Help! Advice needed I'm desperate...

If you are thinking ulcers look at paying yourself for gastro guard (or sim) if improvement get scopes which will prove ulcers and then insurance will cover.

Alternatively get another opinion. regardless of recomendations your vet is currently stumped- im in the same situation with my yearling and her mystery lameness. My vet however has refered us to a specialist as all "standard" work up, scans and xrays show nothing untoward.
 
I know of a similar situation and the mare (who'd also foaled about a year before) ended up with mastitis. Long after weaning! She had ovary/hormone issues which I guess were linked, can you get a second opinion?

FWIW, at the equine practice I use, the senior partner is probably the vet I'd rely on least for anything out of the ordinary. There are two young vets who are really good, open minded, patient and get things sorted. The senior vet tends to either say he doesn't know, shoot it, or gives a tenuous diagnosis of something chronic, so shoot it...

If you sell her, have you considered the consquences of her problems? She may end up being passed from pillar to post and never find a happy home.
 
jessikaGinger said:
This is going to be long...Very long

Bought a 13.2 chestnut mare 5yro in 2010 (now 7yro)
Sorry state, underweight, worms, Nervous..but bombproof to ride

Fast forward to june 2011 she pops out a foal which was weaned at christmas

I brought her back into work and she was great bombproof steady hack (quite green)

i started bringing her on with more and more schooling

I Rode her on the thursday and she was great, rode her friday she was bucking every time i put my leg on/ asked her to do anything
When i touched her hind or stomach she flinched slightly - even when brushing
This was at the start of summer
She also mounted a few horses around this time

i got the vet out, did a bute trial with 2 weeks box rest still same reaction
Vet checked for lameness - fine
she did a poo sample for ulcers - clear

So we tried physio - she was tight but nothing too worrying
Teeth - perfect
Saddle - not a problem

had her ovaries checked - one was large but she had just been in season
he took bloods - fine
So he gave me 'Calmex' and said if it is hormonal that will help but he thinks its behavioural
she has been on calmex 2 weeks and for the first week she seemed to be her old self plodding along not sensitive to touch although still Evil with other horses
Yesterday she was a bucking broncking loony
Same again today - if i tell her off it makes no difference, if i ignore her it makes no difference

I really have no idea what to try next? suggestions please
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Only read your post so I am sure someone else will be saying this too but ulcers... sounds very possible to me

edited to say... bute aggravates ulcers so would not have masked that condition
 
jessikaGinger said:
I did mention scoping and he pretty much ignored the fact I'd said anything, I am waiting for a call back so I will ask again! I'm not sure about season as she's been like this all summer.. I'm only asking her to walk on or move over and she bucks not anything she doesn't already know
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Don't ever underestimate the value of a good vet who listens to you, and respects and values that you know your own horse. If you do not want to change vets... insist on scoping, your vets may not have the facilities but they can refer you.
 
jessikaGinger said:
Little update - I've decided to sell ginger..
The vet is still saying its behaviour so I have to believe him.. He's the expert.
If it is the fact she's confused and needs re- schooling then she would most certainly benefit from an experienced owner who unlike myself has the time and facilities to do this!
I'm not in a rush to sell her as she means everything to our family but its for the best
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Unfortunately, there are many people on here who used well respected vets who misdiagnosed their horse, my own vet initially diagnosed worms, even though Ebs had been wormed 2 weeks before... in the end it was malabsorption syndrome and she died. I would listen to your instinct and get a second opinion. If she it is proved to not be behavioural, then the insurance will pay out. Either way I think you will have a hard time selling if she is behaving as she is, and it could be seen by some as irresponsible to sell on a horse who may hurt another rider:(. I hope you reconsider and just try scoping at the very least.

Sorry, just read to the end of the thread and seen you aren't going to sell her now :D
 
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I would definatly try putting the pony onto gastrguard and see if it improves if where me I would be getting a work up from a new vet as well.
But that's easy for me to say because I dont insure mine and expect to pay all the bills.
 
Thanks for all your responses guys, makes me more determined to get to the bottom of this..
At one point i had to say to the vet, you have only seen her for one moment in time she is my horse ive had her 2 years and i know this is not her being naughty:o it seemed to work he started to listen!
He even suggested im the problem and asked if she's like it if someone else rides, luckily a friend who is experienced has and said 'i want to get off she's ready to explode she is not happy'
Im definatly going to push for ulcer scoping but in the mean time if it is ulcers is there anything i can do to make her more comftable?

Thanks again:)
 
Just read all this thread and I hope you get to the bottom of it as it sounds like pain. I would definitely get her scoped and would consider getting x rays to rule out kissing spines. Good luck
 
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