Vet been today to Assess Motor's Stiffness behind. Sorry Long with Vid

[Eaglestone]

Motor is my 27 year old 14.3hh Welsh D x Hackney who sufferers from Cushings.

He went down with Cushings Induced Laminitis in October 2005 and fortunately by August 2006 I was back riding him again and I am fortunate enough to be able to hack him out quietly at least twice a week. However over the last 10 weeks I have noticed that he has become very stiff behind and is not very happy being shod behind ....... and has been scuffing his hind toes

Vet came today ......... and I would like to hear from anyone regarding any of my points raised, or if your horse has suffered a similar symptoms .....

She immediately noticed that he has been scraping his hinds toes, and more so on the NH.

On examination and the usual walking and trotting up, Vet says he has developed a Stringhalt, more severe in the Left Hind (NH), which she finds quite unusual.

When turned on a tight circle, he was not happy on the left one, but on the right one found it much easier.

She was pleased to see that he 'appeared' to know where he is placing his feet, however I did express my concern that sometimes he does not and I have been compensating, by turning him slowly. He has always been a very busy horse and quick to move, so this takes some doing, by talking to him all the time (that's not hard for me

)

She said he walks behind like a ‘tin soldier’ - comments on the Video below would be good …. Sorry about the quality

I explained that his front legs tend to wobble when he stands and she explained that it could be to do with him putting more weight on this fores

She is not sure if it is nerve damage or pain, so he is on 2 Danilon tonight and tomorrow morning , then 2 a day for 4 days, then 1 a day.

If it is nerve damage then Danilon will not ’cure’ the problem.

It could be a bone spavin in the Hock.

She also said it was ironic that the extra Steroids produced, due to the Cushings, actually help the affects of Arthritis, however the effect of the Pergolide then counteracts the ‘healing affect’.

She has spoken to the Farrier, who is due out tomorrow afternoon.

I wanted his Blood to be tested, so that I can continue to monitor all the levels tested on three other occasion over the last 2 ½ years or so, since he went down with Cushings. However, it has now been found that the ‘Laminitis Risk Assessment’ test is best carried out when he as been starved for 4 hours, so will have these carried out on her re visit in 7 - 10 days

If you have got this far I know you are as interested as I am

... but I am baised

http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q214/...uly20080012.flv

 

[Bossanova]

Did the vet see him backed up?

 

[Eaglestone]

[ QUOTE ]
Did the vet see him backed up?

[/ QUOTE ]

No .... why do you ask

 

[gothdolly]

Hi there
I have been following your posts. He walks like my 31 year old mare who is really stiff in her hocks and takes a shorter stride with her NH, she has had this for over 12 years and was the reason we stopped riding her. I cant remember the official vet diagnosis but it was something ligament related.

I cant really offer any help, but wanted you to know I was thinking of you. I always notice your posts as I also have the joy of unseasonal laminitis /possibly cushings horses

Cassandra

 

[Eaglestone]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi there
I have been following your posts. He walks like my 31 year old mare who is really stiff in her hocks and takes a shorter stride with her NH, she has had this for over 12 years and was the reason we stopped riding her. I cant remember the official vet diagnosis but it was something ligament related.

I cant really offer any help, but wanted you to know I was thinking of you. I always notice your posts as I also have the joy of unseasonal laminitis /possibly cushings horses

Cassandra

[/ QUOTE ]

Aaaaah that is really nice of you to say that, it is so lovely to have like minded people think about us

He did have a DDFT injuring when he was 22 but that was in his OH ...

Vet has said to keep exercising him and can be ridden ..... I don't want to see him stuck in his little paddock all the time, or his stable, so as long as he can go out and about he will

Will let you know how he gets on .....

 

[Halfpass]

Does he drag his toes more in trot? and does he struggle to canter?
The only reason I ask is that he walks very much like our cob. He has problems with his sacro illiac joint and is now only lightly hacked because of this. When he is having a bad day he toe drags quite badly in trot and his canter is more of a bunny hop behind (ie his hinds don't split as much as they should)

BTW i'm up your way a week friday with my mare

 

[Bossanova]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Did the vet see him backed up?

[/ QUOTE ]

No .... why do you ask

[/ QUOTE ]

Push him back 5 or 6 steps next time you're with him, be interesting to note if he steps back normally

 

[gothdolly]

Eaglestone - absolutely, if he can be worked and the vet is happy then he should be. Im a firm believer in keeping everything equine in some kind of work if possible and ethical. I always feel mine are happier when they have a job to do.

Cassandra

 

[Eaglestone]

[ QUOTE ]
Does he drag his toes more in trot? and does he struggle to canter?
The only reason I ask is that he walks very much like our cob. He has problems with his sacro illiac joint and is now only lightly hacked because of this. When he is having a bad day he toe drags quite badly in trot and his canter is more of a bunny hop behind (ie his hinds don't split as much as they should)

BTW i'm up your way a week friday with my mare

[/ QUOTE ]

Halfpass

You know how once the Vet has gone you have all these questions ..... well those were partly the ones I have left unanswered

I cannot see him dragging any toes as all and Vet did not mention when or if she saw him drag them .... he has always picked his feet up, particularly his fores, as he is 1/2 Hackney ..... but when he went into Canter, for his stretch at grass today, he seemed to have to 'push' himself into it using his OH ..... he has such extravagent paces, it is very difficult to say

.... even on the trot up, he was SO excited, but safe

I have the 'back lady' up on the 1st August .... so will see what she has to say

Are you coming to Jane's yard or to the Farrier ?

