Stringhalt - what different causes are there?

[gillcook]

The Crumble saga continues with her gradually deteriorating, I think we have no ruled out ovaries/hormones as being the cause ( ultra sound negative and slight response to regumate only).
However, last thursday I found her to have stringhalt action in right hind. Vet says usually due to fetlock problem or neurlogical due to toxins. Having googled stringhalt i find it is also a symptom of espm which could be a possibility?? Farrier said a brain tumour - I think he was joking but who knows!!
Has anyone any experience of stringhalt and what caused it in their horses???
We are off to liphook next weds for a full assessment and bonescan so will hopefully have some answers although the pessimist in me is worried that we are looking at more than one problem.

 

[miamibear]

Looking up EPSM may well be a good starting point, it is based around the idea of grains being toxic to the muscles of the body causing damage to them therefore causing symptoms such as stringhalt or shivers.

The idea is based around cutting all starch sugars and grains out of the horses diet and replacing it with fibre and oil. The body changes so it can accept calories from oil instead of grain and can use them decreasing the effects of such illnesses.

Have a look at www.ruralheritage.com a very useful website.

Worth a go, its easy to change

 

[Alibear]

stringhal in my mare turned out to be a foot absess(which took months and a referal to Newmarket to find) ! But yes generally it's a neurological disorder and some horses do respond well to diet changes that are similar to those used for EPSM.

Sue Dyson was the lady we were refered to when my mare was thought to have it.

 

[aran]

for a diagnosis of epsm you need to get your vet to take a muscle biopsy and have it sent off for histology. the RVC have a muscle pathology service now (i think liphook send their samples to the RVC?)
good luck for next week

 

[gillcook]

Thanks for that - have looked at the rural vets website and it is a possibility many of signs and symptoms fit also when i got her she was only fed chaff and i changed her to horse and pony nuts and have had to feed her quite a bit to keep the weight on. I am going to start reducing the pony nuts any way as not doing any work and add a bit of oil which i have found to help put weight on as it won't do any harm. I am reluctant to self diagnose as have done this too many times over past few months and got it wrong, really thought that she had ovarian tumour as symtoms explained her to a tee but this was wrong. I am just hoping that we will find out what is wrong so can begin to sort it out.
Thanks for all your comments any info is useful

 

[gillcook]

Really a foot abcess - its frightening that something like that can go on for months without being diagnosed. God only knows whats wrong with crumble then could be anything all I know thats its gradually getting worse. Did the stringhalt start fairly early on in your mare or is it a symptom that started later? Presumably she was lame was she?

 

[miamibear]

The EPSM diet is perfectly safe for any horse not just ones with EPSM. In fact i am firmly of the belief that a fibre based diet is much more healthy for the horse than one based on grains so i would cut out the nuts and add something like fibre cubes and a splash of oil.

Remember though if you start adding lots of oil you need to add a vitamin e and selenium supplement to help the body use the oil without it damaging them. A splash wont do any harm though!

If the vets are investigating anyway mention a muscle biopsy to them, its quite a simple procedure and will give you an answer.

Grain sensitive horses can also suffer with tying up too, that may be another cause of the problems your horse is having

 

[Alibear]

started as mild lameness under saddle then gradually got worse over a number of weeks and eventually took on the real drastic hitching on the affected leg so yes 10 out 10 lame for the end bit. She never ever tested positive to hoof testers though (tough girl).

By the time the absess was found (and we had our own equine vet and farrier out several times in this process) it was quite large and had started to harden up again so she stayed at the hospital for 2 days so it could be flushed out fully etc to make sure it didn't come back.

It was one of those miracle moments I was all prepared to lose her that day but it turned out to be something minor. The relief on her face when the abscess was opened up was dramatic.

(And my vet had said I should refer her and should just PTS then he said he'd use humane killer on himself when I told him what had been found

) Oh and I'd said it was an absess from day one but I couldn't find any sign of it ; was nice being right even though it was pure luck!