Neurological Symptoms

[Daisymare]

Hi all I have a 20 year old Shetland mare and she had sudden onset of Ataxic/neuro symptoms 2 weeks ago. She is walking slower and lifting her feet higher then needed like she can't sense where the ground is. She is eating fine, drinking a little more but the weather has been hotter. Vet has been out and test for PPID, liver, kidneys are all clear. Slight elevation in muscle wastage markers but nothing else. Eyes and hearing all fine. No infecrions. Worm count will be done thia week. She is getting progressively worse with walking she tries to lean on the barn wall when walking. When you pick her feet out she will drop her foot onto her toe but not correct it. No other symptoms vets assume a brain stem issue or stroke but as the onset was unwitnessed they can't say for sure? Has anyone else had any experience like this? She looks sad and confused.

 

[ihatework]

Sounds worrying.
Honestly I think you need to act quickly one way or the other.
You either refer her to the hospital for scans and second opinion or I'm afraid you put to sleep now.

 

[FitzyFitz]

Not such a sudden onset, but my 12yo mare recently started showing ataxic symptoms that turned out to be due to age related enlargement of her neck joints. In hindsight she was showing very minor symptoms before, but she went from being basically fine to quite reluctant and a bit doddery over a couple of weeks.

Definitely get her scanned and checked if you can, if its arthritic changes that have just caught up with her it may well be treatable, but with a different cause, she may be better off being put to sleep before she gets wobbly enough to risk hurting herself or you. Only way to know is to check. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.

 

[Birker2020]

Sounds worrying.
Honestly I think you need to act quickly one way or the other.
You either refer her to the hospital for scans and second opinion or I'm afraid you put to sleep now.

I agree 100%. Sadly my 10 Yr old WB fell on his neck, became very ataxic but sadly was misdiagnosed with having EHV. He was swabbed and was positive for EHV but so are 33% of all horses. 2 others on the yard were also diagnosed.

The newly qualified vet clapped her hands with glee exclaiming that she could write her thesis as she would be the first vet to discover EHV in the Midlands.

The vets went down a long and expensive route trying to diagnosis him before he was referred to Phillip Leverhulme hospital where he had comprehensive scans of his neck and was sadly pts withCVM (Wobblers)

I wouldn't wish his journey metaphorically or literally on anyone: on reaching his destination he fell off the ramp of the lorry we'd hired because the groom pulled him off his feet and the memories of my 'heart horse' struggling to stand up with cuts on his legs and distressed and confused is something that will never leave me.

You need to get a neuro workup and xrays ASAP imho.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Our elderly cob appeared to be lame over the Beast from the East period. Fortunately she started about 3 weeks before the big snow, vet came x-rayed hooves, did some basic neuro tests which were all inconclusive. Horses were all in 24/7 for a week during the worst weather, farrier walked to us to see her, still nothing conclusive. When we could get her back out she went into an electric pen within the field with the others for her own safety. Then one day I came home from working the middle of the day to check on her and she seemed to not know where to put her feet when walking downhill, uphill not so bad. Vet called, she diagnosed a probable spinal tumour and we decided that at 31, pts was the best course of action. Now I suspect that she had untreated PPID but it is several years ago and largely unrecognised.

 

[PurBee]

Aside from any physical ailments as already mentioned - there’s 2 plants quite common in paddocks that are growing very well right now, that can cause fairly rapid serious neuro symptoms. Thats ‘cats ear’ (looks like dandelion but has rounded edge to the leaves), - causing stringhalt, lifting the back legs high.

There’s ‘‘horse tail’ plant - which contains thiaminase, which breaks down B1 in the body causing neuro gait disturbance. The remedy is high dose B1.

I’ll post both pictures below so you can check paddock for them. Theyre both plants worth knowing and recognising as theyre some of the few that can cause serious health issues for grazers.

If the pony hasnt had a lot of grass and has been on hay, and has in recent weeks been exposed to lots of grass, you might have a potassium spike/magnesium deficiency, which can cause spasmodic muscle action/rigidity. Bloods would be useful to know this for sure. You’re describing this as more neuro, rather than muscular, but worth a mention as severe tetany muscles can cause an animal to look neuro as their gait/stance/behaviour differs from normal.


Horse tail plant (hard to see in tall grass, loves moist shaded areas, or dry sandy shaded areas):




Cats Ear plant: (found in varying soils/conditions but preferring drier sandier places)

 

[Patterdale]

We’ve had this very recently with one of our ponies. Eventually found neck arthritis.

Yours sounds to be getting worse, and I’m sure it is distressing for her. What has your vet said about next steps?

 

[shortstuff99]

Yes mine had this. She had treated cushings for about 10 years. Suspected stroke/tumour caused by the cushings (even though it was well controlled).

Unfortunately it was a PTS.

