Please help?! What might this condition be?!?!

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Samantha008

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I bought a mare,6 yr old TBXID about 2 and a half months ago. She passed a 5 stage vetting, noting only that she has a slightly out pelvis and that she had less than great conformation. All i wanted her for was a pleasure horse and she was such a lovely mare i thought i would take the plunge. The vet did not say that there would be a problem. However, after 3 weeks, she went lame in her back near leg, and i was told to box rest for 3 weeks. This dod not go down well, she ended up with an upset stomach and self harming so we turned her out instead in a small paddock and she seemed much happier. Shes had physio as we thought she had a sacroiliac injury, as when pressure is applied to that area her legs sort of give out. So eventually the physio told me to try and build up muscle in her back end, as her hq look more like a 3 yr olds than a 6 yr olds and i started long reigning every other day just in a walk. Yesterday, the vet asked to see me ride her. And it all went downhill from there. I rode her and her legs were just all over the place. One minute shes over reaching, the next shes not tracking up. Her legs on a circle sort of splay out and she compensates by falling in at the shoulder. She also sort of skips when she feels shes lost a leg and brings it forward quickly. Like she wanted to canter as it would be easier?

The vet then asked to trot her up, which was fine, and then he turned her in a circle where every now and again, she would take normal steps and then a leg would fly out or splay behind her. He then asked her to walk backwards and she went really stiff on her front legs and sort of shuffled her back legs. She then refused to back up with both the vet and physio trying to push her. Now theyre suggesting that she might have wobblers or soemthing like that. Her cranial nerves are all ok i think, i did only check them myself, shes very responsive. At the vetting there was no sign, not even a mention of anything being amiss and when i first had her for the first 3 weeks of riding she was "normal". Does this sound like it could be pain from the injury? Shes had a cortizone (however you spell it) injection into the sacroiliac and were just going to see if that affects anything. Is there anything else this might be? or does all that scream wobblers? Shes a big girl with a long neck. She has been turned out in a new field the past two days and each time has come in very very tired looking which is unusal to her so i dont know if this is when the condition has started or if its just all the fresh grass? Could that affect her gaits so dramatically?

My vet is terrifying me and i would just like to know other peoples opinions before people start talking to me about having her put to sleep!!

Thankyou!
 
I am very sorry to say but even as I read your post I was thinking it sounded like wobblers. I think if your vet thinks it is this then you can have scans and xrays to confirm this. But the symptoms certainly sound suspect and it would seem to be progressing quickly which I think it sometimes does. I have never ever heard of these symptoms being caused by grass.

There are lots of people on here who have experience of this but I think your vet and physio are the key for now.

Sorry to hear you have had such a sad experience with your new horse.
 
It screams bute when she was vetted, timewise, but you are probably too late to test the blood sample. It should have been tested when she went lame at three weeks and you might consider claiming against your vet for failing to suggest it. If there was no blood test that's even worse. Unless she is insured don't bankrupt yourself trying to get her right. Sorry not to be more positive, but losing a fortune in vet fees won't make things any better :(
 
i can still have the blood tested yeah. Ill ring up tomorrow and get that done. It just seems strange that she was ok for the first 3 weeks and then all this! I know, im thinking its wobblers too. Wouldnt suprise me if there isnt even an injury. Im praying for a miracle :(

Thanks anyway
 
Samantha008 please refer to my reply to the earlier post about wobblers. I

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=397612
t could be that she has suffered an injury to her neck/back in the field following the first three weeks you had her which has brought this on like my horse or it might be the increase in work. My wobblers horse Rommy was jumping double clears in discovery a month before he was pts, it was an intermittent problem. He had wobblers all the time, but it manifested itself at certain times more than others if you understand what I mean. Its like having a bad back, sometimes you feel not too bad, other times it hurts like hell.
But please also note that there are many, many other reasons your horse may be displaying this type of behaviour when ridden, it could be anything from a trapped nerve, spinal cord compression due to a disc or muscle problem, EHV (equine herpes virus) which can cause ataxia, certain poisons, toxins, viruses, etc. Ataxia can be caused by many things.

Best do some neuro tests yourself, but BE CAREFUL. Do them on a soft surface, with a hat on and an experienced helper.
Please don't have her pts until you have had her referred by your vet to an equine hospital with a large xray machine. If you read my reply to you, you must give her that chance, DO NOT rely on a portable xray machine. And if it is wobblers there is still the option of the operation if the consultant/vet thinks this is viable, it rather depends on how much is effected.

