So Andy is bad again :(

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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Just to keep those up to date this was my last thread about Andy: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=609108

I knew this was coming he's been so stressed but recently he calmed down a lot and I thought he was okay. I stopped riding him a couple of days before I posted that thread because I knew he was too worked up and it would just end badly. He was so chilled the other day and has been for a few days so I decided to hop on and take him for a hack. He was very well behaved, very calm for him and then we got half way round he just went mad. Stuck his head between his knees bucking, grunting, snorting. Eventually I came off (managed to hold onto him luckily.) Got back on once he settled and had an interesting ride home. In hindsight I shouldn't have got back on.

The last week or so when I let him go in the field he gallops off (like normal) but he's grunting and shaking his head violently which is really unusual for him. Thinking about it he shakes his head to some degree since coming back off loan, often when he wanted to gallop off and I said no so I just put it down to him objecting to the contact as he's a sensitive chap and I'm pretty sure his loanee gobbed him in the mouth more than once.

The grunting and shaking just screams he is in pain to me, I thought he was getting better as he was calm but thinking back he's calm the way he was before he first became ill. He's going in for x rays to see if its KS and if the insurance will cover we'll get him scoped.

I've already decided if its ks he'll be pts. Sounds ott but there is no point putting him through that surgery he is not strong enough or calm enough to cope with the aftercare.

I don't know why I'm posting this tbh, suppose for support that I'm making the right decision and maybe some other ideas to what it could be? I've been called cruel for not wanting to do the surgery but it's not right for him he owes me nothing and deserved a happy time in the field or a respectful end.

I just don't understand where we've gone wrong, he was a different horse last year and now he is a ghost of his former self, it kills me seeing him like this.
 
Sorry to hear this :(

You're not cruel thinking PTS. This horse has been through a LOT! Has he ever had a bone scan?
 
So sorry to hear this, what a worrying time for you!

I don't think you would be at all cruel to consider PTS if it was KS. The surgery is quite demanding and the box rest does not suit all horses.

Has the vet considered a sinus problem (it occurs to be because you mention the head shaking)?
 
Crikey, that must be so frustrating. Sorry I can't be much help, but I just wanted to say I really hope you do find out what is causing all this. And I wouldn't say you're cruel for your decision over the kissing spine - he doesn't sound like he'd cope with it, from what you say.

Good luck.
 
It does sound pain related. With the headshaking, could it possibly be head pain? My ex's father suffered from trigeminal neuralgia, which I believe horses can also suffer from and is a cause of headshaking.
 
What a horrid situation :( I can't see any vet in the land agreeing to Andy being a good candidate for surgery with his stressy behaviour, the rehab is difficult enough with a sane and sensible one. I hope you get some answers, and praying for a good outcome for you both
 
So sorry you are going through this, OP, you have had some rotten luck with your horses. I would agree that Andy is not a candidate for KS surgery. If he were mine and his quality of life could not be improved, I would PTS.
 
Thanks for the support regarding surgery, I do feel better and the vet also agrees surgery would be very silly.

As for the head shaking it's not like a normal head shaker, he violently swings his neck to the side unless that is a normal headshaker symptom? I loose schooled him today to see if he would do it to get it on video but he didn't. He did grunt though. I wonder if being out all day makes whatever it is better? He does tend to do it in the mornings when being turned out after being in all night.

Will post video in a sec see if anyone can see anything.
 
Primarily a lurker on here and have no constructive advice I'm afraid, just wanted to express how sorry I am to hear that you're having such problems with him. I've always enjoyed reading about Andy and have followed the progress that you made with him with great admiration.
But as all the other posters are saying, you're definitely not cruel to be suggesting PTS. He just doesn't seem the sort that would be able to take the rehab (can't blame him, to be honest!).
 
So sorry to read this,especially after the awful time you had with Koko.
I do think you are right with the ks decision,if it turns out to be that. You know your horse so well, and know you will do the best for him.
Thinking of you.
 
Kokopelli said:
Thanks for the support regarding surgery, I do feel better and the vet also agrees surgery would be very silly.

As for the head shaking it's not like a normal head shaker, he violently swings his neck to the side unless that is a normal headshaker symptom? I loose schooled him today to see if he would do it to get it on video but he didn't. He did grunt though. I wonder if being out all day makes whatever it is better? He does tend to do it in the mornings when being turned out after being in all night.

Will post video in a sec see if anyone can see anything.
Click to expand...

with liver problems he is drinking enough isnt he? its got warm recently and problems can manifest themselves in so many ways!!!

my mare throws her head - i cant call it shaking...... she goes round in a circle and down to the sides....but never up and down
she only does it when she goes out and when she comes in and more so when she is worked up. she is very sensitive to pollen etc and wonder if this sometimes causes it.....
or may be it a way of her expressing her self??? shes not the run around type!
 
Ditto what everyone else has said- no advice but I hope you both get some better luck soon and whatever happens it's clear what a great owner you are to Andy
 
Thank you all for the support.

He is drinking less than normal in the stable but I'm compensating by soaking his feed. I think he's just drinking more in the field as I'm filling up his buckets more frequently than normal.

The TMJ is really interesting, I've never been able to brush or touch down the side of his face, if I do and he's tied up he'll pull back and break the string, yet he's happy for me to stroke inbetween his eyes. Thank you for pointing it out will mention it to my vet.

These were taken today whilst I was trying to take the video. Not exactly looking like an unhappy horse.
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Interesting about tmj, I have had problems with mine and it causes me to get screaming headaches. Chiropractor and dentist usually help me out. It could easily be something like that and not ks related. Fingers crossed for you.
 
Vet came out today, he doesn't believe it's TMJ but not ruled out completely. He was giving him a good prod noticed a huge amount of discomfort in his shoulders and basically the whole of his back but his shoulders were the worst.

Any ideas what that could be?

He's going in for x rays next wednesday, sadly can't go sooner as mum and dad are away and have no transport so left worrying until then.
 
Poor lad, and poor you. Hopefully the vet will be able to give you some definitive answers about what's wrong after the x-rays. I think you're being very sensible to consider the final solution rather than put him through surgery which would be hell for him.
 
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