 

[Eaglestone]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Did the vet see him backed up?

[/ QUOTE ]

No .... why do you ask

[/ QUOTE ]

Push him back 5 or 6 steps next time you're with him, be interesting to note if he steps back normally

[/ QUOTE ]

OK will do in the morning and report back

 

[Halfpass]

When murphy trots on the road you can actually hear him toe dragging. When he's bad it sounds like he has 6 legs

!!!!!
I'm taking Alee to TFP hopefully Sam will be coming with me to show me the way.
Fingers crossed fro your lad. My vet must hate me, he stupidly gave me his mobile number and when I have those questions swilling around in my head I can't help myself but call him. He's great actually and doesn't seem to mind

 

[Eaglestone]

Oh no Motor definately has a 4 time walk .... Mmmmmm but his trot is all over the place as he still gets over excited .... but that's just him ....

Good Luck on Friday and if you are really lucky you may see my Farrier ( ask Seahorse )

..... or better still see his lovely jubbly Apprentice .... now he is worth an ogle at

... if I was 25 years younger I would be chasing him

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Hmmmm. No expert but it seemed to me that he's moving his hind legs, esp nh, from the hip rather than from hock flexion. No idea what this means except I have a dodgy knee and when it's bad I have to sort of swing from the hip rather than from the natural knee bend. If this is correct, I'd think he's struggling with pain in his hocks rather than his hips. Be interesting to see what others think. He's a gorgeous boy E, regardless of his age, and from behind you can see the Section D in him! Hope you can help him xxx

 

[Eaglestone]

[ QUOTE ]
Hmmmm. No expert but it seemed to me that he's moving his hind legs, esp nh, from the hip rather than from hock flexion. No idea what this means except I have a dodgy knee and when it's bad I have to sort of swing from the hip rather than from the natural knee bend. If this is correct, I'd think he's struggling with pain in his hocks rather than his hips. Be interesting to see what others think. He's a gorgeous boy E, regardless of his age, and from behind you can see the Section D in him! Hope you can help him xxx

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks BOF

.... his bottom was always a very nice part of him, but alas he has lost all his muscle and top line nowadays

Mmmmm makes me think then there may be something going on in the hocks and therefore could be spavins ..... will see what the Danilon does ..... I am praying it is not nerve damage

.... but tbo honest most of his 'action' was in his fores and his hinds have been a bit odd recently and he does trot very wide behind

 

[brighteyes]

I think a vid from the side might have helped me spot anything odd

As is happens, I couldn't see much apart from the hip originated movement.

It's a before and after situation and we didn't get to see the before

However, old Polly moves a bit stiff and 'stampy' like peddling a bike with straight legs/minimal bend. It's her age I guess

. Fin (12) moves like a spavined camel (used to be just a camel before he got the spavins) and I daren't post a vid of him on here lest some helpful bod suggests I shoot him!

The exaggerated movement might be a more deliberate placing of his feet and I would think nerve damage is a real outside chance. Age-related stiffness, lack of energy and hoof pain would be my guesses - though not necessarily in that order!

 

[Eaglestone]

Thanks Brighteyes ....

 

[Rana]

Looks like stiffness through the hocks to me, rather than anywhere else. A side on vid woud be interesting too, and maybe some trotting?

Based on this vid, I've seen much worse (in fact, my girl is worse!!), so try not to worry too much

Call your vet and ask as many questions as you need - that's what we pay them for!

Hope Motor feels better with the danilon and your mind is put at ease x

 

[Eaglestone]

Thanks Rana ..... funnily enough I only took the Video Clip as I was following him up the drive for a change, as I am normally leading them together or on board

I will try and get some side views and trotting, but it is not easy with a mobile

..

 

[jojoebony]

My oldie also walked a lot like that. And his was Sacroiliac related. He had deveopled an intermittent stringhalt like action which was worse in his off hind but also occasionally affected the near. The vet was treating him for a fore leg probelm for weeks before the diagnoses was made. He was worse going up hill (even if a very slight gradient). Riding him he just felt as though he wasn't pushing through with the off side, he also dragged his toes .

He also stood in the field with his hind legs out behind him - almost like he was about to pee?

J

 

[dotty1]

I have a 22 year old mare who 3 years ago tore her hamstring, it quickly mended and she was only slightly stiff, then she got lammi so was box rested. During this time she stiffened up and ever since (2 yrs now) she stamps her near hind down flat, just like a tin soldier. She was dragging the toe very badly but as she regained fitness this has decreased. It looks very odd in walk but disappears in trot. To ride she feels lame in walk with a definate limp!!. She has muscle wastage/knotting down the back of the hamstring (it is solid)and I don't think can physically bring the leg forwards and put the foot down properly in walk. There is no muscle wastage over the top/pelvis.
She looks very odd and I just call it her wooden leg. She is kept on light exercise, I do think of retiring her completely sometimes but she can be full of beans so isn't in any pain.

When the vet saw her the plan was to dose her up wiith bute to see if it makes any difference, it didn't, neither has any joint/muscle supplement including cortaflex.