Vet’s verdict on Missie – not great news I’m afraid

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sfward

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Well Missie went in to the vet’s this morning to have a thorough check over to see if there is anything physical behind the problems I’ve been having with her. He did an initial check including examination in the stable, trot up and lungeing, and he says that she is acutely sore in the sacroiliac region of her back and he thinks she has some unilateral (I think?!) lameness behind too, possibly from the fall she had on the road earlier in the year, worse on her right hand apparently. On the lunge he said she had this 'rocking-horse' action with no impulsion at all from behind; all the power was coming from her front legs - no wonder the poor thing is so on her forehand...

He wants to do an ultrasound today to see if there's any major damage to the ligaments on her back, then she needs to have about 4 weeks box rest with walking in hand to try and get rid of the acute pain and then he'll need to see her again to try and work out what has been causing it. She will also need a course of treatment with the physio.

I'm going back to pick her up this afternoon when I'll be able to talk through the results of the ultrasound and the care she'll need.

I feel absolutely awful that she’s been in so much pain and that I’ve been riding her without realising the problem was so bad. But on the other hand at least I know now that there is something there so now we can get on with treating it. Just goes to show it is always worth following your instincts…
 
Thanks
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Fingers crossed the ultrasound won't show anything major and we can get her feeling better asap
 
Did they say whether they would look into to scanning the hind suspensorys? As how she is going sounds very much how Spider was going
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Sorry to hear that but at least you know. Depending what the ultrasound shows and how serious it is, I know rest will help but I'm sure they can inject pain relief into the SI area.
 
Another one who would make sure the vet scans those back legs to as sacro-pain is often secondary to hind limb problems.
Good note though know of a horse with scaro problems couldn't find and limb problems and back has been treated with shockwave over a number of months and is now doing very nicely.
Good luck.
 
Thanks very much that's good to know. And thanks for the tip about scanning the rear suspensories, I will mention it to the vet when I pick her up this afternoon.
I now have nothing to ride for the foreseeable future, how depressing
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Well you are a few steps forward now anyway as the problem is being dealt with, and when she is better and going really well, it will all be worth it.
 
So sorry to hear this. What a brave girl to keep going!! Fingers crossed that she is better soon..

Has the vet mentioned kissing spine at all? Cos KS definately causes severe sacroliliac pain,and therefore makes them appear lame behind. Makes them crooked and particularly shortens stride length in canter.

Would ask your vet cos my vet thought that my horse did not necessarily have any back problems problems and that the whole problem was in his saccrolilac- which was therefore making his back tight and sore. It was only when I referred my horse to a top back specialist did they say that it was in fact the Kissing Spine that was causing such bad problems with his saccroliliac and not vice versa. Once he had the op and the KS was corrected this theory was proved to be correct.
 
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What a brave girl to keep going!!

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I know, poor thing
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It certainly explains why she gets so tense and anxious these days. She was always so relaxed and laid back before.

The vet didn't mention kissing spine, but I will add it to the list of things to ask him about later. Very interesting what you say about the symptoms particularly shortening the stride length in canter, it all sounds very familiar. I will go and read up about it now...
 
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