PTS or turn away?

pistolpete

pistolpete

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My horse has navicular syndrome, egg bar shoes controlling this. He has COPD haylage, soaked hay controls this. He has had problems with his teeth had one out this year and a root canal filling believe it or not! That is all ok for the moment. His main problem is some unexplained hind limb weakness which he has had bone scans steroids and x-rays. Vet says not safe to ride him he is not lame just weak. What would you do? Only time will tell if he is going to improve I guess. Only other thing vet can suggest is steroid injections into his neck. Any good experiences of this?
 
A lot of people will say the only way to get over navicular is for the horse to go barefoot. My old YO's horse had navicular, 10months box rest, remedial shoeing, vet said best to PTS. Managed to persuade vet to refer horse to rockley. That was around 2 years ago. Horse has been barefoot since and in medium work with no problems at all.
 
What breed is he? I'm wondering if he has PSSM/EPSM.

http://www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/lab/PSSM/home.html

'PSSM is a muscle disease in horses with Quarter Horse bloodlines such as Quarter Horses, American Paint Horses and Appaloosas. The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) has funded research into this disease since 1995 and has provided us with the opportunity to learn much about the diagnosis, cause and treatment for this disease.

Polysaccharide storage myopathy also occurs in many other breeds including Drafts, Draft crossbreeds, and warmbloods. Many of the clinical signs in these breeds differ from those found in Quarter Horses and related breeds. The signs found in Draft, Draft crossbreeds, and warmbloods include muscle soreness, reluctance to engage the hind quarters muscle atrophy, and weakness.
 
Navicular can never be addressed with shoes since shoes are pretty implicated in the issue itself, now we have portable X rays and scans available 'in the field' it shows just how unnatural a position the navicular is put in when the horse is shod and how it is forced to take a greater weight bearing role than it is designed for.

Definitely get the shoes off - it isnt the answer for all conditions but for navicular it is totally essential so the horse can return it to a normal angle and position and relieve the pressure on it. 'Incurable' navicular has often been partially or fully addressed by committed owners working with vets and either a good farrier or (preferably) a good recommended trimmer.

The hind leg weakness I would wait and see if this improves as the navicular does (if N improves it will be possible to do more active exercises to help strengthen the legs too). Be very aware than steriod injections are quite possible to trigger acute laminitis so I would regard them as a last resort, esp for a horse not in lots of work and with existing hoof issues.
 
Echo what others have said. Get the shoes off. If the vet is suggesting steroid injections into the neck, does that mean he is suspecting wobblers? In either case, personally, I would not PTS, and would rest the horse for a year or more. My mare took three years of being a field ornament to come sound enough from her shoulder injury to be ridden again. Patience is the key. Time is a great healer. If your horse is paddock sound and happy then I would turn away, or like I do, just keep him in his usual routine minus the work.
 
If it was my horse and I was in a position to do so I would turn away for at least 6 months in grass/retirement livery and reassess. I would also remove shoes, it depends on the horses quality of life as well. My horse has also been in egg bar shoes (although not for navicular) and I think they just mask the problem.

If you can afford it (think insurance will meet some cost) could rockley be an option? http://rockleyfarm.co.uk/

Horrible situation for you please let us know how you get on.
 
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Thanks for replies. He is a KWPN 14 years old. Seems ok in himself just weak left hind and kind of swivels his hind hooves rather than lifts his feet. Spoken to Nic at Rockley. He is such a worry to me :(
 
I refused to let Liphook do the steroid injections. He had six weeks of oral steroids. They could'nt convince me that it would help. Felt like a last resort option. They think the damage is near his withers but not certain xrays not that clear.
 
Unless you can afford to retire this horse and keep it appropriately, and I have no problem with that if that's what you want to do. Or if you can afford to only keep one horse and you want a useful or competition horse I would definitely pts. Sorry, it sounds as if there are so many issues with its soundness and general health. Sorry again, but that is truly what I think, from what I hear you are not alone in this sort of situation
 
With hind limb ataxia thought to be caused by spinal impingement, of which I have recent experience, coupled with front hoof problems, I would put this horse to sleep I'm afraid. I would not put a horse with ataxia through a barefoot rehab. The last thing he needs is any soreness in his front feet too.
 
Happy to report this horse now coming back to work. It has been a long road but so pleased he is now sound and will be a happy hack. :)
 
pistolpete said:
Happy to report this horse now coming back to work. It has been a long road but so pleased he is now sound and will be a happy hack. :)
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If he has CVM which it sounds like he did have then how could this have been rectified with oral steroids? And how can he be sound enough to hack? Surely the owner of a horse of 14 with CVM has extremely limited options?

Is this really that the horse is sound, or is it a case of 'owner cockin' a deaf un"?

Not trying to chastise you for riding but what did you do to get him sound again and free of ataxia?
 
Hi folks sorry, should have given you more detail! He was treated for hind limb ataxia-weakness. Unknown origin, maybe some compromised areas on x-ray but specialist vet at Liphook did not convince me that what he saw was definitively new damage. His prognosis was- guarded. The oral steroids were to reduce any new inflammation.
I do think now looking back that he must have had a fall in the field. He was having forelimb problems at the same time which included abscesses and remedial farriery for his navicular.
I rested him effectively for about six months. Kept the egg bar shoes on as his front feet have settled down. I don't discount the fact that his front feet are not 'cured' and will try barefoot again if and when shoeing does'nt work for us. I did speak to Nic at Rockley and she said with all that was happening with him, stick with the shoes for now.
He was started back walking in hand just before Xmas 10 minutes at a time and built up to forty mins walking by February. We also moved yards and he has a much better routine, flatter field. Nicer surfaces generally to walk on.
I have not 'cocked a deaf 'un' But have exercised extreme patience in my vet who would not let me ride him unless she felt it was safe to do so.
He is still having H-wave treatment by a qualified physiotherapist and has had every step monitored by the vet.
I am completely elated and quite surprised myself that we have managed this outcome. He starts trotting in two weeks time and I am just thrilled.
I will ake him forwards very slowly in his rehab and don't expect he will ever jump again or be up to much fast work. That does'nt matter to me as long as he can stay sound enough for a pootle round the lanes, I will be one happy owner.
Ice-cream and toffe vodka for all those who got to the end!
 
I would atleast try turning him away.
As a start 6 months (over the summer) then see if there is a hint if improvement. In which case you no to continue with the route.
If no hints then you have to consider if waiting longer, especially through winter is the best option or not.
 
blucanoo1990 said:
I would atleast try turning him away.
As a start 6 months (over the summer) then see if there is a hint if improvement. In which case you no to continue with the route.
If no hints then you have to consider if waiting longer, especially through winter is the best option or not.
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Pays to read the whole thread.
 
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