PSD

[AimeeYoung19972]

My mare is a 9yo TB, I have had her for 3 years. We have a really good first year which involved getting her ready to take part in some ODE's, she was fab. In Dec 2020 she went lame, wasn't happy, would not go forward in the school and generally just did not look right. She was diagnosed with hind limb PSD in her left hind, as well as mild beginnings of kissing spine. After 12 weeks she was signed off sound, and had her kissing spine injected. I went to get back on and she was still not right, showing the same symptoms as before. Vet came back out and confirmed 3/5 lame and to either have the nerving op or rest for 6 months. We rested for 6 months - still lame. I sent her to a retirement livery for the winter and she has come back looking worse (she would quite happily bound round her field prev without looking very lame at all). I had a different vet out, and we x-rayed her hocks which confirmed arthritis. She also has SI pain following the many problems she has got. Although the injections for her hocks have improved the lameness, she still isn't field sound and although she quite happily potters about, she struggles to maintain the trot in the field and still bunny hops in the canter. She has also had re-occuring colic and stomach ulcers over the last couple of months. I have another horse and all of this is causing me stress and worry (with money, long-term affordability and her welfare). I have considered PTS, but I feel terrible because she is happy eating in her field all day long. Surely though if she is still showing signs of discomfort and the fact she is only 9 and she won't be ridden again is decreasing her quality of life? She is such a lovely horse, but I am just not sure how much more I can do for her. She has had around £7,000 worth of treatment in the last two years and i keep saying i am not paying out anymore!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

From the sound of it her quality of life is not what it could be. I would be inclined to consider PTS.

 

[ycbm]

She doesn't sound happy to me, she sounds as if she is living in constant pain. I would be looking to PTS, myself.
.

 

[AlpacaTeddySJ]

Have you considered surgery for the PSD? Mine had the op yesterday morning, and nerve blocks beforehand were a transformation. He also developed PSD from hock arthritis.
Also had arthramid injected during the op. Already happier - they said the nerves were a mess and he should make a full recovery with physio etc to aid with the secondary back pain.

But of course cost is a consideration - my vets charged £2,650 for arthramid and PSD surgery without the work up fees.

 

[HG95]

I had a horse who wasn't field sound even on Bute. He was happy enough playing with friends and eating but he was significantly lame in the field. I made the decision to have him put to sleep to end the pain

 

[meleeka]

I’ve recently had mine pts with similar. His back was far more of an issue than the lameness in the end. Another point to consider is that bute doesn’t work as well with KS. Mine was happily trotting round the field on 2 bute a day, but still had back pain and ended up not being able to get up one day I would seriously consider pts in your shoes sadly