Update - Suspensory Ligaments hind legs

MrsMozart

MrsMozart

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Update. Tiggy's suspensory ligaments are too bad to operate on. She'll be a large garden ornament who goes for walks in-hand, until it gets too much for her. She can't have a foal, the weight would be too much. She's only four. I've waited thirty-five years for her. I keep thinking I'm giving up too easily, but I've explored every option with the vets and they are all non-starters. So, it's Professional Choice boots to give her some support (my Christmas present - didn't think they'd be worn in the field!), the McTimony back lady to help ease her pelvis (where the pain has caused her to become lopsided), and in-hand walks to keep her mind happy. I keep wishing it was a bad dream and I could walk away back to a fit and happy Tigs. The thing is, she looks so good.
 
Oh Mrs M am so sorry, I have two garden ornaments as well as my pone that I ride! I love them too much to part with them tho.
I'm sure she won't mind being pampered
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Oh no Mrs M I'm so sorry to hear about Tigs. I'm sure she will enjoy all the tlc but I know its just not the same when you had hopes and dreams and they have all been taken away. Do they have any idea what caused it? I don't think I know which part of the suspensory's it was?

Feel free to pm if you want an ear. Huge hugs xx
 
I am so sorry to hear the injury is too bad to operate on... I am sure you have already gone down this avenue, but have you considered taking her to Sue Dyson (if you have not seen her already)?
 
Oh I'm so sorry. You've done your best though and she's seen the best people. If you have an ounce of fight left in you I know an excellent vet at Oakham who will sometimes operate where Sue may not...I know the emotional heartache you must be going through though so big hugs all round.
 
Dear All, Thank you so much for your kind thoughts and hugs. She is under Sue Dyson Jetset, but thank you for the thought. MissM, we went to Oakham earlier in the year - let's just say others have had better experiences there than we did. As for fight, that has gone. Tiggy is to be PTS. She is in pain, it is only ging to get worse, and even if someone were to operate, given the level of damage a succesful outcome is not going to happen. Tiggy likes to be out and about and in the thick of it all. She gets stressed if she is left behind; even being in the field next to the riding field when the others are being ridden is beneath her - she whinnies when she sees me and hangs over the fence. If she stays, she wil have to go onto Bute, but still could not go out. I keep on trying to think of ways round it, but it always comes back to Tiggy being Tiggy. If it were one of the others, Merlin for example, he would be happy if he never had to work again (and he's only ten!): so long as he has food and a cuddle in passing, he's happy. This has to be one of the crappiest days.
 
Mrs M I am so sorry to hear this. Alee had her final shockwave on Thursday and her fate will be decided in 2 weeks. My vet is also very synical about how sound she will be and is unsure if the operation will be successfull. Alee is only 4 aswell
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. You sound like you have done everything you can for your lovely horse. Just continue to stay strong for her. Its really tough when they looks so well isn't it. Alee looks like you could just jump on and go for a ride. I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now but if you need to chat with someone that is going through similar to you just PM me.
 
I am so sorry MrsM, I can only imagine how hard this is for you!

All I can say, although whether it will be any comfort to you I am unsure, is that Sue Dyson is the absolute expert when it comes to suspensory ligaments and I would trust her judgement 100%. I cannot imagine she would proclaim there was nothing that could be done for a 4 year old unless that truly was the case, so please don't beat yourself up thinking there must be another avenue. Sue would have suggested it to you, and I think only you can now make the final decision.

For what it is worth, I think you have decided on the kindest option. Suspensory ligaments only worsen with turnout and from what you have described, she is already very sore on them
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It is just so very sad, and my thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
 
Thank you all. Had a lovely time with the Tigs yesterday, just putting hay in the field and topping up water. She seemed to know I was upset, waffling her lips over me and leaning in close for a cuddle. Normally she bats me on the head and head butts me in the stomach. Hubby and girls have gone to do the horses today, I have to stay at home and work to make up for the time I had off yesterday, plus, it was so nice to be on my own with her. I don't want to share. I'm away most of the week so she won't notice anything different. I hope I stop crying soon, my head feels like it's full of heavy cotton wool. Poor hubby and girls and close friends must be sick of me, and we still have the final day to come. Have to do the insurance paperwork next: not done anything like this before, and not looking forward to it. Just want to crawl into a dark hole and pull it in after me. Sorry, off again, will learn to deal with it. Hugs to all.
 
