seeking a second opinion

[TicTac]

My mare has just been diagnosed with KS and the vets have suggested an operation. Personally I am not happy to put her through such a procedure and have taken her home having opted for the injections initially. However I wish to seek a second opinion on her condition and want to know what is the best way to go about it.

I know this sounds cynical but I dont actually want to tell another vet too much information, especially the original diagnosis as I want a fresh look at her condition. Do I consult another vet and say my horse is lame come and have a look? or do I book her into another veterinary clinic and say please do a lameness work up on this horse and let me know your findings?

She is insured and another workup is going to come off the limit I have, but I have almost made up my mind that an op is not for my horse as I believe her temperament will hinder any successfull recovery plus the rehab is full on and lengthy and I don't know if I can commit myself to such a procedure. Sorry if that sounds selfish but it's an emotional and time consuming thing to have to do and I certainly don't have enough funds to send her away for rehab, which actually is one of the reasons I am against an op.

Anyway, your experiences in this matter would be a great help. thank you

 

[Sam22]

I think its a good idea for you to get a second opinion but it is very unfair and unethical not to tell the new vet the full story. If they end up filling an insurance claim in for you, you will almost certainly end up tricking them into commiting fraud by not declaring previous history. If you really want to be able to trust a second opinion I would have thought you would want someone who can have the full history and still give a completely fresh opinion. The proper way to go about it is to ask your vet for a referal. I appreciate this is not always approporiate and in other cercumstances I think it would be fine to find the vet you want a second opinion from and then ask your vet for a referal. If you really don't want to talk to your vet about it the minimum you should do is find the vet you want a second opinion from and they will phone your previous vet for a history so you only need to speak to the receptionist and give permission for the history be passed on.
With regard to KS I always try conservative therapy first which involves steroid injections (after having blocked the back to confirm this is where the pain is coming from - xrays alone are not sufficient) and then physiotherapy and a gradually building up exercise programme. I would always ultrasound scan the back also to assess degree of damage to the supraspinous ligament because if this is badly affected a period of rest will be required to allow it to heal before doing any exercise. Of course it is paramount your saddle is checked properly to. I always check saddles myself AND have a second opinion from a master saddler. I hope this points you in the right direction. I noticed that you can't afford to send your horse away for rehab but you must have physio.

 

[TicTac]

Thanks Sam22 for your reply it was very helpfull.