 

[Fransurrey]

My Exmoor started showing ataxia, aged 27. He was pts due to this and colitis symptoms. Both presented if I put him out on grass for any length of time (he did have EMS, which had been well managed for 11 years, negative for PPID). I donated him to the vet school, where his PM found multiple mesenteric lipomas and a brain tumour that extended into the thalamus (responsible for motor function/coordination). He seemed perfectly healthy to anyone who saw him on the day he was pts. I'm afraid with those test results, if the ataxia is recurring, I'd pts.

 

[Daisymare]

I agree 100%. Sadly my 10 Yr old WB fell on his neck, became very ataxic but sadly was misdiagnosed with having EHV. He was swabbed and was positive for EHV but so are 33% of all horses. 2 others on the yard were also diagnosed.

The newly qualified vet clapped her hands with glee exclaiming that she could write her thesis as she would be the first vet to discover EHV in the Midlands.

The vets went down a long and expensive route trying to diagnosis him before he was referred to Phillip Leverhulme hospital where he had comprehensive scans of his neck and was sadly pts withCVM (Wobblers)

I wouldn't wish his journey metaphorically or literally on anyone: on reaching his destination he fell off the ramp of the lorry we'd hired because the groom pulled him off his feet and the memories of my 'heart horse' struggling to stand up with cuts on his legs and distressed and confused is something that will never leave me.

You need to get a neuro workup and xrays ASAP imho.

So sorry to hear about your experience it sounds so awful. I lost my old horse to Neuro issues 2 years ago and I was so pleased I could help him along before it became so bad he couldn't walk anymore.

 

[Daisymare]

We’ve had this very recently with one of our ponies. Eventually found neck arthritis.

Yours sounds to be getting worse, and I’m sure it is distressing for her. What has your vet said about next steps?

Vet has said to give her a week to see if there is any improvement. When she is out eating grass she seems fine but doesn't move much. When you ask her to walk anywhere is when you get the symptoms. Vet said there is a slim chance its bacterial and will pass but more likely a brain stem tumour or something along those lines. I was hoping for some succes stories but everyone seems to be confirming my initial thoughts unfortunately. I have had her since she was born and still have her daughter here as well.

 

[Daisymare]

Aside from any physical ailments as already mentioned - there’s 2 plants quite common in paddocks that are growing very well right now, that can cause fairly rapid serious neuro symptoms. Thats ‘cats ear’ (looks like dandelion but has rounded edge to the leaves), - causing stringhalt, lifting the back legs high.

There’s ‘‘horse tail’ plant - which contains thiaminase, which breaks down B1 in the body causing neuro gait disturbance. The remedy is high dose B1.

I’ll post both pictures below so you can check paddock for them. Theyre both plants worth knowing and recognising as theyre some of the few that can cause serious health issues for grazers.

If the pony hasnt had a lot of grass and has been on hay, and has in recent weeks been exposed to lots of grass, you might have a potassium spike/magnesium deficiency, which can cause spasmodic muscle action/rigidity. Bloods would be useful to know this for sure. You’re describing this as more neuro, rather than muscular, but worth a mention as severe tetany muscles can cause an animal to look neuro as their gait/stance/behaviour differs from normal.


Horse tail plant (hard to see in tall grass, loves moist shaded areas, or dry sandy shaded areas):

View attachment 139825


Cats Ear plant: (found in varying soils/conditions but preferring drier sandier places)


View attachment 139827View attachment 139829View attachment 139828

Thank you for the Information and photos it was so helpful. I went and checked the fields and can't see anything like this but it was worth a try.

 

[Xmasha]

My old girl Asha had what we thought was a brain tumour. She had bloods taken and all was fine. But she had become very confused, and had developed a very slight head wobble and a confused look in her eye. I saw her panic one day and nearly run through her grandson just because one of the other horses was walking down the drive. We let her go after that, it was the right decision for her. Sorry you are going through this

 

[Daisymare]

My old girl Asha had what we thought was a brain tumour. She had bloods taken and all was fine. But she had become very confused, and had developed a very slight head wobble and a confused look in her eye. I saw her panic one day and nearly run through her grandson just because one of the other horses was walking down the drive. We let her go after that, it was the right decision for her. Sorry you are going through this

Thank you. I knew the outcome would be less than preferable but wanted to make sure it wasn't likely to get any better. She seems fine when standing still. Still whinnies for me (well treats) and eats everything she can. It's so hard to decide what to do when her vitals are all excellent for her age. So sorry you had to go through that with your mare it's heart breaking x

 

[Birker2020]

Thank you. I knew the outcome would be less than preferable but wanted to make sure it wasn't likely to get any better. She seems fine when standing still. Still whinnies for me (well treats) and eats everything she can. It's so hard to decide what to do when her vitals are all excellent for her age. So sorry you had to go through that with your mare it's heart breaking x

Hi OP do you have an update for us?