Second opinion?

[Hormonal Filly]

I've had my vet a couple of years, but wonder if its worth a fresh set of eyes looking at him from a different practice.

Anyone else done this?

How did it work with insurance? I know NFU won't cover a second opinion.

 

[SpringArising]

Sorry no idea about insurance as I don't insure, but if you have any doubts I'd definitely get a second opinion. What's the issue?

 

[clairefeekerry1]

I pushed hard for a referral to RVC when my horse went wrong and I wasn’t convinced my vet practice had got to the bottom of it. This got round the insurance thing as it was a referral rather than a second opinion. I had to really push hard with the vet from my practice and his response was they would do it but grudgingly and he will probably need put down. Interestingly RVC did diagnose something completely different to my vets, treated differently and my horse did return to some sort of normal life

 

[Hormonal Filly]

What's the issue?

I was going to write but don't want to bore people. I'll do it as a timeline, its lameness related.
Some history. 15.2 Welsh that is straight behind, owned for over 5 years since a 3yr old and hes only ever really done hacking and some dressage so not ever in tons of work but can be wild in the field.

February 2019 - Extremely poor canter, couldn't circle at all and stay in canter (he always had a poor canter but it felt worse than usual) 2/10th lame LH. Scan showed thickened LH suspensory but RH was fine, oddly. Both hind nerves cut. Got a bad infection in RH wound, it did get better but caused scarring.
April 2019 - Both hocks injected (just to help with the scarring)
April - October 2019: Horse was in work, although quite light work. Still struggled downhill
October 2019: Tore his SDFT in the field, 3 months box rest with walking
January 2020: Started to come back into full work, left canter was impossible and clearly pain issue. Resisted walking down hills worse than before (always has done but was worse)
February 2020: 1/10th LH and much worse on the lunge, bunny hopped in canter. Nerve blocked LH, then went lame RH 1/10th. X-ray showed re-modelling of tibial plateau on both stifles (?)
March 2020: Steriod injected both stifles, I said to vet I'm sure his SI is sore (and physio mentioned SI in October time) but my vet insists its not SI related.

Now (April) Looks extremely weak behind, poor muscle coverage especially across topline. Noticed last week saddle was a poor fit, so doing ground work. Poor saddle fit may be why muscle is poor?
Did some pole work yesterday and he went lovely really using his back end but still don't think hes 100% comfortable.
Although he just doesn't look happy, hes standing very under himself behind (photos from prior to Feb 19, he looks like a different horse, stance and muscle tone) and he is resting his hinds more than ever, even to graze, just looks uncomfortable behind IMO.

My vet says to ignore the fact he rests legs as some do, it will take time to improve and muscle will take months to get better and he'll revisit in a months time.

A friend has recommended a very good vet from a different practice, so hes calling me back today after I've sending all the scans, reports and history.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I think I would push for a second opinion write to your insurance company tell them why see what they say your entitled to change if your not happy.

I have done it once but first vet used all my insurance money and we were still none the wiser was fobbed off really, so I paid for a recommended vet to give an opinion he basically threw there theory out of the water, I always thought it was his feet shoes not right vet agreed took his advice and horse was sound 2 weeks later.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I have done it once but first vet used all my insurance money and we were still none the wiser was fobbed off really, so I paid for a recommended vet to give an opinion he basically threw there theory out of the water, I always thought it was his feet shoes not right vet agreed took his advice and horse was sound 2 weeks later.

Thank you P. I know that feeling - one claim has already been maxed out. I just want someone elses eyes on him and purely their opinion. If hes never going to be right I rather stop throwing money at him but part of me thinks my current vet is trying to get as much as possible out of my insurance company and just 'guessing' whats wrong. I'll happily pay for a SE, as long it isn't thousands, so will go from there.

 

[Red-1]

I would say it doesn't matter about the insurance, as it is an ongoing issue for more than a year so they likely wouldn't pay anyway?

In that case, ask for a second opinion freely. I have done so before, and the new vet saved my horse. The old vet retired shortly afterwards, which saved me sacking them.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I would say it doesn't matter about the insurance, as it is an ongoing issue for more than a year so they likely wouldn't pay anyway?

The suspensory claim has been maxed out, but the stifle claim is new and have only used about £1500 so far of a £5000 limit. NFU have been outstanding.

Thank you

 

[Dyllymoo]

I would go for a second opinion, maybe even a referral somewhere, although I'm not sure how that would stand with your insurance.

I pushed for a referral for my mare and went to AHT in Newmarket. They found a few things wrong including SI issues. It cost me more than I paid for her but it was worth knowing what exactly was wrong.

 

[milliepops]

In your shoes I would also find value in having a second opinion, as you say if there is more stuff going on then you may decide to save yourself additional stress and draw a line under it, having got him as good as you can do. Feeling like you aren't ever quite resolving the issue must be soul destroying.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Feeling like you aren't ever quite resolving the issue must be soul destroying.

It is I do think sometimes you can spend all the money in the world and they'll never be right, some just aren't fixable.

Sent all documents to the SE vet. Will post again if I get any new answers!

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Quick update.. another vet is coming out Wednesday. Completely unrelated vets, and a smaller group rather than a vets owned by a huge company. I've already sent him videos and all his notes, as much as I can get. Hes noticed a couple of things my current vet has never mentioned before...

Only issue I am having is getting a copy of the x-rays my vets took less than a month ago. As they were take on portable machine they aren't being helpful or able to 'find' them.. any help?

Called 4 times now, I'm always polite but feeling like it isn't doing me any favours.

 

[ycbm]

Get the new vet to request them, it is unethical for them not to hand over to another vet.

.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Get the new vet to request them, it is unethical for them not to hand over to another vet.

.

That didn't cross my mind, I'll speak to the new vet.

I wonder if a smaller vets is a better option, rather than a huge group thats owned by a big company with 'targets' to hit. This chap is coming up from Devon.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Had the second opinion vet today.

He spent over 2 hours having a really in-depth look, going through old notes and imaging. He came to the conclusion he isn't 'lame' but uncomfortable and doesn't move correct on his RH. He couldn't canter left on the lunge today either and hes sure its his RH thats most uncomfortable, its like he doesn't pull the leg through correctly. He thought he saw a bone chip on the stifle x-rays taken a month ago, so re took some more x-rays today but couldn't see anything. His SI doesn't feel sore at all, even when he moved his hind legs in all different actions. He recommends getting my farrier to shoe him differently behind, so he can't 'twist' his RH when he walks and then nerve blocking his SI joint and getting me to ride and see if it makes any difference, then steriod injecting if it does. He said thats all we really have left to try.

He said his muscle behind is awful and he has no topline yet in front he looks very muscled up so there must be a reason for it.

He did say sometimes you can't fix everything and worse case it may case that we can't fix him Vet was excellent, very honest yet really looked into every inch of him. Trying to be optimistic, but don't feel we are going to sort it.