I'm so sorry for you but for little help it might be I think you are doing the right thing. I echo Jetset - Sue is the best person when it comes to ligaments. I know how upset you must be feeling because six years ago I had my dream horse pts after Sue Dyson diagnosed ligament problems. He was only 8yrs old. It is a hard decision to reach but it is the right one. You have to examine their quality of life and it sounds like poor Tiggy wouldn't have much. She is very lucky to have had such a caring mum, remember that.
 
have you suggested cortisone injections to your vet. Mine is non operable, and non repairable but he had injections 2 weeks ago-vet is coming tomorrow to have a look to sehow he is doing. Fingers crossed!
 
Siennamiller, is your horse rideable? The problem with the Tiggy is the quality of life. Her legs have been getting worse over the year I've had her, despite very light work: we know this now as it accounts for all sorts of issues over the year. Tiggy is no good at staying in a field - my first response had been to have her until something gave way completely, which the vets tell me wouldn't be very far away given the state they are in, but she hates being left in the field, gets all stressed and worked up. I thought we could deal with it by doing things in-hand, but that isn't going to work either: she needs more than that. If cortisone injections would work I'm surprised neither vet has suggested it (one of them is Sue Dyson), but I'll call in the morning and see what they say. The issue seems to be that she is so young and in such light work (she's four and a couple of months). Thank you for your post, and I hope your babe comes good! Hugs.
 
I forgot to say, I have a friend who trains race horses in France and I've been onto them to see if they have any suggestions. Their regular vet is away, but the general gist is the same response as I get over here. There is so much fibroid damage - one bit has gone from the 3cm it should be to 12cm, whilst the other is now 5cm and these will only get worse.
 
Sorry, replying to own post now. It's twenty past twelve and I don't want to go to bed. I know it's now technicaly Thursday, which means tomorrow is nearly here, but going to sleep means that when I wake up it really will be Thursday and I really will only have one day with the Tigs. Have tried so hard to think of a way round it, but in reality it's all for me and not for her. Watching Horse and Country channel. Eventing. Tigs would have liked that. I thnk I've run out of tears, now I jus tfeel empty. Went to see the Tigs when I got back this evening. It was dark and I didn't have the yard keys, but we found each other in the field, and for once the feild boss left us alone. Fed her handfuls of grass and she looked at me in discust, or at least I think it was, it was too dark to tell really. She probably thinsk I'm mad. Her toe was dragging, just a bit, but it's there. Not riding her for six weeks has allowed her body to ease up on the tension that my wieght was causing, the McTimony lady helped last Friday as well, but any stress in the field and she'll be back to hopping lame, or in her case wonky bottom lame. Cold now and woffling. Sorry again for going on, but it's a bit of a release: cried in a meeting today, hopefully that's as bad as it's going to get, got used to crying at any given moment when I'm on my own. Sleep tight anyone who's reading this now.
 
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Sorry, replying to own post now. It's twenty past twelve and I don't want to go to bed. I know it's now technicaly Thursday, which means tomorrow is nearly here, but going to sleep means that when I wake up it really will be Thursday and I really will only have one day with the Tigs. Have tried so hard to think of a way round it, but in reality it's all for me and not for her. Watching Horse and Country channel. Eventing. Tigs would have liked that. I thnk I've run out of tears, now I jus tfeel empty. Went to see the Tigs when I got back this evening. It was dark and I didn't have the yard keys, but we found each other in the field, and for once the feild boss left us alone. Fed her handfuls of grass and she looked at me in discust, or at least I think it was, it was too dark to tell really. She probably thinsk I'm mad. Her toe was dragging, just a bit, but it's there. Not riding her for six weeks has allowed her body to ease up on the tension that my wieght was causing, the McTimony lady helped last Friday as well, but any stress in the field and she'll be back to hopping lame, or in her case wonky bottom lame. Cold now and woffling. Sorry again for going on, but it's a bit of a release: cried in a meeting today, hopefully that's as bad as it's going to get, got used to crying at any given moment when I'm on my own. Sleep tight anyone who's reading this now.

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Aw hon you poor poor thing. Your horsey is so lucky to have an owner like you. You really are doing the right thing for her. My heart goes out to you, I really feel what you are going through right now.
 
Thank you again for all your thoughts and hgus. Today the insurance company (reknown for not being the most forthcoming) agreed with the action. It wouldn't have made any difference if they hadn't, it was what the vets and I knew we had to do. They did say they would maybe need to take it to a panel(?), but after speaking to the vets involved the insurance company gave the go-ahead straight away. I was so confused this morning, wondering if I missed anything, but then came the news of the insurance company's response. If even they don't think there's anything to be done. Told you I wasn't thinking straight. Tomorrow will come.
 
huge hugs for tomorrow I am thinking about you. I am so sorry that this is happening to you. your horse is very luck to have a wonderful owner like you who is putting the best interest of the horse first. ((((HUGS))))
xxxx
 
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