Hobday/Tieback Op and Mobility Issues. Any Thoughts Please?

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PercyMum

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My 15 yo ISH has always made a bit of a noise in canter, never thought much about it as he was fine and coped with everything we have ever done. Over the last 2-3 months I have noticed the noise get worse and now happens in trot and he is a bit lethargic as well. Called the vet who said he might have a bug and give him 2 weeks off. Made no difference and vet now thinks he has a Pharangeal(sp?) Paralysis so he will more than likely require a Tieback or Hobday op.

Meanwhile (!) he has spavins in both hocks which have fused but in the last few months I have noticed he is stiffer behind and has lost topline and I am struggling to get weight on him (although his isnt skinny by any stretch). Is it possible that the restricted breathing could be causing the stiffiness behind? My reasoning being that if his breathing is impaired he could be feeling quite crappy and that could be affecting how his joints feel?

I am just curious as he was LOU-ed about 3 years ago so I'll have to pay for the op myself, which is fine but if he needs to be retired due to ache-y joints is there any point? Obviously I will take the vets advice as if its affecting his breathing all the time then clearly it must be done. He is on Maxavita joint so not sure I can improve nutritional support to the joints unless anyone else has a good idea?

Thanks in advance!
 
I would get the joints looked at first. If they will withstand the box rest of a wind op and then carry on and do more years of work then I would go ahead with the windop. If the joints won't last and your happy with a happy hacker/field ornament then I wouldn't bother with the op. Whilst complications are rare they have been known. The horse also has a slightly enhanced risk of food going down the wrong way into the lungs. In 9 years of working with numerous horses that have had various wind ops I have never seen this happen - but it can do.

Weigh up the odds and I would say it's all down to the joints and what future you are happy with.
 
It will definately tied in.

His inability to breath properly will obviously result in a reduced level of oxygen hence his lethargy and reluctance to move around generally = more stiffness in those rickety old joints.
 
I would have a good talk with the vet so you have all the imformation you need to make the desision .
The main thing is how badly would the enforced box rest affect the hocks there may well be ways you can help this considerably with medication and passive stretching exercises while he's in .
The good news is that tied back horses need lots of turnout so at least once he's through the recovery period you will have no conflicting management requirements .
 
Thanks all - echoes my thought processes which is good to know. My gut intinct is to go with the op. As AmyMay says, his overall lethargy has tied in with the roaring getting worse and less oxygen flow is bound to have an effect on his joints. Even if he is only going to be a happy hack, I'd rather know he had optimum oxygen flow.

On the plus side they are kept at home so Ican manage routine/turnout etc so he can get the best for joints and post-op. He also has a 17' x 12' stable so has lots of room to move around which should also help.

Just worried about putting him through an op at 15 but I guess thats not that old?? He is very healthy overall and you would never know he was an insurance write-off to look at him!
 
As roaring only occurs in canter it would suprise me if it's affecting general health it certainly never has in all the TB's and competion horses I have managed with the condition.
Has he been cantered wearing a scope yet ?
I certainly would say that this is a must before surgery they need to see exactly what the horse is doing before making the desision about what operation to perform .
I would want to be sure it's the reason for the lethargy before paying for the op.
 
Goldenstar said:
As roaring only occurs in canter it would suprise me if it's affecting general health it certainly never has in all the TB's and competion horses I have managed with the condition.
Has he been cantered wearing a scope yet ?
I certainly would say that this is a must before surgery they need to see exactly what the horse is doing before making the desision about what operation to perform .
I would want to be sure it's the reason for the lethargy before paying for the op.
Click to expand...

No we have that to come. I have booked him in for the initial scope and some bloods but the vet seems fairly convinced that he will need the op. I think he will have to go to Liphook for the active scope. TBH, I would rather avoid that as it'll be hideously expensive and I probably can't get this done on the insurance. If they can disagnose from the standing scope then I will go with that. If he needs the active scope then I will have it but hope not to...:cool:
 
Just spoke to NFU - looks like they will cover the op afterall. Yippee! Although clearly I am hoping he won't have to have it done but at least thats a weight off...
 
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