Help please what is wrong with my boy?

M

mudmonkey17

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 September 2005
Messages
1,390
Visit site
My boy is now 20yr old has arthritis in hocks and ringbone, both of which are well controlled and he is comfortable on one bute a day. He hacks 2-4 times a week mainly in walk with odd trot and canter when ground condition allows.
He is turned out with 3 other geldings in a large field with a hill in it overnight and comes in for few hours in a day for a rest and a feed with his bute in.
He has now had 3 episodes where he almost seems to tie up and he can't coordinate his legs.
First 2 episodes he had been out almost 24/7 due to my working but this morning he bad again and he only been out overnight.
Can pick all feet up and not particularly lame just reluctant to walk forward or wobbly on legs. This passes within a day or so in stable. Have had vet who found nothing along with farrier and Physio who all declared him well and no issues.
I am tearing my hair out. He is slightly tucked up and am worried about colic as he had one episode last summer.
 
MM - what are you feeding at the moment?
Is it mainly happening while the weather is hot? Just wondering if adding some salt to his feed might help if he is tying up?
xx
 
He is on pure feeds fibre balance so not much really. Has joint supplement and one bute a day. He has been quite sweaty in field despite no rug on so maybe will try the salt thing x
 
I would bet he has laminitis. It can look like tying up. The fact that he has it when out on the grass and gets better in the stable also would indicate it. He is 20 which is the right sort of age for Cushings induced laminitis. Have you had him tested for cushings? Sweating is another sign.
 
tbh if hes footy on grass and it improves in the stable then because of his age and the random sweating id personally get the vet to test him for cushings. a lot of low grade arthritis in older horses is actually cushing related lami .
 
mudmonkey17 said:
He is on pure feeds fibre balance so not much really. Has joint supplement and one bute a day. He has been quite sweaty in field despite no rug on so maybe will try the salt thing x
Click to expand...

Definitely try some salt then - if he is sweating, he will be losing the salt and this can cause the muscles to tie up. I give both of mine two heaped tablespoons a day at the moment. Hope he's ok, I know how worrying it is when they get older. x
 
Thanks Holly hocks is very worrying. I will try the salt thing. Am going to get the vets to see him again just to settle my mind as had 3 of these espisodes in past month but is very well in between.
 
mudmonkey17 said:
Thanks Holly hocks is very worrying. I will try the salt thing. Am going to get the vets to see him again just to settle my mind as had 3 of these espisodes in past month but is very well in between.
Click to expand...

Yes it definitely sounds like a job for the vet. The worst is the not knowing what has caused it. The other thing I heard is good, is bicarb of soda, but no first hand knowledge of it. Good luck - let us know when you find out what it is! x
 
Ask for a copy of any/all blood tests you have had done, for your own records. Look at them thoroughly and see whether anything comes back above/below reference range (the report will include your horse's figure plus the reference range in which 90% of normal horses will be). It could be that something is borderline high/low. For example, a borderline ACTH test for Cushing's could well indicate early Cushing's but some vets will just say it's come back negative.

Hopefully your vet will have done a comprehensive blood test (including liver and muscle enzymes) before declaring your horse "well and no issues". Again, ask for a copy of that blood report and check for anything high/low/borderline.

If your horse was tying up, then if a blood was done within a day or two of that episode should show raised muscle enzymes (could stay up higher for longer in a more acute attack, or with other issues) so that might help point you in the right direction.

Take some video of your horse next time he has a funny do. Could be useful to show to the vet or others so they can see exactly what an attack is like.

Hope you get to the bottom of it. You know your horse, and clearly you do not believe he is "well and no issues".

Sarah
 
Thanks great advice will keep all that in mind. Have contacted vet for advise so hopefully can get them out this week for some answers. Keeping him in or turned in sand paddock just one on safe side until he is seen
 
The first time my Cushings horse had laminitis, it was missed by the vet and farrier. Neither of them thought it was laminitis. She was also only borderline Cushings. I got a different vet out and specifically said I thought it was laminitis, and it was then confirmed.
 
Update:
Horse seen by different vets and of course he is almost back to normal apart from a slightly tender stomach. Everything normal on examination and bloods all normal. This is a relief but still no answers.
Going to reintroduce grass slowly and see how it goes. They think is definately grass related so will restrict grazing for a while and build the time up gradually.
 
Two things I would be thinking about.

1) This year the grass has been short of Magnesium so it maybe worth adding some Magnesium. It is used to help muscle problems.

2) If you are saying his stomach is upset and sore it maybe worth giving him some Sodium Bicarbonate to neutralize any acid in the gut.
 
There is now a newer test for Cushings as the ACTH test isn't that reliable. My mare kept testing negative for Cushings but kept getting Laminitis. She then had this new test where blood is taken before and after they are injected with something( sorry can't remember the name) and blood has to go to Liphook for testing. She was way over the threshold for Cushings on this test and is now on Prascend. This is not the Equine Metabolic Syndrome test. Ask your vet about it, it may be worth doing.
 
Test for insulin resistance? It's not uncommon for horses to be insulin resistant for a while before getting a positive for cushings. It also causes laminitis.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top