Hip/pelvis problems Scintigraphy?

Depp_by_Chocolate

Depp_by_Chocolate

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This year my horse started to become stiff in his hindquarters and sometimes appeared drunk (like his hind legs were wobbling) or they slipped under him like his couldn't get a grip on the ground (he's barefoot) and he really struggled to move in the arena during circles and obvioulsy became reluctant to lunge.

My vet did a lameness test and said the problem is coming from his hip area and recommended a scinigraphy as an x-ray is not suitable for the hindquarter area.

I've heard mixed reviews about scintigraphys they can be excellent at diagnosis or not worth the money. My horse's saddle has been professionally fitted, I have had 2 physiotherapists out, one which was highly recommended couldn't find anything wrong with him and the other said there was nothing he could do and it was definitely a problem for the vet.

Another thing is the insurance company which have still to agree to the bone scan and are deploying delay tactics going on for a month now.

I just want to know what is wrong with my horse does anyone recognise what his symptoms are? He is very well in himself, galloping around the field and bucking with his friends. My vet said I could hack him out at a walk which I did yesterday (he hasn't been ridden for a month) but after 10 minutes I could tell he still wasn't right and as soon legs slipped under him I had to stop. He's not collapsing but like I said as if he can't get a grip on the ground.
 
My boy has just had scintigraphy on his full body. My understanding is that it shows where the problem is, not what the problem in. His showed problems in the back and neck. Xrays confirmed kissing spines, xrays, flexions and 4 individual blocks were then required to prove him has spavin.
The scintigraphy cost about £1200 and in our case I don't think it was worth the money. The total bill was £2800 and he hasn't had his treatment yet - so from a financial point of view it has been very costly. I feel like I've wasted alot of money on the diagnosis as opposed to the treatment.
I had a horse with a sacroilliac injury and his symptoms sound fairly similar (he also developed a stringhalt type action in one leg) and was much worse going up hill.

J
 
Scintigraphy only shows up problems with bone not soft tissue. The wobbling/drunkeness could indicate a nerve problem, which will not show up on scintigraphy.
MRI scans will show up soft tissue problems but they are very expensive, more than scintigraphy. There are no other alternatives for the hip. It sounds like your vet doesnt know what is wrong so is indicating scintigraphy to try and find out more information.
If the insurance wont pay you could see if they will pay for a second opinion from a specialist vet. Dont know where in the country you are but places like the Royal Vet College, Bristol University, etc.
 
My lad had very similar problems and he went to Newmarket for the Scintigraphy and it showed that he did indeed have arthritis of the hip. For me it was worth every penny as he had problems for many years before I finally found out what was wrong. It started as a 7 year old when he couldn't bend to the left, I had lots of different people look at him inc vets, physios etc.

He too became very weak behind in time and when he was sent to Walmsleys at Liphook and was sent home with them telling me there was nothing wrong with him. They told me to ride him through it and that he was probably just being naughty!! I had owned him since he was 6months old and I knew he was NOT being naughty I asked for a 2nd opnion as I just KNEW they were wrong!!

He was then taken to Newmarket and at long last I had a diagnosis. It obviously was not good news and I knew he could never be ridden again but so long as I could keep him comfortable, I was more than happy to retire him.

When he was 9 months old, I was leading him in from the field and as we walked over a drain cover, it collapsed and he fell back end first into it. Obviously I got the vet to check him and he was given the all clear.

The vets at Newmarket were convinced that he had in fact damaged his hip in that fall all those years ago as it is so very rare to get arthritis of the hip let alone to get it in only 1 side.

For my boy the scan saved him from endless pain and discomfort by being "ridden through it". I am so glad I knew him so well as I could well have believed Walmsleys and he would have suffered as a result.

It is upto you what you do and I wish you luck.
 
My boy had scintigraphy for what turned out to be PSD in his hind suspensory. He wasn't lame as such and so it was near on to impossible to pin point the cause of the problem. The vet agreed he wasn't right but it was only when nerve blocked that is became apparent he was bi-laterally lame behind. However the lameness presented as though there was a back or hip problem. Scintigraphy was worth it for me because it ruled out a lot of possible causes thus making it easier to determine the exact cause.
 
I agree with jjj. I have a very similar story. Had xrays and bone scan that revealed nothing, spent 5K with no diagnosis. Took my boy to Willesley in Gloucester last week and got all the answers for an awful lot less money. Can now start treatment and wish i'd gone straight for a specialist opinion in the first place. If you want to hear the whole story PM me but bone scans dont give the answers.
 
Sorry!!! Should have said bone scan didn't give the answers for ME!! Can see from orther replies that for some people they got the answers. Good luck with which ever route you choose to take.
 
Thanks for all the responses. The insurance are still assessing my claim as to whether they are going to agree to pay for a scintigraphy.

My vet admits she doesn't know what is wrong and wants to refer him to the Royal Vet Edinburgh. She is coming out this Friday so I think I'll have another word but her only other suggestion at the time was to put him on bute.
 
The wobbling, lack of co-ordination could indicate pressure on a nerve root similar to what humans experience (dead leg). maybe an MRI could show what the problem is.
 
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