the hair I truly hadn't noticed, the other ear was perfect
 
There are a dozen (or more) possible causes of ear pain and a decent vet is needed. I have just had a 3yo show an ear problem - there was a lump and some pus expressed. The vet excised it and it LOOKS like it might be a dentigerous cyst (otherwise known as tooth in ear would you believe>) It's congenital - during pregnancy there is a hiccup and tooth that should have been in the mouth migrates. It sits there until it becomes infected - or whatever. We're awaiting pathology on the excised matter - there's always something new.
 
It is rare for horses to get an ear infection - although not impossible. But there are lots of things that can happen int he ear to cause pain. I am really surprised at your vet's attitude. In you place I would look for aural plaques or blackfly. A tick or grass seed is also possible but not as common. And perhaps a second opinion from another vet!
 
On a (presumed to be) non-physical level I've known a horse be senitive (for /years/ with unrelated handlers, on new yards, etc) on one ear after being ear twitched on it.
 
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