Severe reaction to touching flanks?

[sassandbells]

Just wondering if anyone else has any ideas on what this could be if anything other than ulcers-

Mare is 3 years old, started showing behaviour when she was just turned 2. When touching her flanks no matter how lightly she would become aggressive and fly at you with teeth and legs. There is no reaction when brushing.

She’s kept out 24/7 in a small herd with constant access to forage and has been regularly handled as a youngster.

She has an additional stifle issue that has been injected twice now as the first injection failed & rehab was not kept up with. I’m currently doing the second round of rehab.

Ovaries have been checked and are all clear.

She has scoped as having ulcers but doesn’t present with any other typical symptoms. Treated for 2 months on gastroguard with no improvement & then a month on injections where on rescoping the ulcers were worse. Could be due to stifle issues but maybe something else going on?

Fine to have girth / roller / rugs put on.

She has quite wheezy breathing at times. Either in stressful situations or while working. It’s the odd wheezy breath, not consistent.

Noticed tonight she was lame in trot on her near fore. Stifle issue is offside hind.

Bit at a loss with where to go next, she’s clearly uncomfortable somewhere but after bone scans and multiple other imaging procedures not finding anything significant I’m hoping someone might have some weird / wonderful suggestions on here?! Thank you!

 

[Sossigpoker]

Ulcers she usually caused by pain somewhere else in the body. So I'd suspect that reaction is pain related and the ulcers aren't healing because of untreated pain elsewhere, possibly the stifles?
I'd focus on identifying the underlying cause for the ulcers and treating that, as well as the ulcers.

 

[sassandbells]

Ulcers she usually caused by pain somewhere else in the body. So I'd suspect that reaction is pain related and the ulcers aren't healing because of untreated pain elsewhere, possibly the stifles?
I'd focus on identifying the underlying cause for the ulcers and treating that, as well as the ulcers.

Thank you, yeah I’m aware ulcers are usually secondary to pain elsewhere, however was hoping someone may have any ideas of something else that may be going on based on the other behaviours. We know about the stifles & have treated and are currently rehabbing but I / the vets aren’t convinced this is the only thing going on and a lot of money has already been spent investigating with minimal results.

It might be that it is just the hocks but thought it was worth an ask!

 

[Red-1]

I had one that loved being massaged, even with the thumper massager, loved being clipped, loved being washed, and all of these were all over his body...but... hated being brushed with any brush.

He loved his legs, head and bum being brushed, not his neck and sides, so it wasn't the brush per se.

A few years later he became a wobbler. I do wonder if it felt funny to him as his sensations changed.

 

[mavandkaz]

A bit left field, but liver issues.
Have known a couple that have been reactive over their flanks when liver function was poor. One of them even started leaching toxins through the skin as part of the lymphatic system runs along there (can't quite remember exactly as was 20yrs ago). currently have pony on the yard with liver issues and he will bite/kick when rugged up or you run hands over his flanks, but will tolerate being girthed.
There were other behavioural signs though.

But a blood test would quickly give you an answer.

 

[moorhillhorses]

Hind gut ulcers! You can’t scope for them unfortunately! My horse had them and we done the Ponease Ulc fix course. After a week he was nearly back to himself. I continued for 6 weeks as recommended by my vet x