Not getting a diagnosis for my horse and your opinion on Horse Whisperers

[ladyt25]

As far as know there is no 'law' that states you ahve to have a vet and not a physio etc to diagnose a horse problem - it's up to you who you choose to treat your horse at the end of the day,BUT, an insurance company will only pay for alternative treatments IF they are recommended by a vet.

I would advise your insurance company if you are likely to claim and are looking at treatments for your horse then at leats you have gone but the rules of your policy. They will not and cannot exclude a condition unless it has been diagnosed by a vet so don't let that concern you.

 

[Henny]

I havent read all the replies but have you thought about bowen? I am very sceptical about these things but it really seems to have workedd on my horse, he was very stiff behind, dragged his ties, had had tildren and spine xrayed. Now he has had 2 sessions and he is much softer and happier and stopped dragging his feet. its not that expensive to give it a try. good luck

 

[RedVendetta]

The vet told me to lunge him lightly to keep an eye on his progress (I do about 4-5 mins a day in walk and trot) as I have to see him moving in order to see if there is an improvement!

There was an improvement tonight - he is only stiff on one rein now so I think I have pinpointed which side it is on.

 

[Allover]

I like to use acupunture on my horses and myself and have had really good results with it, if your horse is not happy to have people have their hands all over him then it could work well, i have found that some touch sensitive horses can tense up with the more "manipulative" therapies (though would never claim that they dont work or have no place in rehabilitation of injury). A good massage therapist could also help him overcome his aversion to touch, especially if the therapist is a tall cap wearing chappy!!!

 

[galaxy]

Has your vet discuess sedating him for the physio?

My physio has the vet sedate when there is chronic deep problem. Seeing as your are having "behavioural" issues too it might be the answer. When he isn't so sore, maybe he'll let them touch him. I have seen fanastic results having this done.

With regards to your insurance, if you've gone over your excess you may as well claim as you HAVE to tell them anyway. By not doing so invalidates your insurance and may well mean they won't pay up in the future. If your physio is refered by the vet (which it should have been and sounds like it has), then most insurance companies will pay out for that too.

 

[spaniel]

As far as know there is no 'law' that states you ahve to have a vet and not a physio etc to diagnose a horse problem - it's up to you who you choose to treat your horse at the end of the day, ......

Actually yes there is. Any therapist diagnosisng or treating without the consent of the vet IS breaking the law.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Sorry I haven't read the whole thread so some-one might have already suggested this.
Does your physio do acupuncture - I know some do. My vet is does acupuncture and this has made a massive difference to both my mare and my sister's. Mine had back muscle wastage and sister's had a problem with her poll and her neck. We don't know the origins of either problem, although I think mine might stem from an leg injury that she had before I got her. A friend has also had acu for her horse with mystery lameness and found it made a real difference.

 

[RedVendetta]

Actually yes there is. Any therapist diagnosisng or treating without the consent of the vet IS breaking the law.

As you will see from my posts, my vet is fully involved.

 

[RedVendetta]

Has your vet discuess sedating him for the physio?

My physio has the vet sedate when there is chronic deep problem. Seeing as your are having "behavioural" issues too it might be the answer. When he isn't so sore, maybe he'll let them touch him. I have seen fanastic results having this done.

With regards to your insurance, if you've gone over your excess you may as well claim as you HAVE to tell them anyway. By not doing so invalidates your insurance and may well mean they won't pay up in the future. If your physio is refered by the vet (which it should have been and sounds like it has), then most insurance companies will pay out for that too.

I haven't gone over my excess yet but still waiting for bill from vet and final bill may be much much more! Will wait and see what happens on Thursday with physio, and vet's opinion and see where we go from there. Thank you for letting me know this

They were going to sedate him at horse hospital last week but didnt need to as they put him in the stocks and he was ok in there as he couldnt get anyone! He should be a little better this time as not in anywhere as much pain but if shes too wimpy it will be back to the vet I think!

 

[MrsMozart]

I haven't read all the replies, so sorry if I'm repeating anyone in any way.

I had a TBxID three and a half year old mare. Short story: she was on and off lame for about eight or nine months, we couldn't pinpoint it (had vet, McTimmony, various saddlers). In the end my vet referred her to the Animal Health Trust for a full lameness work up. She was there for a week.

When Dizzy went lame and the vet couldn't pinpoint it, we sent her straight off to Newmarket - I couldn't face another bout of on-going not knowing what was going on.

I would strongly recommend sending your horse to one of the big practices, such as the AHT, to be investigated by someone like Sue Dyson.

Better to know than not.

 

[beautruman]

i do think that sometimes we give too much information and this can cause someone to start going down the wrong route, find something else and latch onto that, when the real problem remains undiscovered.