Suggestions

[Luclila]

Vets aren’t sure what this is so wondering if anyone had experienced similar

Mare has lots of pain found this morning and vets said it’s in back legs stifle and patella and she’s walking flat footed on right back as a result. No lameness but alot of pain when touched however allowed it to be touched when getting scratches however still did bite/attempt to. She’s been showing explosive behaviour in groundwork sessions (rebacking her) so had a professional in yesterday where she was looked at and did trot in some smaller (15m ish) circles and canter for a few strides (hasn’t cantered in the school in months and only last week went galloping In field - usually does a brisk walk )

Any suggestions??? Thanks

 

[Birker2020]

Vets aren’t sure what this is so wondering if anyone had experienced similar

Mare has lots of pain found this morning and vets said it’s in back legs stifle and patella and she’s walking flat footed on right back as a result. No lameness but alot of pain when touched however allowed it to be touched when getting scratches however still did bite/attempt to. She’s been showing explosive behaviour in groundwork sessions (rebacking her) so had a professional in yesterday where she was looked at and did trot in some smaller (15m ish) circles and canter for a few strides (hasn’t cantered in the school in months and only last week went galloping In field - usually does a brisk walk )

Any suggestions??? Thanks

If she was in pain why wasn't she lame? Sometimes if pain is in both hind legs (bilateral) lameness is not always obvious to an owner although any vet worth their salt should be able to detect it.

I would suggest having nerve blocks to try and ascertain where the pain is coming from and once these have narrowed down an area of concern follow up with xrays.

She could have anything from those symptoms. How did the vet leave it?

Do they think its a muscular or skeletal issue? Is she on a bute trial?
How long have you been re backing her for? Why was she stopped in first place? How old is she? Is she in season?

We need more answers tbh.

 

[Luclila]

If she was in pain why wasn't she lame?

I would suggest having nerve blocks to try and ascertain where the pain is coming from and once these have narrowed down an area of concern follow up with xrays.

Not sure - she was in pain when it was touched and when she was walking in 3 times when stopped it was like her back end didn’t stop properly and it like jolted

 

[Birker2020]

So how did your vets leave it?
Is she on pain relief?

 

[Luclila]

So how did your vets leave it?
Is she on pain relief?

They said it was weird, they’ll return Monday (took videos as it will be a different vet) and put her on bute and on field rest (small field section as she can’t cope with box rest)

 

[Birker2020]

They said it was weird, they’ll return Monday (took videos as it will be a different vet) and put her on bute and on field rest (small field section as she can’t cope with box rest)

Well I suppose that's something. But I wouldn't be particuarly happy with that explanation. I'd expect them to have some sort of idea/diagnosis/treatment plan.

That said I used to know an excellent vet who didn't know what pin worm was, which I thought was incredible so I guess they can't know everything.

 

[Luclila]

Well I suppose that's something. But I wouldn't be particuarly happy with that explanation. I'd expect them to have some sort of idea/diagnosis/treatment plan.

That said I used to know an excellent vet who didn't know what pin worm was, which I thought was incredible so I guess they can't know everything.

that’s how I feel and I’m not patient when it comes to waiting for vets either

 

[Luclila]

Also to answer your question she is being rebacked as after gaining healthy weight and becoming healthy after a rough patch she showed explosive behaviour in which we thought was the saddle so re fitted as tight but then it showed again in arena so we took her into field if she has a phobia but in the end this just kept happening after 2/3 sessions of doing the same stuff however a week ago I thought we made a breakthrough after 2 incredible groundwork sessions over poles then a few days later in field she kicked (unusual behaviour) when attempted to be caught and went galloping in field (very unusual) for a few days when she calmed down again - this hasn’t been easy!!!

 

[Birker2020]

Also to answer your question she is being rebacked as after gaining healthy weight and becoming healthy after a rough patch she showed explosive behaviour in which we thought was the saddle so re fitted as tight but then it showed again in arena so we took her into field if she has a phobia but in the end this just kept happening after 2/3 sessions of doing the same stuff however a week ago I thought we made a breakthrough after 2 incredible groundwork sessions over poles then a few days later in field she kicked (unusual behaviour) when attempted to be caught and went galloping in field (very unusual) for a few days when she calmed down again - this hasn’t been easy!!!

She doesn't sound very happy does she? Being a mare I wonder if her behaviour is hormonal.

Do keep us updated.

 

[Luclila]

She doesn't sound very happy does she? Being a mare I wonder if her behaviour is hormonal.

Do keep us updated.

I know. We did think that but now with this pain it changes everything- I will any other suggestions pls say or if any others have experienced similar things

 

[Luclila]

An update: vet out and now lame in trot and in walk after trot
On bute for another week and will be reassessed

 

[ycbm]

I would have expected your vet to want to either scan or x ray the area where she is showing a pain response to being touched, unless there is too much swelling. But you don't mention any swelling?

 

[Luclila]

I would have expected your vet to want to either scan or x ray the area where she is showing a pain response to being touched, unless there is too much swelling. But you don't mention any swelling?

There’s no swelling, but the area of pain is quite big so hesitant to X-ray as to where and if it would be an X-ray or mri

 

[Gloi]

I don't think I'd be very happy with your vets.

 

[Luclila]

I don't think I'd be very happy with your vets.

There incredibly vets and do all the horses however I feel like I’ve been left with again no answer even though this vet had some ideas and now we have to wait a week

 

[Red-1]

It sounds like quite a long term, worsening and severe problem - not the sort of thing I would want to wait and see.

I would prefer to transport to the hospital and have a thorough work-up.

They usually find the area to X ray by observation, palpation and with flexions to see where the issue centres. When they decide which leg is the worst, they would normally start at the bottom with nerve blocks and work up. I would expect a scan for soft tissues as well as X ray, in that appointment, and hopefully some meaningful treatment too.

I can't understand why they would not suggest this after worsening on bute and rest. I think I would call them and ask.

 

[Luclila]

It sounds like quite a long term, worsening and severe problem - not the sort of thing I would want to wait and see.

I would prefer to transport to the hospital and have a thorough work-up.

They usually find the area to X ray by observation, palpation and with flexions to see where the issue centres. When they decide which leg is the worst, they would normally start at the bottom with nerve blocks and work up. I would expect a scan for soft tissues as well as X ray, in that appointment, and hopefully some meaningful treatment too.

I can't understand why they would not suggest this after worsening on bute and rest. I think I would call them and ask.

I think they want to wait and see if the lameness and area becomes more precise

 

[Red-1]

I think they want to wait and see if the lameness and area becomes more precise

That seemed sensible after the first visit, where she just had pain on being palpated, and some abnormal movement. It might seem reasonable to think she had over stretched herself in the schooling session where she had worked harder and that it would just settle with time and rest. However, as she had Bute and was rested and it was worse on vet's second visit, to actual lameness that stayed, I would have expected more exploration then.

As there is a site where she doesn't like to be touched, I would want that area explored first, then a general work-up as I said before. Sometimes they can be sore in their musculature because they have pain elsewhere and are holding themselves against the pain, so the 'illness' may not be where that pain is situated.