Good luck and please keep us updated.
 
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misst said:
I am very sorry to say but even as I read your post I was thinking it sounded like wobblers. I think if your vet thinks it is this then you can have scans and xrays to confirm this. But the symptoms certainly sound suspect and it would seem to be progressing quickly which I think it sometimes does. I have never ever heard of these symptoms being caused by grass.

There are lots of people on here who have experience of this but I think your vet and physio are the key for now.

Sorry to hear you have had such a sad experience with your new horse.
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Hi Misst

I did a lot of research when my horse was suspected with EHV by my stupid vets and I was sure he had wobblers. Cyanide from a certain type of clover and chemicals from crop sprays are two things which can cause ataxia. I think its red clover that contains small amounts of cyanide but if your field is full of this type of clover then ingested over a large amount of time (as in Rommy's case) can in certain instances cause ataxia (a major symptom of wobblers syndrome). He was also stabled on a farm, and the farm crop sprayed his surrounding fields. The crop spray travels on the wind current and can land on grass in the adjacent field. Again - can cause ataxia.
 
Hi Applecart - we don't have much luck with our horses do we:(

I agree completely with you - the OP must get her horse properly diagnosed and must be ultra safe herself when handling etc.

That is really interesting as I did not know about other causes of these symptoms (have had horses with what seems like everything else but so far no wobblers fingers crossed).

OP as previously said please don't PTS until you have a diagnosis from a good equine hospital. If you have insurance they should pay for investigaitons and it does not take long. It is worth it, as my vet once said to me "you may not get a cure but you will sleep at night knowing that there was not one and nothing simple was missed". I really really hope it is something else.x
 
I am very sorry to say but even as I read your post I was thinking it sounded like wobblers.
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Me too. And whilst it certainly won't do any harm to get the bloods analysed from the vetting - it won't be conclussive as bute in the system won't mask wobbler symptoms.

I'm assuming it wasn't your vet who did the vetting??

Anyway - she seems to have been given a good going over by your vet, and to a point you're going to have to suck it and see. In the meantime, though, as others have said - handle her with care (for your sake and hers).

It's a shame she won't be boxed, as box rest with limited turnout is often recommended if wobblers is suspected.

Good luck - I hope it turns out to be something very different and very treatable. But make sure you keep a record and diary of everything - as I suspect you'll eventually want to chase the vet who conducted the vetting.
 
I am so sorry for the original poster, and in some ways I hope the blood sample comes back with evidence of medication so she has a clear cut answer :(. But I am grateful that the thread has produced such interesting information, thank you :)

Good luck Samantha008
 
The only problem I can see is that it appears the horse has thrown up symptoms requiring a vet visit only 3 weeks into new ownership..so the fine print of the insurance would need to be read very carefully to ensure it covers all these assessments that are being recommended

My gut feeling would be spinal nerve damage or something similar
 
Thanks everyone, i certainly wont have her pts until ive tried every damn thing i can. How unlucky though! Is there anything that could hide wobblers so that i should have her blood tested or is it a waste of money cos you cant hide that problem? My poor horse, shes such a fantastic horse too, nicest mare ive ever known :( ill keep you all posted!
 
Samantha008 said:
Thanks everyone, i certainly wont have her pts until ive tried every damn thing i can. How unlucky though! Is there anything that could hide wobblers so that i should have her blood tested or is it a waste of money cos you cant hide that problem? My poor horse, shes such a fantastic horse too, nicest mare ive ever known :( ill keep you all posted!
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Did you read the articles explaining about wobblers/CVM? It would be very doubtful that anything could hide advanced CVM/arthritis.

Finadyne was used to stabilise Rommy prior to transporting him to Liverpool for the xrays. This is not a solution as it cannot be given long term. This was just so we could get a diagnosis. Finadyne is a non narcotic anti inflammatory. It could be argued that finadyne may have been given to her prior to vetting, but like I have said my horse was put down a month after jumping double clears, one day events, fun rides, etc. This was many many months after the intial injury, wobblers once present is always there but the horse can go through periods where it rideable, and seems fine, and then other days where it can barley walk in a straight line whilst lead.

I think you are totally wasting your time with bloods, but that's my opinion. Get some PROPER xrays.
 
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Hi,

I have very little knowledge of wobblers but having researched various issues I have with my own horse have you ruled out EPSM ? This is often misdiagnosed as wobblers and not uncommon. Google Rural Heritage - this will give you much more info and symptoms also one to rule out.
Hoping that you get some answers!
 
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