Left Recurrent Laryngeal Neuropathy, tie-backs and event horses

saz5083

saz5083

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My 6 year old has been diagnosed with suspected Left Recurrent Laryngeal Neuropathy (I say suspected as his larynx looked abnormal on scoping but they want to get him on the treadmill to see it when he's working to be sure) and the vet has suggested a tieback op. I know this is quite a common procedure now but I was wondering if anyone had any experience of it in competition horses and if so how was the recovery? Complications? Performance once back in work etc?
I bought him to event and he's been coming on great and loves his job but at the end of the day he's a pet as well and if the risks outweigh the benefits I would just keep him as a hack and forget about competing.
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So if anyone has any experience they would like to share Id be really greatful
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Fairly simple operation - they tie back the cartilage that's flopping about in his airways. They usually Hobday at the same time, lasering the vocal cords to tighten the airway,

Done under general anesthetic so that is always a risk but a healthy horse could come out of a GA fine.

Infection if probably the biggest risk. It can also fail if the wire they use pull through and cheesewires out of it's attatchment.

They must be fed from the ground thereafter (since they can''t close their airways when swollowing.

In terms of athletic preformance, once it's done it goes back up to normal.
 
I am a bit in the same situation as you but they think Penfold is displacing his soft palate as he made a gurgling noise and his breathing has become more laboured . They did the hitting on the withers when endoscope was down and sy there is no paralysis but want him to go to RCV to learn treadmill and be investigated . He has improved with a tongue guard [cannot use a tongue tie in BE] and a tight grackle and came 4th last week in a novice BE.
If there was something they could do for him I would have it done but they think it is just to find out. He is 12 years old and has always been prone to COPD and is kept dust free so I don't know why he has suddenly started this, I can't afford it at present as I have to buy the hay for the winter but he will probably go down there in October.
Good luck with yours
 
[ QUOTE ]
In terms of athletic preformance, once it's done it goes back up to normal.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not at all, it gets ALOT better!!!!!!!
Orla, a horse i ride for someone else had a hobday and tie-back in Nov of last year!! Before the op. she was struggling to event to PN level, her wind was so bad she could hardly breath, her way of going on the flat and over a fence was effected!! even riding out you'd notice her struggle.. ok, so she was a fairly bad case... But, since having the op. she's a different horse!!! She finds it alot easier to work in an outline for the dressage, and the SJing and XC arn't a fraction of the struggle they were to her!! She started out at a horse whos limit was defo PN, i'd now like to think that she'd do a CCI* (if gotten properly fit)

As said above, you do have to be very carefull how you feed them after the op.. they can only eat off the floor, so this means no traveling with a haynet etc.
 
Thanks for all your replies. I think I am going to go ahead and arrange for him to go in for the treadmill training and further investigation as it is the best thing for him. He's such a talented little guy and I think he'd be bored doing anything else so if I can help him in any way I owe it to him to do it.

The_Carthorse: I hope you get to the bottom of your boys problem too. Its interesting to hear how he is better in a grackle as mine also copes much better when ridden in a grackle. Vet also did the 'slap test' and found his left side was 'lazy' and was drooped when at rest. Hopefully they can take him in soon and fix the problem for him.

Many thanks again. I will update when I know where things are going.

S
 
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