PSSM, navicular and kissing spine

[Glenluke]

Just looking to get some information, we have a 7year old sports horse who has quarter horse in his breeding. He recently spent two weeks at our nearest vet hospital for diagnostics and found out he has navicular disease. This has been medicated with steroid injections, he also has kissing spine which hasn’t been medicated due to the amount of steroid that could be given at any one time. Just this week we found out his sire had pssm. Does anyone out there have a horse with all these similar conditions? Can we hold out any hope for him. He becomes very aggressive with pain.

 

[brighteyes]

No idea - that's a real assortment to deal with. If the KS is operable, do that, navic is often rehabbed successfully and I'd have to search on here re PSSM, but there's been plenty of it about.

 

[ycbm]

I have had horses with all 3 conditions, but never at the same time. If he was mine, I would be seriously considering how much money was worth throwing at him. I'm sorry, this is probably not what you were hoping to hear.
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[Glenluke]

I have had horses with all 3 conditions, but never at the same time. If he was mine, I would be seriously considering how much money was worth throwing at him. I'm sorry, this is probably not what you were hoping to hear.
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That’s our thoughts exactly, he was a rescue who we got from a couple of weeks old with his dam and honestly he’s cost us no end of money already! It’s heartbreaking but I feel we need to be realistic. He can just be so dangerous with the pain and I don’t feel it’s fair to have him live on painkillers. Thank you for your advice.

 

[I'm Dun]

PSSM type 1 can be managed, type 2 not so much. However with the other issues Id be thinking about PTS. I think though I'd test for PSSM and treat to see if there was an improvement. Within 48 hours my mare changed and within 10days I didnt recognise her anymore, so it can be that dramatic. But I would put a limit on how long and how much I spent.

 

[ycbm]

That’s our thoughts exactly, he was a rescue who we got from a couple of weeks old with his dam and honestly he’s cost us no end of money already! It’s heartbreaking but I feel we need to be realistic. He can just be so dangerous with the pain and I don’t feel it’s fair to have him live on painkillers. Thank you for your advice.

I think I would probably PTS, I'm sorry.
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[Glenluke]

PSSM type 1 can be managed, type 2 not so much. However with the other issues Id be thinking about PTS. I think though I'd test for PSSM and treat to see if there was an improvement. Within 48 hours my mare changed and within 10days I didnt recognise her anymore, so it can be that dramatic. But I would put a limit on how long and how much I spent.

thank you, we are awaiting the results of the pssm tests. Once we know then hopefully it can at least give us the direction we need to go in. Out of interest what treatment did your horse have? Thanks.

 

[I'm Dun]

She has natural vitamin e, magnesium and isnt allowed access to lush grass etc. Everything is low sugar and starch. She also lives out. Bring stood in 24/7 is an absolute no. To start with she had 10000ius of natural vitamin e as well as boswellia, and I did hours and hours of walking her. She now maintains on 4000ius of vitamin e and can cope with being ridden intermittently as long as shes turned out.

 

[SEL]

I have one with a similar list of problems. Type 1 PSSM (& no it can't always be managed, I have 2 horses with the disease and this one has never responded to diet and exercise plans). Probably as a result of the muscular disease she can also add hock arthritis, suspensory issues and navicular to the diagnosed problems with "something" SI related in the mix.

She's pretty much retired at 11 although I think she'd stand up to light hacking if our roads weren't so busy. Very happy being a field pet but her face changes the minute the weight of a rider goes on her back (& I'm 8.5 stone for a 620kg horse so not too heavy).

Sadly we can't fix them all and I've thrown a LOT of money at this one and had every specialist I know look at her.