Tests clear - what next?

fredflop said:
Has she been scanned for ulcers yet as well?
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Yes that was all clear, couldn't have been better. Obviously hind gut ulcers aren't shown but vet thinks due to how healthy everything looked in the scope, hind gut ulcers are very unlikely.
 
I have a horse that presented almost identical symptoms and behaviours - she had strained her supraspinious ligament quite badly just where the back of the saddle sits.
 
flipthelid said:
I have a horse that presented almost identical symptoms and behaviours - she had strained her supraspinious ligament quite badly just where the back of the saddle sits.
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That's interesting. How did you get a diagnosis on that? Any info you can share (pm if you prefer) would be really useful. Thanks
 
Caramac71 said:
I actually considered that some time ago but was told it's not all that conclusive as you need to know what is 'normal' hot spots before you can identify any changes.
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That's def not the case. Granted every horse will have normal/not normal, but in your case I'd be tempted to give it a try. A whole horse scan should be about £100, and they can do saddle fit as well, which I've found very useful... As it proves if the saddler has been telling you fibs or not...
 
The horse came to me post diagnosis as a sort of rescue as the owner at the time wasn't prepared to go through rehab. As she was only 5 and exceptionally well bred I took her on. She had every test, scan, x-ray etc under the sun and was eventually diagnosed via a mixture of thermal-imaging and ultra-sound. Like yours, they were pretty convinced the spinal processes were involved but x-Rays actually showed the complete opposite. In fact, they were almost too far apart leading up to the lumbar region which may have led to the ligament being over-stretched.
Treatment was pretty minimal - a course of veterinary physiotherapy followed by 18months field rest, but prognosis was very guarded as this sort of injury is renowned for re-occurring. I literally chucked her in a field for 2 years with a companion and let her heal. She is now in full work, jumping etc but she has never been the same. Although scans show the injury site has healed, and there is nothing showing up under thermal image, the mare was obviously in considerable pain for a long time and she remembers.
Original owner put all symptoms down to naughty behavioural issues and had several riders try and 'ride her through it'. Poor thing still associates being ridden with pain and although she's getting better she will always be quirky.
 
Thank you flipthelid, I'm starting to think that thermal imaging is worth looking into.

Sounds like your poor mare has had a rough time with it, but great that you finally got her sorted. It sounds like a very slow process so it's good to hear you've got there with her eventually.
 
Yes it's been a long road and at times I honestly thought she'd never be ridden again but she got there eventually. I'd seriously consider thermal imaging if I were you - it was blinding obvious where the pain was coming from when my mare had it.
 
have they x rayed her front feet. I had a gelding with exactly the same behaviour. It was reverse rotated pedal bones, navicular and coffin joint disease. it tunred out he did not get collostrum for a couple of hours after birth and had septic shock , which was treated with antibiotics. he did not have his joints flushed so developed arthritis thoughout his body as well. he did not show up lame in three different lameness workups and only went lame originally if he jumped well over four foot. In the end he would recover of box rested and turned out in the winter and go up on his toes as soon as galloped on hard ground, never with me on I was very careful with him, but in his own time. At the end he hurt all over but only went obviuosly lame two days before he was put down. The last time he was up on all four toes, fortunately just until the vet got there. Very sad but all caused by a mother who would not feed the foal and no -one being there when he was born. he was always far too genuine to stop at a jump or nap so bucked out, exploded on the lunge and then just wouldn't canter but never showed lame, I suppose because all his feet and legs hurt. he was ot insured but I don't suppose they would have paid out anyway once his istory was discovered.
 
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